|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
To tell us what you think about Filipino Express Online or to comment on the stories published here, E-mail us at Filexpress@aol.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jersey City, NEW JERSEY, April 21, 2005 --- In a rare show of unity, Filipino business people, politicians and supporters joined together in a dinner party Friday night to raise funds for Racelis, the only Filipino-American candidate in May 10 elections.
“I’m running for Council on a belief that we can have a responsive, proactive, and practical government that will work for our people and help to stabilize our taxes. I’ll see to it that those tax dollars will go to create safer neighborhoods for Ward B,” said Racelis, amid rousing applause of about 300 supporters.
During his kick-off party, National Association for Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) President-Jersey City chapter– Kabili Tayari gave a ringing endorsement of Racelis.
He praised Racelis for his honesty, integrity and character and long service in the city government.
“He always stands for what he believes in. He has a strong relationship with the labor movement. He will do the right thing. We need to have Greg Racelis elected to empower the Filipino Americans,” said Tayari, who was a former president of the Jersey City Board of Education.
Sandra Cunningham, the wife of the late Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham, earlier met Racelis to express her support on his candidacy. She sent former chief of Staff Bill Ayala to back his political bid.
“The late mayor Glenn Cunningham had a lot of faith in Greg. He appreciated his devotion. This election is about the future of Jersey City. It takes a lot of hard work to make the city great,” said Ayala.
Racelis, who used to work as the city’s director of economic opportunity and chief of operations and chief fiscal officer of the late Mayor Glenn Cunningham, intends to use his experience to improve the qualify of life of the people by utilizing the city’s public schools for evening recreation.
“My vision is a quality of life where parents and their children can live and work in a safe community. Ward B needs a candidate with experience and know-how to get this done right,” said Racelis..
Banking on his 30 years experience in accounting and auditing in private business and government service, Racelis promised that once elected, he would work hard to achieve stable taxes in the city.
Racelis is the only Filipino running in the City Council elections. Most Filipinos are pinning hopes on him because Ward B, which he wants to represent, is an area where most Filipino Americans reside.
In the past years, many Filipino Americans tried to run for local elections to get a seat at the council, but lost.
Racelis run for council -at-large in 2001 elections and lost. With increasing number of Filipinos in the city , or about 10 percent of the voting population, most Filipinos have great optimism that Racelis could be elected.
During the event, John de los Santos, president of Citizens Mortgage Corp. Called on Filipino Americans to vote and support Racelis so that Filipinos would have a voice in the Council. He said he was donating $2,500 to Racelis’ campaign.
Lito Gajilan, publisher of Filipino Express, urged Filipinos to unite and be counted for Racelis. He praised Racelis for his public service and commitment.
Carlos Sinnung, a Filipino American elected to the board of education of Passaic City said he was filled with optimism and hope that Racelis could win. “Our support for Racelis is a sign that our community has matured,” he said.
If elected, Racelis priorities include monitoring education and administrative performance of the city, holding the city more accountable by administrating its employment and training programs, providing safer neighborhoods with increase police presence on Westside Avenue, Mallory Avenue, and the Marion Section of the city, encouraging the youth to work with the Youth Build Program, building affordable homes for seniors, and working to create more city street lighting.
Racelis was also appointed a couple of years ago as commissioner for Jersey City Employment and Training where he was tasked to help thousands of Jersey City residents get jobs by giving them training and helping them in job search.
He was also a former commissioner and chairman and treasurer of the Jersey City Parking Authority.
But Racelis is facing formidable opponents. His campaign manager, Marie Tauro, described the coming elections as tough.
“We are fighting a big machinery and candidates supported by big politicians. Greg is an independent candidate with proven track record and service in government,” said Tauro
Five other candidates are vigorously campaigning in Ward B-West Side to get a seat at the Council: Mary Spinello, a team mate of Mayor Jerramiah Healy, who is also a popular candidate; Paul Catsandonis; Ronald Grego; Michael Galdieri; and Ivan Sutherland.
But businesswoman Elma Santander, president of Philippine Bread House ,is confident that with the support of Filipinos and other ethnic minorities, Racelis would be victorious.
“Greg has a home-base, and it’s the Filipino community. We will all campaign for him,” said Santander.
This bright and talented Filipino American embodies a successful immigrant whose entrepreneur spirit and perseverance led to the establishment of a profitable business called Racelis Realty on West Side. He founded his business over 30 years ago whose service enables thousands of Filipino Americans and Americans to own their own homes.
Born and raised in the Philippines, Racelis immigrated to the U.S. in 1972.
Darrell Laval, director of Jersey City’s housing authority, recalled that when he was 22 years old and was working as a driver, he approached Racelis to help him buy a home. He was surprised that Racelis went out his way to accompany him to find a suitable home for him and his family. Despite meager income, Racelis helped him realized his dream of owning a home through his realty company.
