VOL. 1 NO. 19 • 16 PAGES • 28K CIRCULATED IN LOS ANGELES/ORANGE COUNTIES AND INLAND EMPIRE FOLLOW US @PinoyWatchDog • LIKE US PinoyWatchDog • SATURDAY, JULY 7, 2012

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From Our Pen

ENTERTAINMENT& ARTS

EDITORIAL

OPINIONp5

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► By Oliver Carnay

► By Perry Diaz

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► By Kai Rosario

L

t may be said that the U.S. engagement with the Philippines can be traced to the Treaty of Paris of 1898. At 8:50

pm on December 10 of that year, just two days short of six months since revolutionary forces under

Philippine American Friendship: A comradeship forged in trials and tribulations

► Words and photos by Dionesio C. Grava

The JPAV Choir performs the song Philippines My Philippines.

Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed our sovereignty and independence from Spain, that same European colonizer ceded the Philippines to the U.S. for the measly sum of 20 million dollars. That effectively ended the U.S. vs. Spain conflict. That also started a hate-love rela-

tionship between the Americans and their new possession until 1942 when another colonizer, Japan, subjugated the Philippines again.

For sure irritants existed then and continue to exist now be-

Nonito Donaire, the ‘Filipino Flash’, is ready, confident

ARSON CITY – Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire (28-1-0 win-loss-draw) will have a solid partisan

crowd support when he climbs up the ring Saturday, July 7, to face Jeffrey Mathebula (31-3-2) of South Africa in the featured ti-tle unification match of the HBO boxing card at the Home Depot Center, this city.

Carson, a city 17 miles south of Los Angeles, is home to 24,000 Filipino expats, and it is expected

► By David Casuco PWD Contributing Writer

Honorable Elito Santarina of the City of Carson showing off Nonito Donaire’s championship belt dur-ing a courtesy call. Photo by DAN BALTAZAR

OS ANGELES -- The community personal-ity who has been the focal point of the first in a series of investiga-

tions by PinoyWatchdog regarding alleged fundraising irregularities has informed that she will be pro-ceeding with the giving of awards to the so-called 100 Outstanding Filipino Americans in the USA.

It’s too late now to make chang-es, if any, Darna Umayam said dur-ing a telephone conversation with this reporter on Thursday morning, July 5. She explained that neces-sary contracts had been signed and payment already made to the hotel-venue and arrangements for the bands to perform as well as other essentials of hosting a big presenta-tion had been finalized.

In a subsequent conversation Friday morning, Ms. Umayam re-peated her promise to proceed with

The show will go on – Darna Umayam► By Diony C. Grava

the event scheduled on July 28 at the Universal Hilton Hotel. She also promised that she will rectify what needs to be rectified in the next outing of the project. That would be next year. She will per-fect it in succeeding years. And she will always be open to suggestions, she said.

“I will still move on even if there are only 50, 60 or 70 awar-dees. I don’t want to lose money,” she said. She explained that all the expenses so far came from her husband, Eli, because the organiza-tions involved in the project started with zero funding. Everything she has to do herself and her husband is very supportive of it. And that probably is the crux of the matter: the lack of resources to undertake such a monumental sounding pro-ject such as the 100 Outstanding Filipino Americans in the whole of

INCE the Fil-Am Award Show Expose’ story broke in PinoyWatchDog.com on June 23, PinoyWatchDog.com’s editorial staff has been receiving spirited commentary

FIL-AM AWARDS EXPOSE’ PWD Senior Columnist gets Ms.

Umayam to talk about rules and

conduct of nation-wide search for

outstanding Fil-Ams in United States. But her declarations are

incomplete.

from the community and comments posted in its www.pinoywatch-dog.com web site. Two particular issues have emerged which point to the conduct of the national search for outstanding Filipino Ameri-cans in the United States: who are the judges, and what are the crite-ria for selection of honorees? To my surprise, the community seems more interested in the judges than the criteria.

HE PinoyWatchDog.com investigative team has been informed by the cum laude data base manager at University

of Santo Thomas in Manila that Darna Umayam, who has long advised associates she graduated Cum Laude in Mass Communica-tions from UST. Her name cannot be found in the university’s data base.

P i n o y Wa t c h -Dog.com sources in the field had developed her maid-en name as ‘Banar’. However, the PWD team found her expired real estate license name as Dolores Banania Umayam. Both spellings were provided to UST, but her name did not appear, or anything close. The cum laude designation

UST cannot certify Darna Umayam graduated Cum Laude

► By PWD Investigative Team

appears on a recent resume she released while seeking to obtain awardees for her 100 Outstanding Fil-Ams in the U.S. award show.

On Thursday, July 5, 2012, Mrs. Umayam met with Pinoy-WatchDog.com Senior Column-ist Joel Bander at a local Star-bucks, and discussed at length PinoyWatchDog.com’s recent Awards Show expose’. That is a

companion story about the long mysterious judges and process of

selection for the 100 Outstand-ing Fil-Ams. During that discus-sion Bander informed her of the results of PWD’s investigation at UST in Manila. Umayam per-sonally assured Bander that she would scan and send her UST

EXPOSE►

Photo taken during an event at FACLA on Dec. 9, 2011. Darna Umayam is the lady second from right with her left hand on Ms. Foliente’s shoulder.

Donaire: I’ll try to make a knockout

Judicial Independence Redux

Outfest celebrates 30 years

Darna Umayam, do not invoke the

name of God to make you look good and

PinoyWatchDog.com bad

Darna Umayam bares some Fil-Am Awards rulesSecond in a series► By Joel Bander Senior Columnist

S

PinoyWatchDog.Com2 Saturday, July 7, 2012

Expose►

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graduation certificate to him that evening upon returning home.

However, less than an hour

and half later Mrs. Umayam sent an email that stated “it’s up to you to put that I am not cum laude or whatever you wish to put, and that all my license are expired.” The li-cense issue involves a refer-ence on the same resume to a real estate license and notary public commission.

The resume has no dates of licensure. The California De-partment of Real Estate online web page indicates Umayam’s real estate license expired in 1993. The PWD investigative team has also learned from the California Secretary of State that her notary commission also expired in 1993. How-ever, Umayam’s resume states she was a licensed real estate salesperson “before she re-tired in 1998.” She confirmed these dates to Bander, but did not wish to discuss the five (5) year anomaly.

To clarify these issues, which PWD raised in the June 23 ex-pose’, I met with Darna Umayam, the organizer of the “100 Out-standing Fil Ams in the US”, on Thursday July 5. Ms. Umayam provided this writer with her most straightforward answers to date about the sketchy details on her awards dinner event. In previous email exchanges Mrs. Umayam and postings on the PWD web page, she had protested that the event was not of PinoyWatch-Dog.com’s business. However, on this occasion, when I advised that many of the readers felt that transparency was important, par-ticularly when she was produc-ing such a public event, Umayam said she understood.

In terms of judging, Umayam advised that she, along with the co-sponsor Philippine Press Pho-tographers (USA), would inter-view ‘nominees’, usually recom-mended to her by third parties. How does an ‘organization’ of 20 odd members interview some-one? “In reality,” Umayam said “only a few have time to be able to come to the interview. It is usu-

UST cannot certify Darna Umayam graduated Cum Laude

PinoyWatchDog.com first re-ceived a ‘heads up’ on the cum laude story from another journal-ist advising that similar research

From Page 1

ally the same two or three.” What are the criteria to be

‘outstanding’? Umayam admit-ted that it required a college de-gree and a record of philanthropy or serving the community. Of course, the awardees would need to raise the $1000 for the Bantay Bata 163 benefit project spon-sored by ABS-CBN. This contri-bution did not seem to be an ab-solute requirement, always. She is less than forthcoming in this part of the interview, so I could not obtain the whole story.

So why do you need an inter-view with awardees at all? Why not just a letter of recommenda-tion? I gave the example of my son applying to universities with-out an interview requirement. The sense I received from Ms. Umay-am is she that she would prefer to know who these awardees are, make sure they are committed and will raise the funds necessary for the ‘noble mission.’ Umayam conceded that the interview pro-cess might not need to be so on-erous.

A number of people have in-formed PWD that Umayam was

Darna Umayam bares some Fil-Am

Awards rules

at UST yielded no cum laude record. However, PWD sought to do its own investigation be-fore publishing this story.

PinoyWatchDog.Com 3Saturday, July 7, 2012

From Page 2

seeking solicitations of a non-refundable $100 entry fee for a qualifying interview back in De-cember 2011. Is that true? Umay-am admitted it was. She justified it for the price of her lunch and the other interviewers, along with the time to review resumes and complete interviews. Umayam justifiably declined to provide the names of those not qualify-ing for the award. However, in yet another anomaly, in an email to PinoyWatchDog.com Execu-tive Editor Al Aquino, she stated in reference to this paper’s re-cent expose, “The awardees who are not qualified are not the one greatly affected in this issue.”

Later, in the same email she stated, “It’s not my fault if some

awardees are not qualified.” I asked Umayam how an awardee could not be qualified and still be an awardee. The discussion quickly moved to the ‘noble mis-sion.’ She turned into a moving target again.

And who are the awardees? Why is it a secret? There were about 85 people having their pic-tures taken in the press presenta-tion at the Universal City Hilton in March. Why don’t we have the names of these people? The real-ity is, Ms. Umayam stated, that not all the people have yet raised their funds, and until they receive the award, it is not official. She contended that five Fil-Am pa-pers wanted the awardees’ pic-tures and names to feature them in their newspaper each week. However, Umayam told me she could not tell which five news-papers they were. Since Pinoy-

WatchDog.com was not one of them, it was hard to even count up to five that could be so interested. Afterwards, while writing this ar-ticle, I wondered if some arrange-ment regarding the pictures and the PPP group was involved.

Umayam was surprised that PinoyWatchDog.com would not take her ‘honorarium’ to write about the event, adding that the writers at the various newspapers make very little money. (Anyone wants a newspaper ‘honorarium’ expose?)

So finally, my grand question: why not just an award for raising money for the charity? The ones that raise more money would get greater accolades, the ones that raise less, a different form of hon-orable mention. Give the award to those doing the most for the cause, instead of a false award of ‘Outstanding’ that has no defini-

tion, and is inherently tainted as ‘paying’ for the award. Umayam admitted it could have been better planned, but once again sought to focus this article’s attention on the beneficiaries of the charitable giving.

There was a discussion about changing the name of the event to reflect its assumed true nature for charitable giving. However, I was told that $2,000 had already been spent on the 100 OFAUS backdrop, and even more for the carpet that had the same insignia. I did not understand a reason for a carpet, but hope that it is being sent to the needy in the Philip-pines after it is walked on at the big dinner.

While Umayam seems to un-derstand that her charity dinner was ill-conceived and unneces-sarily distracting, she still hoped PinoyWatchDog.com would sup-

port the endeavor. I emphasized to her that the editorial board sought transparency, and ab-horred false awards, particularly those with a price tag. However, there is nothing significant that I have learned to indicate the charity is not valid. So if you can endure an evening of people receiving awards that say they are ‘Outstanding’ but the real reason is because they rallied their friends and relatives to pay too much for a fancy dinner to see the award being won, which in reality seems like a good cause, call Darna Umayam at (323) 258- 4879 or email her at darnabumayam@hotmail.com. The awards dinner is slated on Saturday evening, July 28, 2012, at the Universal Hilton. If you pay a $1000 for your award, just say it is for those in need. You are outstanding for that reason alone.

From Page 1

Darna Umayam...

