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For the past 17 years, The Filipino Express has provided the Filipino American community the best news, arts and entertainment coverage from around the United States and the Philippines.
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This website includes selected articles from this week's edition of the Filipino Express. Not all the stories published in the printed version appear on this site.
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One of the hallmarks of representative democracy is the participation of the people in choosing their leaders through an election and the people's ability to influence what those leaders do. People do not rule directly but instead exercise power through their elected representatives.
On Tuesday, Nov. 2, the citizens of this country will exercise that right once again, not only to choose the president who will lead this country but also state, county and local officials that will govern our community.
As the third and final of the presidential debate series ended Wednesday, we heard stark differences in President George W. Bush and Senator John F. Kerry's approach toward issues that affect Americans such as war on terrorism, economy, health care, jobs, and tax. One important issue, on top of it all, was immigration
The Filipino-Americans are summoned once again, just as in every opportunity, to exercise the right to vote. These elections are special privileges to show that Filipino- American vote matters, whether how small a fraction it is to the overall voting population
Traditionally, most Filipino Americans vote the Democratic Party because of its support for ethnic minority groups and other social issues that affect us. This year, however, it seems that we are equally polarized like America itself.
From our informal survey of Filipino-Americans in the area, the results reflect the same trend found in national polls. This development may have been caused by a shift by some party loyalists to remain undecided at this time.
With so much at stake at this election, that is understandable. To help clear the mind of the undecided, there are some concerns that they need to look into, namely:- Full equity to Filipino American veterans and full funding of veteran's health care
- Return of the Balangiga Bells to the Philippines
- End racial profiling
- Fair and safe immigration policy
- High quality health care
- Access to capital for small business start-ups
It is greatly hoped that every Filipino-American voter should know the candidate who supports those concerns. It is crucial, on Election Day, that every Filipino-American voter fully understands the position of each candidate. By so doing, the Filipino-American community could truly be a part of an important election process.
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“Attitude determines altitude; united we stand, divided we fall”
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NEW YORK --- The road to political empowerment for Filipino Americans in Jersey City is not an easy ride. It is bumpy at best and unless wannabe leaders there set themselves up as a united front, their efforts would be like dust in the wind.
Commenting on a recent column, Jesse Arteche, president of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce (East Coast) Inc., wrote in an e-mail: "Jersey City is the opposite of what’s happening in Passaic. Under the leadership of Carlos Sinnung, the Filipino-American Voters League, Inc. (FAVLI) is not only very united but making waves as far as political empowerment is concerned. They are solidly behind the candidacy of a certain person running for Sheriff."
Arteche said Sinnung and Linda Arellano, incumbent president of FAVLI, were guests at a recent meeting of the newly organized Filipino American Political Action Organization (Union County) led by Joey Lagdameo and Paul Verzosa.
Arteche ended his e-mail suggesting that: "The VIPs in Jersey City should invite Mr. Sinnung, listen to him and even get him to be their political adviser. United we stand, divided we fall."
I could sense his frustration at what is going on in Jersey City where he used to reside. For more than a decade, despite our association with certain politicians, we still have not managed to elect a Filipino American to the City Council. Instead, what we've been getting are token appointments, which I consider as an appeasement.
Well, one may argue that an appointment is a better alternative than not to receive anything at all. That argument is not only a defeatist stance but proves to these politicians that appointments are what we are there for and nothing else.
On the other hand, if we play our own cards well and use these appointments as springboard to our own political purpose in the future, it may change the political outlook. But how many would consider taking that path? For lack of financial and political backing, many would rather be content with appointments not realizing that the organization of a political action committee may help resolve these constraints.
But first, the wannabe's must all agree to be united and to a plan of action to accomplish our goal. These two requirements will move us forward as we also learn from the experiences of successful Asian Americans.
Take John Liu, the first Asian American council member of New York City. City Council minority group members used to rally around the Black and Latino Caucus. Today, the group calls itself the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus.
This all happened because Liu, an immigrant from Taiwan, managed to get the support of the Queens Democratic machine and unions when he won in 2001 against Isaac Sasson by 64 percent to 34 percent of the vote.
When he first ran in 1997, he came second in a large field of candidates, losing to incumbent Julia Harrison, who had ruled the district for twelve years. When Liu ran again in 2001, he prevailed over Sasson whose supporters cautioned voters against the "Oriental candidates" in the race.