Laval, who volunteered to campaign for Racelis, said his group has forged alliance with African Americans, Hispanic, Asian and White voters to elect Racelis. They knocked on every door and visited housing projects to get votes. He said many residents in public housing were very warm and receptive when Racelis campaigned in their places because they remembered Racelis as the man who used to inspect and recommend measures to improve public housing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jersey City, NEW JERSEY, April 21, 2005 --- The Filipinos And Americans As One, Inc. (FAAAO) has recently announced the 2005 recipients of the Edward B. Pulver Scholarship Fund Award.
At least five high school seniors were selected based on the exemplary academic achievements of the students, as follows: Kenneth V. Reyes, Rolan C. Izar, Renee I. Vales, Jose Alberto O. Trinidad, and Ryan S. Ante. They are the 34th recipients since the scholarship program was founded in 1995.
The scholarship award is given each year to deserving students whose parents have membership with FAAAO.
Most of the scholars in the previous years graduated with honors from prestigious universities and colleges, and have now successfully joined the workforce.
“We are proud of our recipients. Our scholarship has become the first step for the scholars to finish a quality education and follow their dreams,” said Leo Belarmino, president of FAAAO. “These scholars are certainly the future leaders of this country and assets of the Filipino-American community.”
With the talents and skills shown by FAAAO recipients, Belarmino also hopes that they would make their parents proud and happy, and would do their best to give back something to the community.
“For every parent, there’s nothing more fulfilling than to see a child finished the highest education. And there’s nothing more rewarding than to see the child doing something for his fellow Filipinos,” Belarmino said.
2005 FAAAO scholars
Kenneth V. Reyes. Born in Secaucus, NJ, this 18-year-old believes that although the road ahead of him seems to be long and arduous, the end of it will all have been worth the journey. Kenneth plans to become a business economist, first earning his undergraduate degree from St. John’s University and then hoping to get his Masters. With strong desire to achieve his goals, he would often work on his school assignment and study till past midnight. Kenneth was the First Honor when he was in 12th Grade, and earned the Achievement Award in Math and English. He is the son of Cynthia and Jose Reyes. “Life is not being cautious; it’s about taking risks and chances, risking failing, all in the hopes of becoming great. I too would like to risk it all,” Kenneth said. “I’ll take that leap of faith and try my best to achieve my goals or risk losing it, but even then I will not give up and just pick myself up and try again.”
Rolan C. Izar. Inspired by his uncle who was a successful businessman, Rolan, 18, plans to attend Rutgers State University in the Fall, and major in Business Administration-International Business – just as his uncle did. “My goal is to establish my own business one day in honor of my uncle and also of myself. With hard work and determination, I believe that my goal will be reached,” Rolan said. An active member of the World Language Club, Student Government, Interact Club, and the National Honors Society, he said that he still finds time for church services. He has been an altar server for many years, and has participated in many church events and community gatherings. The son of Teresita and Rolando C. Izar, Jr., Rolan puts his family first than any others. He said that with the help of his family, friends and teachers, he was able to concentrate on making his schooling a priority. “They motivated me to study hard, and now in my senior year, I realize the good things that all their motivation and hard work have done for me,” Rolan said.
Renee I. Vales. As a young girl, she has not only been closely involved with sports but has excelled in them. In fact, she earned an MVP Award. But true to life, not all stay rosy after Renee suffered a major injury during her sophomore year. Although she became disappointed with what happened to her, she didn’t give up and instead realized that those challenges have made her grow inside. “I wanted to be a great basketball player, finishing with over 1000 baskets in high school, but it wasn’t meant to be,” she said. “Although I didn’t give up on that dream, I learned to compromise and value team more than self.” The 18-year-old daughter of Rosanna and Manuel Vales, Renee strikes the elusive balance. No matter how she was heavily involved in sports, she never lost track of her academic responsibilities, maintaining a GPA of 3.0. As far as her career goes, she plans to attend Utica College and major in Physical Therapy, because she loves sports. She knows she will have to work hard to achieve her goal, she said, but the taste of success will be worth the effort.
Jose Alberto O. Trinidad. For him, dreams, hopes and wishes are important factors for his future. With several awards under his belt, including the Billy Mitchell Award and Amelia Earhart Award, Jose, 19, intends to attend The Citadel, the military school of South Carolina. He is currently the civil patrol-cadet commander, youth and peer leader in his school. The son of Elizabeth and Alberto Trinidad, Jose wants to take up Biology, and is resolute to finish his chosen degree. “Imagining about my future is a way for me to think that I can dream to be something I want to be, he said. “If I can achieve something, then I can always achieve anything.”
Ryan S. Ante. This 19-year-old works fast for his future career. Even he has not started attending his nursing classes, he has already completed the first task needed to achieve his goal of becoming a successful nurse someday by passing the National League of Nurses Exam. Because of that, Ryan was admitted into the Christ School of Nursing, an affiliate of the Hudson Community College, and has completed most of the prerequisites needed. “I have worked hard and always excelled in my class while I was in high school. Being able to graduate in time was one of the happiest moments of my life and it was also a sign that showed me ‘I can go on with my college career’ and complete my classes with honors,” he said. The son of Antonette and Ramon Ante, Jr., Ryan has always had a passion in health care. He plans to take up microbiology courses this summer to enhance his knowledge in the sciences, a great stepping stone, he said, to become an efficient nurse someday.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