USA.That obviously what perked

initial interest in this particular pro-ject. Considering that it would in-volve a search for awardees among the millions of Filipino Americans in the whole USA it necessitates more time, much resources and vigorous efforts from organizers, announcements about qualifica-tions, interview dates and such other activities in flyers, airtime in radio and TV, newspaper notices and other media outlets.

Instead what she has are words of mouth, networking with friends and occasional contacts with visi-tors from other states, she said. Indeed they have some colored fly-ers, she said, but you know airtime costs are from three-four thousand dollars; even newspaper ads are ex-pensive. ABS-CBN, the principal beneficiary of the proceeds of the fundraising, has given free airtime to the “100 Outstanding” project starting only last month when criti-cisms about it started to surface.

Earlier she said that “”awardees were recommnded. They have to submit their write up and resume. We call them and set an interview. We don’t do it over the phone We have to meet them in person be-cause we don’t know some of the awardees.” How she personally meet and interview nominees from such faraway places as New Jer-sey or Chicago where outstanding FilAm potentials are numerous considering that they have zero funds has not been explained.

Ms. Umayam also lamented that it’s only her who is the focus of this expose’ when there are other people -- she referred to some gay persons -- who are doing fundrais-ing three to four times a year, don’t

The show will go on – Darna Umayamhave 501c3 registrations and don’t submit reports. “Kung binira lahat hindi gaano akong masaktan,” she said.

She also considered it inac-curate being linked to a certain community personality and a gay friend who reportedly absconded with other people’s money for a supposed coffee table book that didn’t materialize. PinoyWatchdog should be going after this kind of people who are going around vic-timizing the community instead of her, she said. She has not been associated with them anymore for three years now, said Ms. Umayam.

However, photos taken during the June 2, 2012 celebration of the 114th Anniversary of Philippine Independence show her in close proximity with one of the persons she mentioned as not being associ-ated with anymore. A press release for that event also listed the name of that same person as among the officers of the Philippine Inde-pendence Coordinating Council of Southern California (PICCSC), the only organization she claimed as truly her baby.

PinoyWatchDog.com men-tioned in the first installment of this series that it digs deeper into a per-vasive, scandal-prone practice as a means to open a discussion, and to professionalize and make transpar-ent the financial aspects of Fil-Am awards events and other Fil-Am fundraising activities.

Reader Don Azarias comment-ed in the PWD online edition: “It’s the same old story involving those pseudo-Fil-Am organizations that raise funds under false pretenses. We have them all over the United States and even north of the bor-der. I’m not saying all of them but, when it comes to the Almighty dol-lar they’ll do everything to get it.

When people ask them to provide statements of receipts and disburse-ments and the net proceeds, which fundraisers are legally and morally obligated to provide, the fundrais-ers are bound to raise hell or make a lot of outrageous excuses to avoid accounting of funds that could have already found their way into their own pockets.”

Ms. Umayam described the 100 Outstanding Filipino Americans in the USA as a legal fundraising pro-ject. From subsequent conversa-tions with her, it was gathered that the project originated from Philip-pines Press Club of the Philippines and Philippine Star Newspaper in Manila. The Manila press folks was in Carson some months ago for a photo exhibit in collaboration with the Philippine Press Photographers USA. The two groups decided to do a similar project in the USA.

“The press told them the only person here who can do big events like this scope is only me, Darna Umayam,” she said. She said that she was offered the position of pro-ject director and that Tina Monzon Palma, executive director of Ban-tay Bata 163 likewise convinced her to accept the position. Emails sent by PinoyWatchdog senior col-umnist Joel Bander to Ms. Palma to verify this claim remain unan-swered to date.

From an email dated sometime in February 2012 purportedly ad-dressed to a prospective honoree and furnished this publication, it was gathered that only two months from the time she supposedly ac-cepted the offer to go on with the project Ms. Umayam already had 193 recommendations in hand “with no advertisement only one on one with people... I had 82 al-ready who signed up as awardees. I had declined 12 recommendations

already. The 82 are already official honorees.”

All awardees must be pro-cessed, she said, on a “ first come-first served basis” and registration would be closed upon attainment of desired number of awardees by the Project Committee. However, she would not comment beyond saying that “Some of the Press people and of course myself as Project Director did the selection process.” There is no mention of who these press peo-ple are but it is known that she is a close friend of Mildred Dean and Norberto Reyes III, president and senior vice president-general coun-sel, respectively, of Pinoy Insider entertainment magazine.

Profit motive? Ms. Umayam also questioned

why PinoyWatchdog criticized her only now when it is already dif-ficult to make changes. Changing the word “Outstanding” to another word that would best reflect the fundraising nature of the project would already entail $2,000 in ex-tra expenditure, she said. This re-porter commented in response that PinoyWatchdog is not a part of the “100 Outstanding” project and that as a newspaper it is not its responsi-bility to dictate to private organiza-tions how to conduct their business. However, it is PinoyWatchdog’s obligation to comment and/or criti-cize to better inform the public.

About possible profits, she said earlier that the honorees are not paying. PinoyWatchdog had since obtained a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the projejct from another source, which she subse-quently confirmed as authentic. It says in Rule No. 1 that “As an Ambassador of Goodwill of this project each awardee will help so-licit Line Ad Sponsors at $ 25.00 and above for a total equivalent of $ 1,000.00. Each awardee who

will donate a one time amount of $ 500.00/above will be given a full page ad in the book.” In Rule No. 5 it says: “Each awardee is required to pay a non-refundable entry fee of $ 100.00 to cover expenses for meals during meetings and rehears-als, photo sessions, photo and re-sume layout and media and press publicity.”

Prominent community leader Bing De La Vega commented in PinoyWatchdog.com about a friend who has some information in this regard: “The recipient whom is a very close friend of mine informed me that he was telephoned for such award and towards the end of the telephone conversation, he was informed that he could mail the $1,000 donation.”

In the previous issue it was also mentioned that Ms. Maria Amor, businesswoman and beauty queen, told PinoyWatchDog.com she was simply called by Umayam, and asked to be among the awardees. Amor agreed, and had no problem when told about the $1000. “I have no problem about it,” she said. “I know this goes on, and it’s for a good cause.”

An attorney honoree, who asked not to be named, stated he/she was called and asked to be an honoree, but no mention of $1000 was made. However, he/she was asked for contribution, and said would probably buy an ad for the program. “They need a few awar-dees that are not in the inner circle to make it appear legitimate,” one observer told PWD. That attorney honoree said he/she was never sent any contracts or hold harm-less agreements. Neither of these honorees was required to submit any write-ups, resumes, etc. They were just called and asked.

The “100 Outstanding Filipino Americans in the USA” had a pres-entation of honorees/awardees on

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EditorialPinoyWatchDog.Com4 Saturday, July 7, 2012

A

We Are Not Engaged In

A Popularity Contest

Darna Umayam, do not invoke the name of God to make you look good and

PinoyWatchDog.com bad

S President of the com-pany (TanodBayan, Inc.) which publishes PinoyWatchDog.com, I am accepting responsi-

bility for the behavior and conduct of its writers and I am, therefore, duty bound also to respond and defend against the accusations of Mrs. Dolores Banaria Umayam, lovingly known in the community as Darna, that staff members only use this paper to get back at their enemies; twisting the facts in their reports and even fabricating them; that the community hates the likes of us because we are criticizing a noble undertaking. There is noth-ing farther from the truth, and this is just the normal reaction of an on-ion-skinned lady who failed to rec-ognize the benefits of having a set of criteria and judges to pass judg-ment. Suppose she missed to screen

the presence of candidates who may have been involved in estafa cases, persons who are “manunuba ng utang”, and one who is said to have been convicted of libel and a confessed “slut”. Would the pres-ence of these individuals make the likes of the senior councilman of Carson City, the Honorable Elito Macapagal Santarina, Atty. Ro-man Mosqueda, Dr. Carlos Paredes Manlapaz and Dr. Reynaldo Lan-dero, at ease during the presenta-tion of awards, knowing full well that they are being lumped together with persons whose moral turpitude is questionable? Likewise, I would like her to know that this paper is not engaged in a popularity contest, but just the same PinoyWatchDog.com gets a lot of emails from the community supporting, encourag-ing, and praising us for our coura-geous stand against the wrongdoing and impertinence of the establish-ment. By the way, our paper’s motto is: TRUTH is our reason for being.

Here’s the full text of my re-sponse: Dear Darna, I pray you’re in good and stable disposition to at least let me make myself clear.

PinoyWatchDog.comis published fortnightly by Tanod Bayan, Inc.,

mailing address at 1247 Arapahoe Street, # 7, Los Angeles, CA 90006, Telephone Number (213) 261-7467 and e-mail address at editor@pinoywatchdog.com

Alfonso Gaerlan Aquino Rene Villaroman Executive Editor Managing Editor

Joel Bander Dionesio C. Grava Francis Johann Verdote Senior Columnist Chief of Reporters Correspondent Lotis Kai Rosario , David Casuco Arturo Cariaga, Winston A. Marbella Contributing Writers Manila Correspondents

Larry PelayoEditorial Ombudsman

Lay-out and Graphics by

Web & SEO Strategist | Graphic Designer

open so that transparency and fiscal diligence are exercised when handling the public’s hard-earned money.

Ms. Umayam’s unfounded assertions also accused that PWD of being a habitual maligner of fellow Filipinos and that PWD has not written anything positive about the community. These assertions are particularly galling and funny at the same time be-cause they imply that Ms. Umayam may have just returned from a six-month vacation in Mars, or Pluto. Ms. Umayam probably had been so busy attending to her noble causes that she failed to notice the positive stories that PWD had been publishing since October 7, 2011.

Ms. Umayam is misinformed, blind or hard of hearing if she thinks that PWD has nothing else to do but bring people down. She wrote in her incendiary e-mail to PWD: “No one has THE RIGHT TO RIDICULE WRITE OR MALIGN ANYONE. You are all well educated and you know that.” Thanks for the compli-ment about the educational attainment of the PWD writers and editors. Ms. Umayam, you do not have to be very charitable re-garding our educational attainment. We are secure in our posi-tions as true journalists who are in a crusade to serve the public.

PWD believes that newspapering is not just about turning in a profit, calling to mind your call for advertisers to boycott this publication. We are not publishing this newspaper just to make friends. We are cognizant of the fact that along the way, we are going to have to step on some people’s toes in the course of our investigative reports. We accept that our enemies – those who want to retain the status quo – will berate even our ancestors and wish that God take as out because we are doing our job as a genu-ine newspaper that is serving the public good, unlike others that weekly put out vanilla-flavored articles written by reporters who are thousands of miles away in the homeland, with no connection or expertise of the local scene. In fact, Ms. Umayam, you are one of those persons that wishes us to die, as in your statement, “Sa dami ng taong nag cursed na sa inyo sa mga pambibira ninyo, baka bawian na kayo ng Diyos. SANA KILABUTAN KAYO SA MGA GINAGAWA NINYO.”

Actually, that foregoing wish is just that, wishful thinking. We expect to live longer and be a thorn to the sides of people who are abusing the public’s confidence. Ms. Umayam, do not speak like you are above us in matters of morality, as in your statement, “GOD MOVES IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS. Many people who ridiculed me from the past, are gone to rest. I still pray for them and I forgive them for the things they have done to me. I am just a leader and I lead by example.” How noble!

Indeed, if you want to lead by example, start by making your 100 Outstanding Filipino Americans in the United States a search that could be beyond reproach. Name the judges and/or the search committees involved in what we understand to be a national search, going by its name. We have asked for this in the course of our investigation, but we only received forestall-ing responses, and answers like some of the awardees were sug-gested by friends, and some awardees have amazing resumes. Is that how a nationwide search for outstanding achievers should be conducted? Ms. Umayam, your lackadaisical approach to your search is pitifully inadequate and can only be viewed as inconclu-sive. In fact, it is an insult to the intelligence of possible deserving nominees who, probably, never even heard about your national search.