The geopolitics of Flushing is similar to Jersey City. And Jersey City political wannabes can learn from the experience of the New York City Council member. Liu, 37, arrived in Flushing from Taiwan at age 5 and worked his way up becoming an official of Citibank prior to his current position in the city council.
I first met him at the chambers of the New York City Council two years ago. He co-sponsored a resolution supporting the plight of Filipino American veterans. Liu was new then but today, he chairs the Transportation Committee and is a member of the Education, Consumer Affairs, Contracts, Oversight and Investigation, and Lower Manhattan Redevelopment committees.
Jersey City wannabes can also choose to learn from the experience of Carlos Sinnung of Passaic. As Arteche suggests, they may want to invite him to share his experience. For once, let's rid ourselves of amor-propio and listen to people that can help build our political base in there and achieve our dream.
Who knows, if we play our cards well, we can even have someone run for the post of mayor. The time to prepare is now, not tomorrow, but today.
I don't know how Greg Racelis, whose candidate has been disqualified, feels about this but he can still speak out and join a unity alliance among Filipino-Americans. What say you Ador Equipado, Jun Florentino, Linda Mayo, Flor Medel, Linda Mayo and all their supporters?
We all can make this happen; what it takes is for all parties to agree to take the first step and unite! No more of the "me-first" attitude but think of what is best for our community in Jersey City. As it is said, our "attitude determines our altitude" and as Arteche wrote, "united we stand, divided we fall."
Two reminders that deserve deeper thought if we are serious in our trip to political empowerment.
Send comments to rickyxpres@aol.com or visit Website at PinoyOnBoard.com.
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FIL-AM AUTHORS TO GATHER IN DC
TO CELEBRATE HERITAGE MONTH
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Yehey! I’m off to Washington DC to celebrate Filipino American History month (October) with fellow Filipino-American authors, some born here, others like me from the homeland – many of whom I have only met online. So you can imagine the anticipation. I worry that I might even act like too much of a fan-girl when I meet people like Bino Realuyo author of the award winning novel The Umbrella Country or poets like Luisa Igloria, Jon Pineda and Paolo Javier or editor Reme-Antonia Grefalda of Our Own Voice e-zine. The event is dubbed: HERITAGE 2, and is presented by the Philippine Embassy with the assistance of Our Own Voice (www.oovrag.com) Literary Magazine. The program is on its second year and hopes to promote greater awareness of Filipino American contributions to American literature.
I was honored to receive an invitation from Consul Joy Quintana to a reception hosted by Ambassador Albert del Rosario on Friday October 15th but I’m still not sure I can make it in time. The reception will also feature a launch of Pinoy Poetics, Nick Carbo, editor (Meritage Press, 2004), Cadena de Amor and Other Short Stories by Wilfrido Nolledo (Sto. Tomas Publishing House, 2004), and Our Own Voice Literary Arts Journal, Grealda, Sarreal and Arriola, Editors (First Fruits/PWU, 2003). There will however by some thirty established and emerging Filipino and Filipino-American authors from all over the US that will be there to participate in an afternoon series of events including a special tour of the Philippine collections at the Library of Congress.
On Saturday, October 16th, the Philippine Cultural Society of George Washington University in cooperation with the Embassy and Our Own Voice, is hosting a book fair at the Media and Public Affairs Building at the George Washington University located at 805 21st St. NW, Washington DC. The event is free and open to the public. And this is where I get to participate in some panel discussions particularly a Q&A and something called “On Writings in the Disapora.” As I’ve never done this before, it should be quite interesting. The other talks are: Storytelling and Panel: On Writing for Children; Straight Talk: Writer to Writer by Bino Realuyo; “A Humble Magus: Wilfrido D. Nolledo” a power point presentation by Melissa Nolledo-Christoffels; and Copyright Issues by Copyright General Counsel’s Office. There will also be a Philippine martial arts presentation entitled “Prinsesa Urduja: the Warrior Princess” and songs from “Hacienda the Musical.” Philippine Expressions Bookshop of Los Angeles will offer relevant books during the event (yes, including Missing Mangoes!) and what’s fun is you can get the authors to sign the books for you while you’re there.
So for those of you who live around the DC area or who want to support our Fil-Am authors, do drop by. You may also contact the Embassy Cultural Section at wdcpecul@aol.com or Reme Grefalda at our_own_voice@yahoo.com for more details.
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