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For the past 17 years, The Filipino Express has provided the Filipino American community the best news, arts and entertainment coverage from around the United States and the Philippines.
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This website includes selected articles from this week's edition of the Filipino Express. Not all the stories published in the printed version appear on this site.
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Filipino fugitive nabbed by US feds in New York
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NEW YORK, March 17, 2005 --- Filipino fugitive and former aide to Senator Panfilo Lacson who was linked to the 1995 killing of suspected Kuratong Baleleng gang members was arrested on Tuesday morning for an alleged immigration violation.
Michael Ray Aquino, who was also implicated in the abduction and killing of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000, was reportedly nabbed by US authorities at Federal Plaza Building in New York City.
According to a source who spoke to Filipino Express on anonymity, Aquino is currently detained in Passaic County jail and could face deportation.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) officials in Manila said in a report earlier this week that they have yet to confirm the reason on Aquino’s arrest.
“In my opinion, there’s something deeper than immigration issues. Aquino was arrested for a more serious offense,” said G. Regalado, a Filipino customer in Jersey City travel agency.
On Jan. 8, 2001, former police asset Mary “Rosebud” Ong also filed a complaint before the Ombudsman against Aquino, Lacson and several other police officials tagged in the kidnapping for ransom and murders of suspected Chinese drug lords.
The Supreme Court, however, junked last month the kidnapping cases lodged against the former police officers.
State Prosecutor Juan Navera, meanwhile, said there is no guarantee for Aquino to be extradited to the Philippines because there is no standing warrant for his arrest.
He said no arrest warrant has been issued against Aquino because the Dacer-Corbito murder case is still pending before the Supreme Court.
Navera also said the prosecution cannot proceed with the case until the Supreme Court allows the admission of the prosecution panel's amended information before the Manila Regional Trial Court, adding that the US Embassy officials informed Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño about Aquino’s arrest in Newark.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo leaves it to the Department of Justice to work on the extradition of Aquino.
Aquino fled the country after the ouster of jailed ex-president Joseph Estrada.
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NEW YORK --- Azucena “Nena” Kaufman, former Philippine Independence Celebration Committee overall chair, filed March 8 a complaint in the Supreme Court State of New York against her three co-members in the organization, the Filipino Express has learned.
In a 39-paragraph complaint, with Docket Index No. 103185 2005, Kaufman named as defendants Lolita Gillberg, 2004 PICC overall chair, Philip Carreon, current Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) director and Nanette Wright, current assistant secretary. The suit was filed through Kaufman’s lawyer, Paul T. Saqqal.
Gillberg was accused of publishing a 2003 financial report at a PIDCI meeting, claiming that such report was unauthorized since Gillberg was not the auditor when the report was made.
The complaint also alleged that on Nov. 1, 2003, Gillberg “disclaimed the ability to issue an audited financial statement because of the lack of records.”
When asked to comment on the accusation, Gillberg, however, said she was asked “to prepare the 990 for submission or filing to the IRS on the designated deadline on our requested extension from the IRS.”
As a member of the PIDCI Board of Directors, Gillberg said, it was her fiduciary duty to report any alleged irregularities to the (members of the) Board for their appropriate action.
“I submitted the report to the Board and as a standard operating procedure, the President of the Board Roger Alama forwarded a copy of the report to then PICC 2003 Overall Chair Nena Kaufman to respond to each audit finding as contained in my audit report,” added Gillberg.
She claimed that her report, which was distributed by the secretary to board members, was done and carried out in accordance with the generally accepted auditing standards.
“They were objective and all audit findings were substantiated with audit evidences and/or supporting documentation. Instead of responding to that Board’s letter, she blasted me personally,” Gillberg said, alluding to a published paid advertisement of Kaufman in a local Filipino newspaper.
The core of the complaint against Gillberg was the allegation that the audit report included “knowingly false and malicious statements,” and which was “replete with innuendo and slanted in a way that compels a reader to draw unfavorable opinions about the “Overall Chair” who is known by all to be Azucena (Nena) Kaufman.”
Gillberg declined to further comment about the complaint. She said that she has not received a copy of it and would let her lawyer respond.