We asked in our past EDITORIAL if this is in fact a search for outstanding Filipino Americans, why are the names of our most recent prominent achievers – American Idol first runner-up Jessica Sanchez, Pulitzer Prize winner Jose Antonio Vargas and California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye -- not included among the awardees? Are you telling us these FilAms were not deserving? Perhaps, they would be insult-ed if you asked them to come up with $1000 worth of advertis-

ing placements or dinner tickets. So you would rather that they be excluded. Ms. Umayam, your conduct of this search is as haphazard as your way of reasoning. Our readers who read all your e-mails to us – posted in full in our web site: www.pinoywatchdog.com – would see through your many incomplete, inane, defensive, and baseless assertions.

Finally, we can’t do anything if in fu-ture communications you would continue to invoke God’s name to add a spiritual layer to your charitable endeavors. We at PinoyWatchDog.com try to not involve God every time in our comments. What we can claim is that maybe, just maybe, God has been providing us with unassail-able courage and conviction to continue doing what we are doing.

T HE Project Director of the improbably named “100 Outstanding Filipino Americans in the United States” (100 OFAUS) has come out swinging after Part 1 of our series came out in our June 23 issue, quoting her friends and some of the 85 awardees in calling Pinoy-

WatchDog.com as “trash…garbage…..jukebox writers, etc, while at the same time invoking the name of God in her several e-mails to PinoyWatchDog.com. Please, Ms. Umayam, do not use those undignified words in the same paragraph with God.

Ms. Umayam’s self-proclaimed devotion to God is admirable on the surface, but for her to lecture PinoyWatchDog.com about God’s sense of justice is laugha ble because it implies that she is above us when it comes to matters of justice and morality. Is this the only way Ms. Umayam knows how to skirt the issues that this newspaper had raised about her and her group’s haphazard search for the 100 OFAUS? Ms. Umayam mentions God’s name in vain several times in her e-mails. Christian doctrine, as most of us know, teaches that to use God’s name in vain is a mortal sin. We do not have to inculcate this commandment into her virtuous lifestyle. As gleaned from several of her e-mails chastising PWD, Ms. Umayam had invoked the name of God many times as if He is a member of the board of her charitable organization.

You said, and we quote, “I have a very good life and many blessings from God! Doing projects like this (sic), to HELP the less fortunate especially the children.” A commendable and noble sound byte. But we are challenging you to open for the public’s benefit the books of all past fundraising projects that you have spearheaded, and respectfully -- we are using the God’s name in this instance -- asking Him to be the witness to your openness and transparency.

Additionally, as we have written in our 1st series, we would be content if you could announce approximately how much money would be raised from this project (from advertising placements in the souvenir program that you put together and from dinner ticket sales, etc.), after you are paid your two digit percentage profes-sional fee and your unspecified expense account; and how much of the proceeds would go “to HELP the less fortunate especially the children.” If you could take this challenge, we would com-mend you to high heavens for your honesty and transparency. But this is just one of our issues with your project.

Our second issue is that your accusations against PinoyWatch-Dog.com, as a reaction to this newpaper’s story and comments, were mostly generalized. Your assertions were aching for more introspection and polish. As a self-proclaimed community leader and a God-fearing person, we expected more dignified language than you used to lambast PWD staff members. This is the reason why there is an aphorism that says, “When you are angry, count to ten before making a statement that could haunt you.”

Some people may look up to your God-fearing ways, but there is a passage in the Bible in which Jesus Christ chastised a worshiper who was praying out load in full view of other be-lievers. Jesus Christ found that worshiper’s style hypocritical. Are you implying that we at PinoyWatchDog.com, unlike you, are Godless? It is very easy to hurl accusations at us because we do not readily bristle at criticisms and name calling. In fact, we delight in having people disagreeing with our stories because it fosters discussion and propels issues like these to the forefront of the Fil-Am community’s consciousness.

We think, in our own hearts, that you took umbrage at our courage to find fault in your project because this was the first time that a Fil-Am community paper took exceptions to your “noble” endeavors. It does not mean, however, that you are being targeted and singled out. This PWD campaign, which focuses the spot-light on questionable fundraising projects, will not be the last. But by this time, it would be obvious to other so-called charitable fundraisers that PinoyWatchDog.com will keep its eyes and ears

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OpinionPinoyWatchDog.Com 5Saturday, July 7, 2012

RThis brings to mind my ar-

ticle, “Judicial Independence” (November 24, 2006), which I wrote in the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision that dis-missed the petition for a people’s initiative to amend the Consti-tution. Had the High Court ap-proved that petition, it would have paved the way for then President Gloria Macapagal Ar-royo to become Prime Minister under a new parliamentary sys-tem for which the petition was intended.

The following is what I wrote on the subject of “judicial independence” six years ago:

Judicial Independence November 24, 2006

The recent decision of the Philippine Supreme Court to dismiss the petition for a peo-ple’s initiative to amend the con-stitution to replace the presiden-tial system with a parliamentary form of government has created a political storm. With a bare 8-7 majority, the decision penned by Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio caught a lot of people by surprise. People close to Presi-dent Gloria Macapagal Arroyo were expecting the Supreme Court to vote in favor of the pe-tition by at least a 9-6 majority. Why not?

It is interesting to note that President Arroyo appointed 11 of the 15 justices of the Supreme Court. Although former Presi-dent Fidel Ramos appointed Su-preme Court Justice Artemio V. Panganiban originally as Associ-ate Justice in 1995, it was Presi-dent Arroyo who appointed him as Chief Justice last year. Of the 11 Arroyo appointees -- includ-ing the Chief Justice -- six voted for the rejection of the petition. The two justices appointed by

Judicial Independence ReduxECENTLy, a Manila newspaper prefaced its edi-torial, “The new chief justice must not be anything less than a tower of moral virtues. He must also be a firm champion of judicial independence, the

principle of the separation of powers between the three co-equal branches of government.”

deposed President Joseph Estrada also voted with the majority. Of the five female justices, four vot-ed with the majority. Indeed the majority vote against the initia-tive would tell us that the Judicial Branch of the government has maintained its independence and integrity -- a healthy sign that de-mocracy is still alive in the Phil-ippines.

In the 52-page decision au-thored by Justice Carpio, he said that the High Court “cannot betray its primordial duty to de-fend and to protect the Constitu-tion.” He asserted that to allow the “constitutionally infirm ini-tiative, propelled by deceptively gathered signatures, to alter basic principles in the Constitution is to allow a desecration of the Con-stitution.” This was in reference to documented reports that those signing the petition did not know what they were signing. There were reports of signature-buying and coercion by barangay leaders. Justice Carpio wrote: “For sure, the great majority of the 6.3 mil-lion people who signed the signa-ture sheets did not see the full text of the proposed changes before signing.” He alluded that by de-ceiving the signatories, the entire nation was deceived as well. Car-pio concluded that “an initiative that gathers signatures from the people without first showing to the people the full text of the pro-posed amendment is most likely a deception, and can operate as a gigantic fraud on the people.”

Who is Justice Carpio? Born in Davao City of Ilocano father and Visayan mother, Carpio was President Arroyo’s first appoint-ment to the Supreme Court. Ap-pointed on his 52nd birthday in 2001, Carpio is the young-est among his peers in the High Court.

Carpio earned his undergrad-

uate degree in Economics from Ateneo de Manila University in 1970 and obtained his law degree from the University of the Philip-pines in 1975 where he graduated Cum Laude and valedictorian. He placed sixth in the Bar Examina-tion in the same year. He was a member of the Sigma Rho frater-nity and also served as Manag-ing Editor of the Philippine Col-legian, the official organ of U.P. In 1980, he and two other Sigma Rhoans -- Arthur Villaraza and Avelino Cruz, who recently re-signed as Arroyo’s Secretary of Defense -- founded the law firm Carpio, Villaraza and Cruz.

Carpio served as the firm’s managing partner until his ap-pointment in 1992 by then Presi-dent Fidel Ramos as Chief Presi-dential Legal Counsel. In 1997, he returned to law practice and also served as the Executive Di-rector of the ASEAN Business Law program of the UP College of Law. In 1998, President Ra-mos awarded him the Presidential Medal of Merit. In 2001, Presi-dent Arroyo appointed Carpio as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court under the leadership of Chief Justice Pan-ganiban and his predecessor, Hi-lario Davide, Jr., has been stead-fast in protecting the sanctity of the constitution of the republic. And there is nothing more im-portant than the issue of chang-ing the constitution itself. Chief Justice Panganiban was the swing vote that tilted the High Court to

vote in favor of Justice Carpio’s opinion -- two jurists who would have reason to show “loyalty” to President Arroyo for appointing them to their current positions. But they demonstrated their inde-pendence beyond doubt and their acts further reinforced the demo-cratic foundation of the nation.

With Chief Justice Pangani-ban’s impending retirement by the end of 2006, President Arroyo -- for the second time in her presi-dency -- is going to appoint an-other Chief Justice. Traditionally, one of the senior associate justic-es -- for a number of good reasons -- is chosen for the post. Recently, however, an “outsider” -- Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago -- has been nominated for the top post. While Miriam, as she is fondly called, is undoubtedly qualified for the position, there are reasons for apprehension to her appoint-ment as Chief Justice.

Miriam’s background in juris-prudence is par excellence. She graduated cum laude from the UP College of Law in 1969, earned a Masters of Laws degree from the University of Michigan in 1975, and finished her law doctorate after only six months. In 1983, she was appointed as Presiding Judge of a Regional Trial Court in Quezon City. In 1992, she ran for President and lost. In 1995, she ran for Senator and won. She ran again for President in 1998 and lost again. In 2004, Miriam made a political comeback when she ran for Senator and won. Her term ends in 2010.

If Miriam is going to be ap-pointed Chief Justice, she is go-ing to cross the boundary that separates the Legislative Branch and the Judiciary Branch of the government. While it is perfectly legal for her to make the move, there are questions -- and doubts -- that would always be hover-ing over her head. She’ll bring to the High Court all the political baggage that she may have ac-cumulated over the years. Think of the hordes of political leaders and supporters -- most of who may have contributed money to her campaigns -- to whom she owes “utang na loob” (debt of gratitude). Is she going to ex-

ercise judicial independence in making her decisions? Or would she succumb to pressure from her political benefactors and base her judicial decisions on “political expediency”? As Chief Justice, she may be recused from partici-pating in deliberations regarding cases where she may have -- real or perceived -- conflict of inter-est with people involved in those cases.

President Arroyo should desist from appointing a political figure to the Supreme Court. The wall that separates the Judicial Branch from the Legislative Branch must remain impenetrable. To put a revolving door between the two branches of the government would compromise the integrity -- and independence -- of the ju-diciary system. President Arroyo should -- nay, must! -- appoint from the ranks of the best and the brightest jurists of the land. And to appoint politicians, particularly political allies, to the High Court could invariably give unchecked -- if not absolute -- power to the Executive Branch. As Lord Ac-ton warned more than a century ago, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts abso-lutely.” It was true then, it is truer today.

“Arroyo Court”In 2009 and the early part of

2010, at least seven justices in-cluding Chief Justice Reynato Puno retired. This gave Gloria an opportunity to stack the High Court with justices who were loyal to her. When Puno retired early, it gave Gloria a golden op-portunity to appoint Justice Re-nato Corona -- her former Chief of Staff when she was Vice Presi-dent -- as Chief Justice. That was the end of the High Court’s inde-pendence.

Now that Corona is removed from office, the Judicial and Bar Council is faced with a daunting challenge. What yardstick would they use to measure a nominee’s independence? With 65 nomi-nees and two applicants for the Chief Justice position, the “pro-cess of elimination” would be quite interesting to watch. (Per-ryDiaz@gmail.com)

I am saying that I have no prob-lem with your resume’ as an in-dividual, as an achiever, and as a humanitarian advocate. You must realize that I’ve praised to high heavens your credentials as awesome and very impressive indeed, something which can surely pass the level of “outstanding”. That’s how I looked at you. If what I had criticized in your project--the lack of criteria and judges,

the two requirements which are necessary to provide le-gitimacy for the Search for the Outstanding 100 Filipinos in the USA--hit a most sensi-tive nerve, I would like to of-fer this advice: you must learn to recognize the message first and not to immediately pro-ceed to kill the messenger. It is not enough to invoke a good cause, a charitable endeavor, as the final and appropriate justification for doing away with the usual vetting of can-

didates and who would pass judgment, because that would be arguing that the end justifies the means, which is the last ref-uge of a scoundrel.

You must also know this: Journalists are sworn and duty- bound to write only the facts in order to arrive at the truth. They are imbued with the excep-tional courage to expose and denounce wrongdoings, who-ever may get hurt in the pro-cess, all in the pursuit of truth, sometimes even at the cost of

From Page 4 their lives. Those who do not subscribe to this simple truism are nothing but impostors of the worst kind, and these are the kind who abound in our midst, the kind the public and you must be enjoying their acquaintance presently.

Finally, I would like you to know that I have nothing against you personally, nor do my col-leagues in this paper, which I can vouch with my honor. As a matter of fact, I appreciate and admire your candor to be transparent as far as fi-nancial issues are involved, as you

We Are Not Engaged In A Popularity Contesthave admitted to charge only for administrative expenses, which to me is normal. It would help also to know that PinoyWatch-Dog.com and yours truly are not accusing you of any wrongdo-ing, or worst, thievery. Whatever it was that you have committed is simply an inadequacy that is bound to happen, and it can hap-pen to everybody. Good luck, and here’s to you----may you enjoy every moment of your achievements and successes! al-fonsogaquino@gmail.com

My View

PinoyWatchDog.Com6 Saturday, July 7, 2012

Saturday, May 26, 2012Opinion

H

A

Back to the local Pinoy-Am scene. It astounds me that some of our local Pinoy “leaders” cannot overcome old-country hold-over antics, like conducting snap elec-tions, giving out dubious awards in exchange for money or services, or holding a benefit or fundraiser without being financially- transpar-ent. Some years, the negativity had almost turned me off completely, to the extent that I would have noth-ing to do with Pinoys; or at least, Pinoys of a certain persuasion (see sentence #2 above). But more often than not, in the years I’ve strived to be of service to our com-munity, I’ve been blessed to meet some of the most laudable, inspir-ing and dedicated individuals who truly make positive and significant contributions, be it time, talent or treasure, or any combination of the three. A lot of these leaders are low- key, humble and selfless to a fault. I met (and continue to meet) a lot of them during FPAC, the Annual Fes-tival of Philippine Arts and Culture,

SIPA: Pinoy- American Organization Transcends Old-Country Crab Pot

AvING lived in Los Angeles and being involved in the Fil-am community for the past 32 years, starting out as a youth leader at St. Columban Parish, I’ve seen people and organizations come and go. I’ve been exposed to all possible behav-iors, attitudes and traits of my fellow Kababayans, ranging from idealism, heroic

selflessness, and pure love of community, to pettiness, “kayabangan” or boastfulness, pure narcissism and flagrant selfishness. The recent unpleasantness involving a candidate with the unmitigated gall to run for local public office comes to mind. This self-proclaimed “com-munity leader” had the incredible campaign strategy of cozying up to Philippine officials, celebs and beauty queens, while dealing with mostly- Philippine concerns (said person was running for a US public office seat!), instead of sticking to urgent local issues or enlisting the aid of local district leaders and stakeholders. It was enough to almost make me throw up my adobo and fried rice every time I heard of the latest shenanigans. But forgive me- as usual, I digress.

now on its 21st year. I’ve met a few of them at FilamARTS, the As-sociation for the Advancement of Philippine Arts and Culture. And of course, I met some of them at SIPA.

Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) celebrated its 40th anniversary this past Saturday, June 30th with an awards benefit dinner and concert. The event made it possible for community members and leaders to celebrate the or-ganization’s legacy, or PAMANA. While I have not been as involved with this non-profit as much as I have wanted to, I certainly ac-knowledge that it has contributed a heckuva lot to our community, way more than all these other region-centric Pinoy organizations have, as a whole. I am sure that I will get flak for stating what I’ve just stated, but hello, Juan dela Cruz, the truth almost always hurts, ‘no?

At the heart of the problem, in all the years I’ve been interact-ing with and observing our fellow kababayans here in LA, is “immi-

grant” thinking, and the recently much-ballyhooed, Facebook-dis-cussed Pinoy “crab mentality;” I have an Editor friend at another publication that HATES this term, and he has plenty of reason to. But that in itself is another topic worthy of exploration. When I say “Im-migrant” thinking, I am not down-playing the industriousness, dedi-cation and loyalty that most of our first-generation, worker kababay-ans display on a daily basis. I am referring to those traits that some of our more cynical, first- gen folks exhibit- deviousness, deceit, greed, selfishness, and especially, putting one’s own interests first, before oth-ers. That mentality keeps one in the proverbial “Crab Pot” so to speak. It keeps some older Pinoy-Ams shackled- with doubt, conceit and fear. You can see it in their eyes, re-gardless of how dolled-up they are.

At the SIPA event, it was obvi-ously an out-of-the-crab pot situa-tion. I saw none of those sickening behaviors I commonly see at a big

Pinoy event- people grabbing seats that don’t belong to them, arguing with the registration people about tickets or seating, or self-important preening and gesturing, as if one had just descended from a royal carriage. I didn’t see a Red Carpet. What I did see was a disciplined group of people who did not need to be hushed up while a speaker was onstage; I saw a group of peo-ple who were attentive and gener-ous, participating in the fundraising process. I saw a group of people who, well, cared. Cared enough to recognize that the event was held for a higher purpose- not to glamor-ize self-involved “outstanding” in-dividuals with awards of question-able providence, but to recognize true talent and contribution; to give credit where credit was due.

The people in attendance, in-cluding some non- Pinoys, lent more than significance to the event; it made for an evening that would make any true Filipino- American proud. Leading the charge was the inspiring Joel Jacinto, SIPA’s Ex-ecutive Director, of course. Angela Baraquio Grey, Miss America 2001 was the Mistress of Ceremonies for the awards benefit. My picky Pinoy-Am Foodie palate was sur-prised and very much pleased by the Filipino-inspired menu de-signed by Chef Cecilia de Castro.

Among those honored was Apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas, who was bestowed with the Gintong Tulong Award for Corporate Phi-lanthropy; Carlito Jocson, Corpo-rate Executive Chef and Partner for Yard House Restaurants, who received the Kalampusan Award for Corporate Achievement; Mona Pasquil, Appointments Secretary for the Office of California Gover-nor Jerry Brown, who was present-ed the Uliran Award; and Ricky Ni-erva, Production Designer for Pixar Animation Studios, who received the Gawad Manlilikha Award for Creative Arts. Other luminaries and performers included Jennifer Paz of Miss Saigon fame, Robert Shroder of FASO (Filipino-American Sym-phony Orchestra), YouTube sen-sation AJ Rafael, award- winning Pinoy band IntroVoys, vocalist Har-lem Lee, The Three Filipino Tenors, actor Reggie Lee, singer Krystle Tugadi, and Gelo Francisco with the Philippine Chamber Singers.

For the past forty years, SIPA has developed programs and ser-vices that support the HiFi (Historic Filipinotown) community and be-yond. Most noticeably with SIPA, as with my experience with Fi-lamARTS, our young Fil-Ams are well-utilized and have active roles in executing the Mission of the or-ganization. Perhaps this is where the difference lies: having less or none of the negative baggage of some of their first-generation elders, our youth, (with the guidance of some of our more enlightened leaders like Joel Jacinto), are more capable of true community service. They may be less prone to self-serving inter-ests and behaviors. As such, I have great hopes for the future. Perhaps in my lifetime, I will hear less and less of “crab mentality,” and more about future success stories- a di-rect and positive outcome of the ef-forts of organizations like SIPA that uplift, and lend true service to our community.

When a public figure was ac-cused of something, he said he’s a victim of crab mentality; criticized a known smuggler or pusher, he’s a victim of crab mentality; when a popular civic leader is accused of a crime hidden from the public eye, he claims he is a victim of “crab mentality,” etc.

When government officials are exposed of their crimes and people don’t stop reading the exposes, the accusers are said to be suffering from crab mentality.

A former Filipino-American elected official in a nearby city in Los Angeles once said I was the perfect example of a journalist suf-fering and afflicted with crab men-tality; that I am a disgrace to the Fourth Estate which I represent as a member.

He was also a member of the press that time. When he was elect-ed to a government position, he for-gets that whenever journalists write something it becomes a statement to the whole world, and whatever sees print becomes a written evi-dence against us.

Looking back after many years ago, this man was stripped of his power and position, he was im-prisoned and until now is hardly seen in public. This writer whom he branded openly as a crab is still writing, free and was never impris-oned. The late Senior Assembly-

In defense of crab mentality

woman Sally Acosta (may she rest in peace) voluntarily defended me and sent her disagreement to this Fil-am elected official.

Just when did this phrase come into existence?

Whoever coined these words created a gross injustice to the crabs that we eat.

Just why should we blame crabs for our unwanted traits? Crabs can’t complain but they need justice too. They should not be the scapegoats (or scapecrabs) or sac-rificial crabs by criminals in our midst.

For those who hate reading my previous columns, allow me to re-peat what I wrote before, because whether you like it or not, you are reading this article now.

For those who pretend to be super clean or always right, all you need is to obtain a copy of a labo-ratory experiment conducted by a group of Filipino scientists back home in the early 60s. While doing some lab tests, they noticed crabs used for other tests were moving around the lab away from their cage or “timba” where they were held. They tried to find out how the crabs were able to free themselves from their “kulungans” so they decided to bring the crabs back in the “timba” and watched how the escape was done.

True to what was written, the

crabs were seen pulling each other causing most of them to fall. Those with bigger legs and claws were able to stay on top of the others un-til they formed a pyramid of crabs. The stronger was elevated to the top and assigned to pull the rest one by one.

A perusal of the recorded tape (then called beta tape) actu-ally showed the tricks done by the crabs. Their Great Escape from the “timba” was a cooperative effort by the strongest and the smallest crabs participating in the escape.

Whoever then coined the phrase “crab mentality” to give it a nega-tive meaning is misinformed. He can be likened to an individual who went to a movie without finishing it until the end. He did not watch the united escape by the crabs.

Or shall we say then the com-munity is suffering from double standard or double-speak syn-drome between the rich and the poor, or between criminals and the law abiding.

Remember back home, if you are poor and you have “galis”, they call it “kurikong’ while the rich call theirs “skin rashes”; if you are poor and you eat a lot, you are “ma-takaw” while the rich are “maga-na.” Lately with the arrival of imported ladies fashion bags, those who can’t afford the name brands are “nakamura”, and the rich ones

are “naka-gucci.” Only in the United States did

we hear the overused phrase “crab mentality” among Filipinos. Do we have many criminals here or fund-raising thieves who used these terms as their defense when they failed to escape the public eye? Or is it because of the many negative traits or ugali displayed by those commonly seen on social gatherings?. Is it normal or simply the attitude of people whose little success pushed them to the verge of being euphoric and drunk by what they didn’t experienced back home?