“What surprised me though is that we were not even served by the court of her formal lawsuit and yet she had already started circulating her lawsuit against me, Nanette Wright and Philip Carreon through two of the prestigious newspapers here in New York, Filipino Reporter and Filipino Express. This is plain harassment, I think” Gillberg said.
In the same complaint, Wright and Carreon were accused of allegedly publishing and republishing, through electronic mail “statements of marital infidelity, Internal Revenue Service violations, immigration law violations and mistreatment of an incapacitated person” that were damaging to Kaufman’s reputation.
Both Wright and Carreon, however, declined comment. They said that since they have not received a copy of the complaint, their responses would be made through their lawyers.
The complaint seeks compensatory damages against the defendants in an amount to be determined by the court and/or jury and punitive damages against each defendant of at least one million dollars and the costs and disbursements of the complaint.
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Mayor Healy says lot is not owned by government
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JERSEY CITY, March 17, 2005 --- The statue of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal has been standing with pride for five years now in the middle of a plaza on Columbus Drive. But last Monday, Mayor Jerramiah Healy said Rizal’s statue may be dismantled and relocated to a new place.
In a meeting with officers of the Knights of Rizal and the Consul General Cecilia Rebong, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy said his law department had told him last Friday that the city does not own the lot located where Rizal’s statue was erected at the corner of Columbus Drive and Brunswick, and its owners could take the property from the government.
It means that if the owners declare their property rights, the Knights of Rizal, which are leasing the property could be forced to vacate the lot and could dismantle the Rizal statue.
“I’m the bearer of bad news, but that’s really what happened,” said Healy. “We have to look for another place if we are told to move out,” said Healy.
The Knights of Rizal leased the Rizal Park lot for $1.00 a year for 20 years in 1999 from the City government. Rizal Park was built on a triangular lot through the help of former Jersey City Mayor Bret Shundler. The gray statue of Rizal shone brightly on the park bedecked with red and white flowers, signifying the desire of Filipino-Americans to keep the hero’s spirits alive.
During the meeting, Knight of Rizal Commander of Jersey City Lito Gajilan appealed to Healy to allow the construction of a new and bigger monument with similar designs and styles of the original Rizal park in Manila.
Gajilan also proposed that the Knights of Rizal should buy the 800 square-foot lot adjacent to the park, to make the park bigger.
The City Council has allocated $175,000 for this year to improve Rizal park, including wider pavement, lighting, trees, fencing and monument.
But Healy said: “That could be reckless to build a new monument. I can’t commit taxpayers money on something that we don’t own. I didn’t know that we didn’t own the land, they could take the property from us.”
Healy suggested to find other locations for Rizal park, including the dedication of portion of Lincoln Park to honor Rizal.
To appease the officers of the Knights of Rizal, Healy consoled them by saying that maintenance budget for the park will continue. The Knights can use the property as long as its owners won’t claim the property back.
According to Glenn Wrigley, the city’s chief architect, he said that a civic organization called Columbus group was managing some portions of the property.
He said he doesn’t know the real owners of the lot.
“Land issue must be resolved before we could make improvements,” said Wrigley. “We’re trying to make improvements on the monument but the budget does not allow it.”
Consul General Cecilia Rebong asked the Mayor to continue supporting projects of Filipino-Americans.
“Filipino-Americans are important part of this city because of our numbers and contributions,” she said.
Rebong gave Healy a book, authored by Rizal, and a symbolic Philippine souvenir.
Joe Red, former commander of the Knights of Rizal, showed last Monday his frustrations on the city’s lack of property rights on the park’s lot.
He said it was him who signed the lease of the land in 1999, believing that the land was owned by the city. For many years, Red and fellow World War ll veterans had worked hard to find a park for Rizal monument.
“It was a fulfillment of my dream to have a Rizal park. I’m frustrated with this development. But I will not stop fighting for a Rizal park,” said Red.
For five years, Filipino-Americans celebrated Rizal Day every June 19 in a festive ceremony in the park, as the park is a testament of the contributions of Filipino-Americans to Jersey City’s vibrant socio-economic life.