PinoyWatchDog is victim of double standard

Recently our readers were shocked when they read our front page and cover stories about a com-mon practice in the community, that of fund-raising and bestowing of unbelievable titles.

Some individuals are suckers for titles that are hard to earn if they don’t part with hundreds or thou-

sands of dollars, combined with selling of advertisements and din-ner tickets. These leave the com-munity now confused in search for the reasons why more deserving individuals are left behind. A civ-ic leader in a neighboring city said he feels awkward to be surrounded by people who are hard to believe were selected as outstanding, with trophies taller than fire hydrants in spite of their questionable back-grounds.

Some groups reacted as if they were the ones addressed to or re-ferred by our staff. This led us to believe and asked ourselves “Pare-pareho na ba ang mga ito? Wala na bang exception or exemption?”

We noticed too that there are some groups claiming to have the support, or contract with the ABS-CBN Foundation. On the outside this gives an impression that the group is officially sanctioned to do the fund-raising. In exchange for what or how much or to what extent?

The article did not mean to pinpoint a single entity. It is di-rected to those who are already in existing, and a reminder for those who will be coming. Just do it right.

We regret that those who are obviously doing it right and in ac-cordance with the laws were also partly hit.

But we are happy that as of press time, some community lead-ers sent or e-mailed already their concurrences with our front page story. One even mentioned “Kahit sa lamayan ng patay, pinagu-usa-pan ang inyong diyaryo.” Hayun na.

MONG Filipinos, the term “crab mentality” means a negative trait, a disgrace to the person accused of having the same. It is the defense invoked by people charged with something negative or illegal; or exposing a crime performed by certain individuals living on glass pedestals or self-made brittle monuments of fame.

PinoyWatchDog.Com 7Saturday, July 7, 2012

N grade school, we learned this song about the dignity of labor:

Planting rice is never fun, bent from morn till set of sun; can not stand and cannot sit, can not rest a little bit...

Probably because of the lessons imparted by this song, we don’t mind toiling in many lands, doing whatever it takes to bring food on the table for our loved ones. This is heroism of the highest order – this thing called self-sacrifice. It becomes doubly nobler when it is done even when not fun.

Happiness index There are many ways of rank-

ing a country’s performance: gross domestic product (GDP) is com-mon. Less common are competi-tiveness index, governance index, freedom index.

The new kid on the block in ranking countries is – Happiness Index. Because we are a naturally happy people, you might think we’d do better by this measure. Think again.

Gallup polls taken from 2005-2011 ranked countries in terms of happiness.

Diplomatically crazyThe ranking appears in the

World Happiness Report (WHR), edited by three economists: John

Saturday, May 26, 2012Opinion

Planting rice was never funHelliwell of the University of Brit-ish Columbia, Richard Layard of the London School of Economics, and Jeffrey Sachs of the University of Columbia.

Professor Sachs was in the Philippines recently for the Asian Development Bank’s 45th annual meeting. He described the Philip-pine economy very graciously as “complicated.” That’s diplomatic talk for crazy.

Using the usual GDP growth rate standard, the Philippines ranked worst among Southeast Asian nations. Among ASEAN-5 (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) nations, the country is expected to grow the slowest this year and over the next few years, says the International Monetary Fund.

Jobless In unemployment rate, the

Philippines ranked first with 7.2% jobless -- much higher than In-donesia’s 6.7% (Q32011), Viet-nam’s 4.4% (2010), and Malay-sia’s 3.0% (Q42011). Thailand has near full employment rate at 0.6% (Q32011).

In the war on poverty, our ASE-AN-5 counterparts have long met the United Nations Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halv-ing poverty before 2015.

Official numbers show that poverty has largely remained the same over the last 10 years. In 2009, poverty incidence was 26.5%,

slightly higher than the 26.4% in 2006 and 24.9% in 2003. But to reduce poverty by half in 2015, we need reduce poverty incidence by 2 percentage points every year.

Miserable In happiness levels, we ranked

last among our neighbors. We were 103rd while Malaysia was 51st, Thailand 52nd, Vietnam 65th, and Indonesia 83rd, says the World Happiness Report.

Singapore is the happiest coun-try in the Asia Pacific region after New Zealand and Australia. The

most miserable countries in Asia Pacific are in South Asia: India 94th, Bangladesh 104th, Nepal 121st, Sri Lanka 130th and Af-ghanistan 131st. The Philippines’ ranking is closer to to the miserable South Asia group of countries than to ASEAN-5.

Denmark is the happiest coun-try in the world, followed by Fin-land, Norway, Netherlands, Can-ada, Switzerland, Sweden, New Zealand, Australia and Ireland in the top 10. The United States ranks 11th.

A person’s happiness is deter-mined by “external” factors (in-come, work, community and gov-

ernance and values and religion) and “personal” features (mental health, physical health, family ex-perience, education, and gender and age).

Managing satisfaction For policy makers, the most im-

portant are the environmental fac-tors affecting happiness, because these can be managed. So they also seek to track how each factor im-pacts happiness.

Work is a major factor. “Unem-ployment causes as much unhappi-ness as bereavement or separation. At work, job security and good relationships do more for job satis-faction than high pay and conveni-ent hours,” according to the Report.

“A key relationship comes through work. It provides not only a livelihood but a source of mean-ing -- feeling needed and able to contribute. But not everyone can get work, nor if they can, is it al-ways satisfying,” says the report.

Self-esteem “When people become unem-

ployed they experience sharp falls in well-being and their well-being remains at this lower level until they are re-employed. The esti-mated effect is typically as large as the effect of bereavement or separation, and the unemployed share with these other experiences the characteristic of ceasing to be needed,” the report says.

“High unemployment also has spillover effects not only on the families of the unemployed but also on those in work, who feel less secure in their jobs. Thus, private sector employees are more affect-ed than public sector employees, whose jobs are more secure.”

High income does not neces-sarily guarantee happiness. Job se-curity, interesting assignment, and autonomy are more satisfying.

The quality of work is impor-tant, according to the WHR. The report argues that “…when in work, the quality of life at work is also crucial. The view that job quality consists of pay and hours of work has by now largely been supersed-ed.”

Happy entrepreneursHigh income does not neces-

sarily guarantee happiness. Job se-curity, interesting assignment, and autonomy are more satisfying.

In the Philippines, the number of self-employed (entrepreneurs, market vendors, farmers, pedicab workers, unpaid family workers, etc.) is high. Are we happier?

“When it comes to autonomy, some workers can completely con-trol their quality of work, because they are self- employed. The self-employed do worse on many job di-mensions, including income, hours of work and job security, but even so they often report higher levels of overall job satisfaction than do the employed,” the study found.

“This need not necessarily mean that the self-employed expe-rience greater overall satisfaction with their lives, if they are sacrific-ing other dimensions of their lives to their job.”

The self-employed are not nec-essarily better off, especially if self-employment is not by choice, but because no other jobs can be found.

(Winston A. Marbella is presi-dent of a management think tank specializing in transforming socio-economic trends into public pol-icy and business strategy; e-mail mibc2006@gmail.com.)

Client Care News

► By Angel Dayan, News Correspondent CPA, EA, ABA, ATA | www.taxwork.com

was thinking if I should even touch this but here I am for I want to pro-tect you. It tells me a sign when there is dif-

ficulty in people’s lives to save money. I get bombarded with financial services representatives and consultants of all sorts, try-ing to connect to get clients for their products and services. Yes, I could help them but sometimes I am not so sure, especially on this one. It is either in insurance ser-vices help or retirement planning directions or some form of finan-cial services concern that people may need assistance. I recall in a good economy, these financial or insurance consultants never bother to reach out to struggling accountants. Clients most likely just came to them like swarm-ing bees and that was so easy. But that was then with lessons to learn and those“good days” are gone. I understand people’s hid-den sentiments today on a slower paced business, in a very fragile economy that we are all trying to survive with. I could still send re-ferrals, yes, whenever there will a need for it as I am asked for help. But why am I also being recruited to join this business?

Be one like them, “you bean

Financial Services Hoot

counter”guy was my nagging message. I just cannot join and that makes it sad for my recruiter. One group with a weird “market-ing hoot” of an upbeat new age Sky Walker to tune up the re-cruits’ voice enthusiasm in this business was so proud to flout its client sign-up accomplish-ments. But there was no food or drinks to partake on kindly, (an omen of struggle) that tells me how difficult it has become. The synchronized half-baked-smiles in photo op moments could be interpreted in body language as made up; seemingly the opposite of the real dollar that actually hit the bank account. The recruits’ demographics are, interestingly, Filipinos, Vietnamese, Cambo-dians, and Orientals, with a few Hispanics etc. All are Americans now but are all mostly browns, with a few blacks. They all “hum the hoot” like an owl but the next show I predict could be commis-sion checks flying all over the room, maybe with a good snack in the room. It has not happened yet at this time. It did before. Bogus checks and testimonies like dur-ing the good old financial servic-es company days may come back to time. It may be like sounds of hell from the dead. God forbid

bogus checks could become like confetti. I will tell you more as I listen to the scheme and rub more shoulders.

But then I also wonder if all insurance in all products has some form of Ponzi scheme twist, like social security, and Medicare contributions, and some gam-bling games in Las Vegas.I think so and really sorry. Maybe you know this and I am just playing dumb. We’ve learned to entertain these government programs over the years and we cannot trust them no more.

What have we got good go-ing in this country these days that will help more people survive the economy? Nothing much. May-be, this new financial services hoot? Tell me. Something real will come up. Definitely! Some-thing I hope would be good to do and reliable. But not yet. Tell me more about your checking account deposits, every week on this program. Or maybe your in-come tax return that I could verify with the IRS files. Or your check-book memo, if you are writing it anyway, since it will tell me a lot in discovery.

They tell me also I could get to join a vacation cruise in the wa-ters of some faraway lands. Then, it would be “Life living it.”Very enticing! The Thomas Aquinas in me may be buried like I should eat my words or I should know better. But I graduated from the University after this name. I am the most cynical accountant you could ever find.I was trained to be a skeptic in my career. Skepti-

cism you should know is an ac-countant’s jargon. It is objective. Maybe I am a crazy accountant! Just kidding.

Something is also telling me that do not seem right. God I hope is leading here. People take the difficult role of taking ex-ams to be able to do the financial services and insurance business legal. The fact that others may have done this business without a license in the past would again be a discovery for me. I see differ-ent title descriptions on business cards, i.e., Associate, Marketing Director, Independent Repre-sentative. My feeling should bet-ter not be true. I should be wrong. If my suspicion is right, then we could still be in a mess in certain levels of the financial services business in this country, but the “hoot” may be appropriate to lift up broken spirits for those who got lost in the corporate world transition/translation that have no jobs but found a new economic vehicle to put their time on. It was good tears for the hooter. It provides employment. May all the best be with World Marketing Group. I catch that, Marketers. But my caution would be then if you are really serious to be into this business, get all the licenses you could become to be and add them to your last name as ini-tials. It gives respect and you get mine. Not having anything after your last name makes someone inadequate, a non-organic hoot-aromatic hired financial repre-sentative rep, masked as financial services consultant, some quack-

ing peons and owls of the huge financial conglomerate from an-other country (Canada) with the capability to financial Ponzi-twist in America, or to shout the hoot out of Duluth, Georgia into Ana-heim, California and elsewhere more than an owl could. It was in fact annoying to me. Have fun you guys and earn a legal living but do what is right! Someone whispered to me like an Eve ser-pent, “One person makes a mil-lion dollars in this business” Yes, if it is true, I blew to the wind;“ let me verify her income tax returns straight from the IRS records.”I got introduced later to the million dollar lady but she does not dress or appeared a bejeweled lady to exude like a millionaire. My in-ward parts groan in a whisper, “Please do not do that to me, or sing tralala. It creates distrust and destroys whole personality.”But still no word came out from my mouth out of respect. It was quiet afterwards. Eve’s apple thrown at my face was a million dollars. It stirs greed—some evil medita-tions of the heart. I went home late that night still reverberated by the “hoot.” Why was I there any-way? A client invited me. Well, it was something to write about in this column and for the “Dog” (Pinoy Watchdog) with nothing lost, but all gained to teach you to be careful with hooters. We may have new herds of financial sheeps/wolves in town again with hoot sounds. Are they for real? I hope so. I have seen something similar before that blew away. Tell me more.

I

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PinoyWatchDog.Com8 Saturday, July 7, 2012

E ntert inment&Arts

►By Oliver Carnay

Outfest celebrates 30 years (July 12 - 22, 2012); John Waters to receive 16th annual

Lifetime Achievement AwardUTFEST, the Los Angeles-based non-profit organiza-tion dedicated

to nurturing, showcasing and protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media is the na-tions leading LGBT festival and the oldest film festival in the city of Los Angeles (now celebrating its 30 year anniversary). In addition to the 147 films from 24 coun-tries, Outfest hosts a variety of panels and special events at venues across Los Ange-les, including Hollywood, West Hollywood and down-town. The 30th L.A. Gay & Lesbian Film Festival will be held from July 12th to 22nd, 2012.

Jeffrey Schwartz’s HBO documentary “Vito,” will open the festival (to be held at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown, Los Angeles) preceded by a tribute to John Waters, receiving the 16th

annual Lifetime Achieve-ment Award.

Exceptional films and talents in this year’s 11-day festival include John Waters (L.A. Premiere of “Desper-ate Living”), Chris Colfer, Christina Hendricks, Dermot Mulroney and Allison Jan-ney (“Struck by Lightning”), Brenda Fricker and Olym-

pia Dukakis (“Cloudburst”), Harry Shum, Jr., B.D. Wong, Joan Chen, Tyler Posey and Booboo Stewart (“White Frog”), Adam Pally, Casey Wilson and Stephen Guarino (“Happy Endings” panel), Alan Cumming and Gar-ret Dillahunt (“Any Day Now”), Haley Joel Osment and Ashley Rickards (“Sassy Pants”), Jamie Lynn-Sigler and David Ross (“I Do”), Thora Birch, Christine Lahti and Brittany Snow (“Petu-nia”), Carrie Preston, Anna Heche and Alia Shawkat (“That’s What She Said”), Justin Vivian Bond and Zosia Mamet (“Sunset Sto-ries”), Michael Urie (“Thank You for Judging”), Lance Bass (“Mississippi: I Am”), Stephane Rideau and Bea-trice Dalle (“Our Paradise”), and Jonathan Caouette (“Walk Away Renee”).

In its Five in Focus series, Outfest spotlights a quintet of exciting new talent behind the camera and on the big screen. The 2012 selections include: Alicia Luz Rodri-guez (actress, “The Young & The Restless”), Wu Tsang (Filmmaker, “Wildness”), Sally El Hosaini (Writer/Di-rector, “My Brother the Dev-il”), Matthew Wilkas (Ac-tor, “Bayby”) and Michael Marius Pessah (Cinematog-rapher, “Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean”).

Tickets and film sched-ule are now available at www.Outfest.org

Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles (DFFLA) from July 6 to July13; DFFLA offers 3 important Industry Panel Discussions

Downtown Film Festi-val Los Angeles (DFFLA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to showcasing the best in independent cinema in the heart of the world’s Entertainment & Arts Capi-tal. Since 2008, the festi-val has screened more than a thousand narrative and documentary features and shorts. This year’s festival will continue DFFLA’s tradi-tion of fearless innovation in programming and exciting after-screening events held in world-class lounges, pri-vate downtown artists’ lofts and historic theaters. For schedule and how to pur-chase tickets, please go to www.dffla.com

For the filmmaker pro-fessional and those who as-pire to be, this year’s festival presents three panels cover-

ing a wide range of the latest tools and technology for get-ting films to market and seen by audiences. All panels will be held at LACDA gal-lery, 102 West Fifth St., Los Angeles 90013 (southeast corner of Main and Fifth in downtown L.A.) Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance by logging on www.dffla.com (go to Panels) or at the door.

New Ventures For Film-makers, Saturday, July 7 at 5 p.m. FilmBreak, the film and entertainment industry’s premier funding and distri-bution platform, will give filmmakers unprecedented access to tools and resources they need to project their concept onto the big screen. Be in room when FilmBreak presents their platform to a group of accredited investors and filmmakers. Flix on Stix is a revolutionary self-serve kiosk designed to allow con-sumers to download content such as movies, TV shows, video games, ebooks and music. With this new tech-

John Waters will receive the 16th annual Outfest Lifetime Achievement Award pre-ceding the Opening Night film screening of Jeffrey Schwartz’s HBO doc feature “Vito”

Tyler Posey (“Teen Wolf”) and Booboo Stewart in a scene from “Wild Frog,” which will have its L.A. Premiere at Outfest 2012.

Fil-Am actress Jessica Rey, (Power Rangers: Wild Force - White Tiger Ranger), will join other former Power Rangers in a panel discussion at the ITVFest this Saturday, July 7 at 2 p.m.

Turn to Page 10

O

PinoyWatchDog.Com

Saturday, July 7, 2012 9

March 25, 2012 at the Sierra Ballroom of Universal Hilton Hotel. In photos taken dur-ing the event, some readers pointed out that the persons shown were overwhelmingly from the Los Angeles and nearby areas and that among the supposed awardees are pho-tographers who belong to the PPP-USA, a co-sponsor of the project, and some of Ms. Umayam’s friends.

Informed about this Ms. Umayam ex-plained that out of the 100 honorees only eight were “real close friends” and “the rest

of the honorees were acquaintances and some were highly recommended.” She also said, “I have no 7 photographers who are honorees. Let me know who said that. Where is he getting his facts when I have not officially released the names of the honorees yet.”

More than three months after the pres-entation of more than 80 supposed awar-dees -- the rest of the 100 will be attending the project finale called Black Tie Awards Night on July 28, 2012 at the same hotel-venue, she said.

From Page 3

The show will go on – Darna Umayam

PinoyWatchDog.Com 10 Saturday, July 7, 2012

nology consumers can transfer files quickly and easily onto almost any form of portable media, from memory sticks to tablets to even smart phones. If you are looking for distri-bution for your film, you might want to con-sider this amazing opportunity. Flix on Stix is what the independent film community has been waiting for!

Filmmaking and The Law, Saturday, July 8 at 11 a.m. In this panel discussion, sea-soned entertainment attorney Jaia Thomas will moderate a panel of experts on legal is-sues you will face during your filmmaking journey and throughout your search to find the right distribution partner. Think of it as a really expensive consultation session but for only 10 bucks! This year’s panelists include Morris Bird (formerly at Lionsgate), Bryan Duran (currently at RogueFlix, and formely at Warner Bros. and Universal Studios, An-chor Bay doing finance, business and legal affairs) and others to be announced. The pan-el includes generous time for questions from the audience.

Building An Audience With Social Me-dia, Sunday, July 8 at 1 p.m. Bring your lap-top for this hands-on workshop presented by Linda Nelson and Michael Madison, found-ers of Nelson Madison Films & Indie Rights. Attendees will learn how to sell and market their films through social media platforms, custom marketing strategy based on the film’s current production phase, analysis and recommendations relating to niche markets for the film, recommendations about what to sell and where. Using Facebook Timeline Movie Page as a platform to develop strate-gies for building a strong audience for their films, topics include using graphics and cus-tom apps, how to use Insights to track pro-gress, different ways on how to engage your audience, advertising and more!Tidbits: Fil-Am actress and now successful entrepreneur, JESSICA REY (Power Rang-ers: Wild Force - White Tiger Ranger) will join other POWER RANGERS at ITVFest’s panel discussion this Saturday, July 7 at 2 pm at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Outfest celebrates 30 years...

UNE 30, 2012. A day and a half after PAL’s 747’s black gigantic tires kissed LAX’s runway. Two stories were in hand. It was a toss up between covering the Anti-Walmart march in Chinatown or

an album launch at Kapistahan Grill. I could have gone to both events, but my jumbled brain is still processing the change in time zones.

The choice was a no-brainer – thanks to a con-fused circadian rhythm. I got out of bed two hours past the 10am An-ti-Walmart march. Since I was not able to catch a gig or two in the Phil-ippines, the closest thing to that expe-rience is covering the album launch of New Day in August. The post-punk, new wave rock band is 5-piece group composed of Richie on vocals and guitar, Rex on guitar and vocals, Don on Bass and vocals, Tolitz on keyboards, and Mike on drums.

The album entitled First Flight is a 5-track album with 3 original songs: Faceless Mir-ror, Close My Eyes, and Looking Back. The two other tracks are Close My Eyes (Lounge Mix) and Looking Back (Boy Wonder Mix).

Saturday, May 26, 2012Entertainment & Arts

New Day in August Shines on a Cool June Night

The show was set to start at 7pm at Kapistahan Grill in Historic Filipinotown. Knowing P-Town’s parking situation could be as horrifying as a Filipino horror flick, my friend and I made sure we would be at Ka-pistahan’s doors by 6:30pm.And we did.

Except for New Day in August rehears-ing and the Kapistahan staff, the whole plaza seemed like a ghost town waiting for breath-ing souls to resuscitate a dying urban melting pot.

Some people may be coming late from work but, perhaps, there are folks who keep on reminding themselves of “Filipino Time,” mean-ing 7pm really is some-where between 7:30 and 8pm. “Filipino Time” is an overused and a self-fulfilling cliché. Out of respect for the work and effort musicians and or-ganizers, we, the young representatives of our community, must have a new mantra: Early is on

time, and on time is late.The album launch did take off a few min-

utes after 7:30pm. With a few friends and art-ists as audience, the first band, Mega Small, took the stage. Mega Small was followed by Carpools, a local band where Glenn Jacinto plays the bass.

The typical Saturday night Los Angeles traffic further delayed New Day in August’s first flight. The organizers opened up the

► By Francis Verdote

From Page 8

Other former Power Rangers to include the panel discussion are Cerina Vincent (Yellow Galaxy Ranger), Jason Ybarra (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers as “Ba-boo”), Catherine Sutherland (Turbo & Zeo -Pink Power Ranger), Nakia Burrise (Turbo & Zeo Yellow Power Ranger), and Walter Zones (Original Series - Black Ranger). ITVFest runs from July 5th to 8th.

Star Wars star Billy Dee Williams (Lan-do Calrissian), Bruce Boxleitner (Tron), Stephanie Erb (True Blood), Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica), several members of The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and other celebrities will be signing throughout Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the four day ITVFest held at the L.A. Con-vention Center. Go to www.itvfest.org for more information.