Rizal was known as the great Malayan hero. He was a physician, a scientist, a teacher, a painter, a linguist and a writer. He founded the La Liga Filipina to defend Filipino rights against the Spaniards colonizers.
His great writings were a hard blow to Spaniards who committed abuses to their Philippine colony for 370 years. He once wrote that the “pen is mightier than the sword.”
He wrote nationalistic books that arose Filipinos to revolt. Because of his deep intellect and passion for social changes, he had been compared to Thomas Jefferson.
The late Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham praised Rizal for his non-violent approach to achieve freedom and compared him to Martin Lurther King in his previous speeches during Rizal day celebrations.
On Dec. 30, 1896, Rizal died as a martyr when Spaniards gunned him down in Manila, through a musketry. His monuments were erected in Germany, Japan, China, Australia and in the U.S (Chicago, Florida and Cherry Hill).
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NEW YORK --- Raquel Zaraspe Ordonez, a passionate advocate for women, children and the elderly died Tuesday, Mar. 15 at her home in Long Beach, New York. She was 61.
“She was not only a giant in our community but also a hero,” said Ludy Resurrection, one of her best friends who worked with her in many of her causes, primarily HIV/AIDS prevention program.
“Raquel was extremely talented, a beautiful and a humble person who never promoted herself as having received honors and recognition as a result of her work,” added Resurrection. She co-founded the Coalition for the Advancement of Filipino Women (CAFW), a 501 (c) 3 human and social services organization with Ordonez.
Through the CAFW, countless individuals were delivered from violence and abuse, and provided healthcare, legal, employment and other services since its founding in 1993.
According to Nieves Garchitorena, also a close friend, Ordonez was diagnosed in mid-February 2004 with bone cancer that was in its advanced stage and she was given by her doctors three months to live.
“Despite knowing her terminal situation and the pressure this has put on her health, she lived one year, one month, one day before she finally succumbed,” Garchitorena said, who was at Ordonez’ bedside on Monday, Mar. 14 as she was experiencing some pains.
“Her face lighted with an aura of smile when I asked her if she had seen Jesus Christ.”
Garchitorena met Ordonez met at the offices of former New York City Mayor Ed Koch.
Emma Ruth Yulo, Philippine Tourism Director, North America East Coast, another close friend of Ordonez, said that “Raquel was a born leader. She was intelligent and insightful. I would consult with her when I needed an opinion.”
Yulo frequently visited her in the hospital and attended the Awards Night of the Nassau chapter of the National Organization of Women (NOW) recognizing six women for their accomplishments. Ordonez attended the event in a wheelchair. In accepting the award, which was the first time for a Filipina, Yulo said that Ordonez spoke impressively and inspired the audience.
According to Maria, Ordonez’ daughter, her mother was adamant on going to the event. “She asked to be discharged from the hospital just for the event,” she said. To make Filipinos proud, Ordonez wore a Philippine costume.
Yulo and Ordonez were friends since the ‘70s when Ordonez was training director of the Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry. Yulo was one of the godmothers of Jose Roberto, III, Ordonez’ son, when he was baptized.
Raquel was married to Roberto “Bobby” Ordonez, a journalist, who also passed away in August last year.
When asked of her mother’s most important legacy to her children and to the community, Maria’s response was: “Her faith in people. She always believed in her community, that her community could always improve – that’s why she never stopped working to better her community, that’s why she worked on so many issues. She had passion for her work.”
“Raquel had a sense of urgency in everything that she did. She wanted to achieve as much as she could as she said, time is short. We kept telling her to quit and rest on her laurels but she never stopped,” said Resurrection. “She had the dignity, faith and total compassion in service to others.”
Ordonez is survived by her parents, Generoso, 91; Rosario. 85; children, Jose Roberto, Jr., 31; Jose Roberto, III, 28; Maria Raquel Filipinas, 26; children-in-law, Denise Soto and Alex de Guzman; grandchildren Jelisa Akaila and Gabriel Alejandro.
Wake will be held at Vanella’s Chapels, 2860 Long Beach Road, Oceanside, NY (Tel. No. 516-766-4424) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Cremation services will be on Monday, Mar. 21 at the Fresh Pond Crematorium, Middle Village, NY at 10 a.m.
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