The Los Angeles Premiere of Summit Entertainment’s “STEP UP REVOLU-TION” will be held at the Chinese Grau-man’s Theatre on Hollywood Blvd on Tuesday, July 17 at 6 p.m. Cast members to attend include Ryan Guzman, Kath-ryn McCormick (“So You Think You Can Dance”), Misha Gabriel (“This Is It”), Stephen “tWitch” Boss (“So You Think You Can Dance,” “Step Up 3D”), Peter Gallagher (Covert Affairs), Director Scott Speer, producer Adam Shankman, with surprise celebrity guests! .......... I will be juggling my time in the next few days go-ing to the Downtown Film Festival L.A. (July 6-13) and ITVFest at L.A. Conven-tion Center ... see you there! Email me at oliver@iatalent.com.

“White Frog” stars (clockwise from center) Booboo Stewart, Justin Martin, Tyler Posey, Manish Dayal (“90210”), and Gregg Sulkin.

stage to anyone willing and able to perform on the spot. As my friends and I stuffed our mouths with Kapistahan’s scrumptious Chicken Inasal and gulped our bottles of Red Horse, Glenn Jacinto and other musicians from different bands started covering several 80’s and 90’s music. Jacinto even played songs from his old band Teeth: Darating and Shooting Star.

Because of the jam session, I began to see the album launch not only as New Day in August’s night, but also a growing com-munity of musicians and artists. It seemed as if the Filipino-American band scene had breathed in a new life.

People slowly filled the seats and the designated smoking area. And after the spon-taneous jam session, six more bands each performed their 30-minute sets. New Day in August’s set was after the high-quality performances of Spiral Echo, Zipcode, and Grand Fool’s Derby. Following NDiA’s set, Ten to Midnight and Mayday closed out the night in high intensity.

While the bands kept the crowd alive and awake, the fashionistas, fashion victims, and texters kept the beer and wine flowing, as if Dionysus blessed the velvet night with revel-ry and bliss. Some people say alcohol works best on an empty stomach, but the event would not be an ultimate Filipino experience if people simply intoxicated themselves with alcohol. Whether we like it or not, food must always be present with alcohol and music. Kapistahan was so packed that an order of sizzling sisig took about half an hour to arrive at the table of a pulutan-crazed group.

When New Day in August took the stage, all eyes and attention were on them. Friends, family, and officemates were silent with ea-gerness of singing along with Richie, the band’s frontman.

There may just be a tinge of melancholy, isolation, and yearning in their lyrics, but the band radiate pride with their EP release that the sprinkle of desolation dissipated with the smoke exuding from the smokers watching outside.

Photographers and videographers cover-ing New Day in August’s set walked through narrow aisles. Photographers bobbed their

head to the rhythm, whenever their cameras’ were on standby. Flashing smartphones add to the winking lights that captured the night’s highlight.

New Day in August’s clean and well-balanced sound that’s reminiscent of the 80’s entranced the crowd. The people were like shadows of the dark, as the band rocked out on stage.

New Day in August’s EP release party was a good-quality substitute; since I missed seeing my favorite bands in the motherland when my family and I were there for twelve days. I got to watch eight bands in one night – nine including the jam session. NDiA gave away their EP, and so did Carpools.

But there are two things that are differ-ent from a gig in LA and in Manila: 1. Many of the audience in LA leave right after they see the band they came for, while in Manila the audience usually finishes the whole show, and 2. The Red Horse in Manila is Extra Strong, and the ones in LA are not.

For more information on the band, check them out on newdayinaugust.com, facebook.com/newdayinaugust, and youtube.com/newdayinaugust.

J

Fil-Am band, Mayday, performing in New Day in August’s EP launch.

New Day in August performing in a jam-packed Kapistahan Grill.

New Day in August rocking out.

The crowd. Enjoying their food and the show.

Grand Fool’s Day performing in New Day in August’s EP launch.

Fil-Am band, Zipcode, opening for New Day in August.

Carpool’s Glenn Jacinto, formerly of Teeth, performing

in the open jam session.

PinoyWatchDog.Com 11Saturday, July 7, 2012

Community

tween the U.S. and the Philippines. There are still those who harbor grudges for the inequities of that long ago years such as whether or not the well-armed Americans were justified in perpetrating mas-sacres of Filipino people such as happened in Balangiga in Samar, Mabitac in Laguna Province, Bud Bagsak in Sulu and others. Why was it that the supposed gift of in-dependence in 1946 had to bestow U.S. sovereignty over dozens of military bases? Why did the Bell Trade Act dictated what the Philip-pines could and couldn’t produce and granted U.S. citizens and cor-porations equal access to Philip-pine minerals, forests and other natural resources. Worse, it was inflicted at a time when much of the country was laid to waste, the nation’s coffers were empty and the people agonizing as a result of the just concluded war.

And other questions persist: Was the U.S. colonial domination of the Philippines really a “civiliz-ing mission,” which presupposes that we were not civilized in the first place? Was it a matter of brute-force subordination or, as harped, the furtherance of a “Benevolent Assimilation” policy? Why was it that the US, being the colonizing country, wanted to be called the Motherland but at the same time did not want to bestow citizenship

on the inhabitants?At this time of our nationhood

we may have the luxury of sitting back and reflect that, yes, history is replete with conflicts and injustices of all kinds and that trying to divine the thread and intricacies of every fine web that enmeshed civilization from the beginning of time would be an endless pursuit. It is in this context that people of discernment had deemed fit to craft a term to denote a relationship that takes into account esteem, respect and affec-tion for each other: Friendship.

Thus, Filipino-American friendship -- a comradeship molded out of the crucible of many wars in the defense of righteousness and

Philippine American Friendship: A comradeship forged in trials and tribulations

freedom, the fight against terror-ism and a sharing of democratic ideals. It is a strong relationship of mutual confidence, trade ties and security arrangements. These were some of the points highlighted by Austin Baul, president of the Fili-pino American Community of LA (FACLA) when that premier Fili-pino organization celebrated Phil-ippine American Friendship Day on July 4.

Baul said that it is because of that relationship and friendship be-tween the two countries forged by the sweats and blood of our people that we, Filipinos who since called the U.S. home, should endeavor to foster understanding and harmony.

“Let’s show America that we can always maintain that delicate balance of loyalty to the Philippine and U.S.; that, we can be as Filipi-nos as anyone can and we can be as Americans as anyone can,” said Baul.

A large number of Filipinos and American friends also celebrated at FACLA the 114th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Inde-pendence on June 13. It is a yearly observance and photos are likewise included here.

July 4th, U.S. Independence Day, used to be celebrated also in the Philippines as our Independ-ence Day. It was moved to June 12 during President Diosdado Maca-pagal’s administration to coincide with the proclamation of independ-ence from Spain in June 12, 1898. Filipino-American Friendship Day was created to fill the resulting void. It was also intended to commemo-rate the liberation of the country by joint Filipino and American forces at the end of World War II.

Rudy Ledesma serenades the beauties who graced the celebration of Philippine USA Friend-ship Day, from left: Amor Pambuyan, Ms. Veterans; Danicka Mendoza, Ms. Philippines; Susan Adorable, Ms. FACLA; Jasmine Morada, Ms. 4th of July; and Jennilene Morada, Ms. USA.

Letty Reyes (center), FACLA’s third vice president, reigns as Miss Philip-pine Independence Day with escort Engr. Fausto Valoroso. Her court, from left: Miss Luzon Avelina Hall, Miss Visayas Jenny Medina and Miss Mind-anao Alili Abrigo.

Some of the celebrants pose

for posterity with Ms. Philippine In-dependence Day and her Court in the background.

Austin Baul, FACLA president, de-livers his message.

FACLA officers headed by Austin Baul (2nd from right, back) supervised the full capacity crowd. Other officers (some not in photo): Fender Santos, 1st vice president; Rita Dinsay, 2nd vice president; Letty Reyes, 3rd vice president; Rosalinda Nery, treasurer; Bernie Targa Ganon, secretary; Linda Salazar, auditor; Ben Basilio, director; Paul Julian, director; and Art Garcia, director.

Group dance offering.

Salakot dance offering.

A reflection of Philippine culture, an admirer showers the dance floor with dollar bills.

Members of the Honor Guard, from left: Sgt. Major Magno Dacayan (Ret. US Army); Nick Gadia of American Legion Post 319; and SK Silver Acosta of the Knight of Columbus.

Some revelers display patriotic colors in their attire.

From Page 1

Saturday, July 7, 201212 PinoyWatchDog.Com

Saturday, May 26, 2012Community

P ASADENA, CA - July 3, 2012 - Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment (CAUSE) will hold its third ‘Visions

for LA’ event with prospective Los An-geles 2013 mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel on Monday, July 9, 2012 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Plum Tree Inn (913 North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012).

‘Visions for LA’ is a speaker series developed by CAUSE as a way for mem-bers of the Asian American community to participate in in-depth conversations with the leading 2013 mayoral candi-dates of Los Angeles. Wendy Greuel is the fourth speaker in our series, follow-ing Jan Perry, Eric Garcetti and Austin Beutner, who had their events on May 24th, March 15th and January 25th, re-spectively.

Our guest, Wendy Greuel is currently the Controller for the City of Los Ange-les, a role that she has filled since she was elected in 2009. As Controller, she is the taxpayer’s watchdog, and is responsible for ensuring that the City is held account-able for its actions.

Greuel began her career in public ser-vice in the office of former Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, eventually becom-ing deputy to the Mayor. Following her tenure in Mayor Bradley’s office, Greuel worked as a senior advisor at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban De-

CAUSE Presents: ‘Visions for LA’ with Wendy Greuel

velopment, working with former San An-tonio Mayor Henry Cisneros, and current Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo.

In 1997, Greuel transitioned into the private sector, working in the film in-dustry as an executive at DreamWorks Pictures for five years. In 2002, she was elected to the Los Angeles City Council. While on the Council, Wendy strength-ened Los Angeles by focusing on the everyday needs of its people. From en-suring essential City services-public safety, transportation improvements and environmental protections and helping small business thrive-Greuel helped ease the challenges facing the City.

If interested in attending, please RSVP at info@causeusa.org. Space is limited.

Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan, com-munity-based organization with a mis-sion to advance the political empow-erment of the Asian Pacific American (APA) community through nonpartisan voter registration and education, com-munity outreach, and leadership devel-opment.

For press inquiries, please contact CAUSE via phone at (626) 356-9838 or email at info@causeusa.org. General information can be obtained from our website,www.causeusa.org. Our offices are located at 260 S. Los Robles Ave., #118 Pasadena, CA 91101.

PinoyWatchDog.Com 13Saturday, July 7, 2012

PeopleKnights Honor National Hero

The affair also coincided with the admission into the Order of the senior councilman of the City of Carson, Honorable Elito Maca-pagal Santarina and Mr. Laymon Edward Jones of San Francisco, California, and highlighted by the elevation of three Knights to Knights Commander of Rizal, 3rd Degree, namely: Sir Joselito H. Gaerlan, KCR, Sir Romy Jara-vata, KCR and Sir Larry Pelayo, KCR. Officiating in the ceremo-nies were Sir Henry Von Seyfred, KCR, Chapter Commander and Sir Al Gaerlan Aquino, KCR, Ex-

► By Alfonso Gaerlan Aquino photography by Rene villaroman | PWD

The Order of the Knights of Rizal, Los Angeles Chapter, tendered a Dinner-Dance party to celebrate the 151st Birthday of Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal. the National Hero of the Republic of the Philippines, on June 23, 2012 in the evening at the Kapistahan Restaurant along West Temple Street.

chequer. On hand to witness the rites were the following Knights: Sir Cid Galace, KCR, Sir Rudy Ferran, KCR, Deputy Chapter Commander, Sir Bobby Reyes, KCR, Sir Jess Espanola, KR, Sir Sonny del Rosario, KR and Sir George D. Demos, KR.

The Order of the Knights of Rizal was founded in the City of Manila in 1916 by members of the mounted Manila Police De-partment, led by Colonel Antonio Torres, who called themselves “caballeros” or horse mounted gentlemen. The Order is the only

organization chartered by the Philippine government in 1951 under Republic Act 646. The Los Angeles Chapter is just one of hundreds of chapters around the

world.The celebration was joined

by guest from the different com-munity organizations and wives of the knights. A member of the

local press, Mr. Rene Villaroman, managing editor of PinoyWatch-Dog.com, was on hand to cover the affair. alfonsogaquino@gmail.com

Rev. Ric Veloso doing

the invocation (left).

At right is K of R

Exchequer Al Gaerlan

Aquino.

Sir Sonnie del Rosario at the buffet table ca-tered by Kapistahan Restaurant.

Sir Larry Pelayo’s elevation to 3rd degree, with Carmelita Paule presenting him a medal.

Newly admitted members Honorable Elito Santarina of Carson and Laymon Edward Jones of San Fran-cisco, with Sir Larry Pelayo (left) and Sir Henry Von Seyfred, Chapter Commander (right).

Sir Larry Pelayo and Carmelita Paule partnered for a ballroom dance. ►

Sir Bobby Reyes (left) and other guests singing the Philippine National Anthem.

Laymon Edward Jones (left) being sworn as a new member by Hon. Elito Santarina, while Sir Von Seyfred (middle) looks on.

Sir Joselito Gaerlan receiving the medal on his elevation to 3rd degree K of R member.

Sir Romy Jaravata receiving his 3rd degree medal from his wife.

Sir Jess Espanola (left) receiving a commendation from Hon. Elito Santarina (right), reading the commendation.

PinoyWatchDog.Com Saturday, July 7, 201214

Sports World

The 29-year old Boholano was at the Fortune Gym in Sunset Blvd. Wednesday morning to answer questions regarding his fight to retain the IBF Super Bantamweight title against Jeffrey “Mongoose” Mathebula on July 7 at the Home Depot Center in Car-son. They will headline a doubleheader event with Ohio champ Kelly Pavlik and Will Ros-insky of New York in the undercard.

FilAm boxing sensation insists he’s a Filipino first

Donaire: I’ll try to make a knockout► Words and photos by Dionesio C. Grava

At 5 feet ten inches, the South African Mathebula is taller than Donaire by three inches. He had held the IBF Super Batam-weight (2012- ), the WBC International Featherweight (2005-08) and the IBO In-tercontinental Super Bantamweight (2003) titles.

On the other hand Donaire is the current WBO Super Bantamweight title holder. He

used to be the WBC Bantamweight, WBO Bantamweight, and IBF Flyweight cham-pion. Donaire had a 28-1, 18 KOs fight record vs. Mathebula’s 26-3-2, 14 KOs. Donaire is re-portedly a switch-hitter with the ability to fight either southpaw or or-thodox. He is also rated by the Ring as the num-ber four pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

Asked to assess his Saturday opponent, Donaire said that he had seen Mathebula fight only once. That was between him and former IBF champion Takalani Ndlovu. A good fight, he said, and Mathebula a good fighter. He had also seen the guy’s weak-nesses but a tall guy nonetheless who used his jabs very well “and that I’ve got to figure out,” he added.

Donaire said that he is very excited fight-ing a guy who will pose a challenge to him. People might not be familiar with Mathe-bula but that’s not surprising because nobody knows him (Donaire), too, when he was just starting. Mathebula is an incredible fighter, he assured.

Donaire: “I want to show that I am a full-pledged fighter. The one I’m fighting is a tough guy and I’m going to take him up. He’s the tallest guy I’ve ever fought. We’re here to prove that no matter the obstacles are, we’re able to take it down. I’m very ready. I’m confident.”

He added that he is pretty good. He worked hard and is comfortable with his weight class. Like his other fights, he always go after the opponent and do whatever he needs to do. Then addressing no one, he said: “I’m not going to sweet talk. If you want to make things happen lets make things happen. I’m here to prove I’m better than you guys. Fighters fight; this is what we do. Don’t run.”

Although born in Talibon, Bohol, Nonito grew up as a child in General Santos City, South Cotabato, and was even a schoolmate of the now boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. Asked about the tag “next Pacquiao” and whether he expects to take Pacquiao’s place when the latter retires, Nonito replied: “You know, I’m just thankful of all the fans around the world. The Filipino community has been incredible with their support and I’m thank-ful for that, you know, but I’m not here to take on anybody else job. I’m here to fight and see what God has given me... see the proof of what my system is in the boxing world.”

The beginningThe young Donaire was eleven when

he joined his father, a former amateur boxer, in Los Angeles and later moved with him to the Bay Area. It was said that as a child Nonito was frail and asthmatic. On November 2, 2008, he was reported to

have an asthma attack while sparring in prep-aration of a fight.

Asked whether he is still bothered by the ailment today, Nonito told PinoyWatchdog: “I’m good with my asthma. When I’m train-ing it disappears. I don’t drink anymore. I used to drink a lot. It used to bother me when I tone down the training. So I’m keeping up my training and my asthma is nothing to me.”

Nonito was 11 when his father took him to a boxing gym to get him off the streets. When PinoyWatchdog asked about it, he re-called: “I did it because I did it. It was just one the family did and I did it. But now I en-joy, I love it. I love being here.”

He said that when he and his dad sepa-rated ways because the latter exercised too much control it was choking him, he decided to quit boxing. However, he returned to box-ing later and that was when he realized he love the sport. “I learned that being your own man is something that makes you happier,” he said.

Does he dread being hit? His response: “It’s a normal thing now. I don’t mind getting hit now. Back then I mind it, you know, but now I’m a full-pledged fighter, a full-pledged warrior. I don’t mind bleeding a little bit. I don’t mind hurting a little bit.”

There is also the part where fighters have to entertain the crowd. It’s part of their career, he said, and the crowd want to see more of it. He is going to do it for friends and for fans. The whole world must see that there are two guys out there willing to take it all the way.

It may be noted here that prior to the talk with Donaire, this reporter had a chat with Top Rank’s Bob Arum, promoter of the com-ing Donaire-Mathebula fight. At one point Arum mentioned that Donaire is more Amer-ican than Filipino. The matter was brought to the attention of the FilAm boxer. And we sensed he was a bit touchy in responding: “It doesn’t matter whether American or Filipino. I know my language and know who I am. I love my country and it doesn’t matter if I’m more American or more Filipino. When it comes to that we’re all Filipinos, you know, as long as you believe and you carry the flag you’re Filipino. That’s who I am.”

onito Donaire, Jr., aka Filipino Flash and touted as Pacquiao’s heir apparent, declared that he is not in the business of making predictions “but i’ll try to make a knockout” to make people happy.N

Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire makes a fist for the camera. With him is martial arts guro Dan Inosanto.

The Donaires left the boxing gym on their van.

Nonito Donaire obliges a fan (not in photo) with an

autograph on a box-ing glove. On the

wheel is wife Rachel, a former taekwondo

champion.

PinoyWatchDog.Com 15Saturday, July 7, 2012

Saturday, May 26, 2012Sports World

that a great number of them will show up at the sports arena to support Donaire, considered the next best thing in Philippine box-ing right now, next only to the hall of fame-bound Pacman.

Boxing pundits, though, are still ambivalent as to whether or not Ring Magazine’s No. 5 pound-for-pound boxer in the world really deserves the mantle of superstardom that he has at-tained with Top Rank.

The problem with Donaire is that he has to become very suc-cessful inside the ring to come out from the shadow of the Pac-man, who is right now the virtual face of boxing. Also a GenSan boy, Donaire cannot escape being compared to the great Pacquiao. And although he did not experi-ence the marginalized life that Pacquiao went through, Donaire also had a very tough time grow-ing up in the Philippines, and later in Northern California.

But in matters of inspiration, Pacquiao definitely gives him a boost. “He is definitely an inspi-ration how I want to be in my (boxing) career. He wants me to keep moving my feet to see how

Nonito Donaire, the ‘Filipino Flash’, is ready, confident

far can I go,” said Donaire.At the office of Carson

Councilmember Elito Santarina, where the GenSan prizefighter made a late morning courtesy call Thursday, Donaire told PinoyWatchdog that he is ready and confident coming into this fight. “I have trained so hard knowing that the guy I am going to face is a very tough fighter. He is a tall guy, the tallest guy I will have to face,” said Donaire. “But we (Team Nonito) will be equal to the task. Yes, we are ready and very confident.”

Donaire is excited that he will be seeing action before a predominantly Fil-Am crowd who love their boxing heroes. “It means a lot to me to get the sup-port of the Fil-Ams in Carson. I appreciate that. These guys (Fil-Ams) are great boxing fans.”

For those who were not look-ing, Donaire (pronounced do-nigh-reh) started punching his way to the elite boxing league with big victories tucked under his belt. He pulled off a big upset win over erstwhile undefeated Aussie/Armenian champion Vic Darchinyan in July 2007, win-ning the IBF and IBO Flyweight world titles. His stoppage of

Darchinyan went to the record books as “Knockout of the Year.”

Then on December 4, 2010, Donaire shocked the boxing world with another huge victory over Wladimiro Dydorenko at the Honda Center, Anaheim, Califor-nia. Donaire kayoed the Ukrain-ian in the fourth of the scheduled 10-round title fight for the WBC Continental Americas bantam-weight belt.

In between Darchinyan and Dydorenko, Donaire defeated all but one of his six opponents in abbreviated bouts. Only Rafael Concepcion of Panama lasted the distance, but still lost to the Fili-pino Flash in a unanimous deci-sion. With that victory, Donaire also won the vacant WBA Super flyweight Interim world title.

The Darchinyan and Dy-dorenko were statement victories that were quite impressive by any measure. That made the 28-year-old Donaire a certified headliner, and subsequently, earned for him a tiff with Fernando Montiel (44-2-2) in the mainer of another Top Rank boxing card at the Manda-lay Bay Events Center on Feb. 19. Again, Donaire stamped his class over Montiel with a second round TKO victory that enabled him to

wrest the WBC and WBO bantam belts.

But the question boxing fans are asking now, “Is the Saturday Home Depot Center gig vs. the South African going to be another cakewalk for the Filipino Flash? Will the taller, more experienced, Mathebula be an easy prey for the fleet-footed Donaire?”

During a Top Rank confer-ence call, Donaire expressed his thoughts , saying: “The motiva-tion is in my heart to work toward my goals and my dreams. To be a unified champion then challenge anyone out there and make it un-disputed is a dream and hopefully I can make it happen; there are incredible fighters in this weight class and we are going to take them. And I am going to keep all the belts. Mathebula is the IBF guy and he is an incredible fighter and we can’t look past him.”

Mathebula, for his part, is not intimidated one bit by what-ever Donaire may bring inside the ring. He said he is just as good as the Filipino rising star. “My confidence is sky-high. With this fight against Donaire, I am up to the challenge,” he said.

The Donaire-Mathebula fight will be telecast on HBO Boxing After Dark (10 p.m., ET/PT), meaning, the fight will be seen slightly delayed on TV.

Tickets to the fight are pegged at $100, $50 and $25, and can be purchased online at AXS.com or by phone at 888-929-7849. Tick-ets are also available at the Home Depot Center Box Office. For more ticket information, please call 1-877-234-8425. (David Cas-uco was assistant sports editor for the defunct Philippine Journal-ists Inc. He is now a contributing writer for PWD).

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Nonito DonairePhoto by DAN BALTAZAR

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