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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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Commotion shatters as man shot outside
Queens Filipino restaurant
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NEW YORK, April 28, 2005 --- Commotion broke out Wednesday afternoon at Krystal Restaurant — the popular Filipino food establishment — in Woodside, Queens, when a Filipino man in his 20’s was shot outside the premises of the restaurant on 69th Street and Roosevelt Avenue.
According to Detective Bernard Gifford, the victim — whom the detective refused to identify until proper investigation is finished — was shot in the body, but now in a stable condition and “not seriously injured.”
Gifford refused to say what type of gun was used in the shooting. He also did not elaborate on the actual injuries of the victim.
The suspect, who was also a young Filipino male in his 20’s, according to the detective, shot the victim and fled.
The incident occurred at 4:50 p.m. after the victim ate at Krystal. Police are still investigating the motive of the shooting. The assailant has not yet been arrested.
A cashier at Krystal restaurant said the victim was a regular customer at the restaurant. He ate alone a hearty meal at the restaurant and when he got out, the assailant shot him right on the street.
A staff member of the restaurant also said that they (Krystal workers) didn’t see if there was a fight. She said that the victim was rushed to the hospital and police investigators arrived in the scene and questioned the waiters at Krystal.
The motive behind the shooting is still unknown as of press time, police said.
Because of the shooting, the restaurant had been closed for a number of hours, but re-opened at night time.
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Filipino charged with murder over fatal stabbing of 2-year-old girl
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San Jose, CALIFORNIA --- A Filipino has been charged with murder here after allegedly stabbing to death his two-year-old niece.
Police identified the suspect as Emil Paguio, a resident of San Jose, California, who was said to be suffering from mental illness.
Paguio was later arraigned and denied bail on charges of child abuse and homicide.
Paguio at first denied killing his niece Francesca Paguio claiming he loves children. The suspect initially suggested that perhaps one of their neighbors killed the child.
But police said Paguio had admitted before investigators that he stabbed Francesca twice on April 16.
Paguio had admitted it was wrong and against the law, but claimed he “heard ‘voices’ to kill my niece.”
Paguio told police he was trying to teach Francesca a lesson but did not mean to harm her.
“For somebody to target a two-year-old baby girl is bizarre behavior,” Enrique Garcia of the San Jose Police Department said.
“He (Emil) has a long history of mental illness and he is delusional and hears voices,” said Molly O’Neal, Paguio’s representative during the arraignment.
Police later learned from Eric, the suspect’s brother and father of the child, that Paguio recently moved with him to California but got hooked on drugs. (MNS)
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Hospital fails to maintain high standard for labor relations
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NEW YORK, April 25, 2005 --- Last summer, Mount Sinai Hospital was awarded “Magnet” status — a special recognition reserved for facilities that promote a culture of professional nursing practice and maintain a supportive union environment. Since then, however, hospital administration has failed to keep up with this high standard.
RNs will express their displeasure over this situation at an informational picket on Friday, April 29, from 7 to 9 a.m. and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in front of the hospital’s Guggenheim Pavilion at 1468 Madison Ave. on the Upper East Side.
Mount Sinai aggressively challenged the unionization of its case managers with the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) and then refused to negotiate a contract with them. As of yet, the hospital has failed to comply with the direction of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to bargain with the case managers, so the NLRB is taking the hospital to court to enforce its decision.
Hospital representatives have also delayed contract negotiations for the facility’s 1,800 RNs — refusing to consider the nurses’ proposals to maintain safe patient care by improving RN recruitment and retention.
“When the American Nurses Credentialing Center established the Magnet Recognition program, its intention was to recognize facilities that foster good labor/management relations,” said Lucille Sollazzo, RN, NYSNA nursing representative. At Mount Sinai, however, management has taken a hard-line stance and the nurses’ working environment and morale have gone down hill.”
The RNs are trying through contract negotiations to help the hospital keep pace in the competitive New York City job market for registered nurses. This includes ensuring strict adherence to RN-to-patient staffing guidelines, limiting management’s ability to require RNs to work overtime, and prohibiting management from temporarily transferring RNs to areas outside of their expertise.
“Until we have state laws to ensure safe staffing, nurses will have no other choice but to fight to include such guarantees in their contracts,” Sollazzo said. “These issues concern the community because they directly affect the quality of patient care.”
With more than 33,000 members, NYSNA is the oldest and largest state nurses’ association in the nation. It is an influential union for RNs, representing nurses in New York and New Jersey. Offering a wide range of services to its members, NYSNA fosters high standards of nursing education and practice and works to advance the profession through legislative activity. It is a constituent of the American Nurses Association and of the United American Nurses, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.
Contact: Mark Genovese, 518-782-9400, ext. 353
Nancy Webber, 518-782-9400, ext. 223
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NPA recognizes first same-sex marriage in RP
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TILL DEATH DO THEY PART. Rebels, Ka Andres and Ka Jose, share an intimate moment with their comrades during their wedding -- the first same-sex wedding in RP.
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MANILA, April 28, 2005 --- Who says that homosexuality does not exist among rebel fighters?
Two members of the New People’s Army (NPA) made a history recently as the couple became the center of the first same-sex marriage in the Philippines.
Ka Andres and Ka Jose, who have participated in the armed struggle against the pro-US regime in Manila, exchanged on Feb. 4 their vows before their comrades, friends and local villagers.
The ceremony was full of symbolic imagery of the two comrades’ commitment to each other as members of a couple, as well as their commitment to the revolutionary struggle.
The two men held each other’s hand throughout the wedding, and a bullet in the other as a representation of their commitment to the armed struggle.
During the ceremony, Ka Andres and Ka Jose were draped in a sequined flag of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), which was secured by a long, beaded rope around the couple and their sponsors.
The rope and flag, according to a Philippine Daily Inquirer report, symbolized that their marriage would be made stronger with the help of both their comrades and the masses.
A choir of the New People’s Army serenaded the couple with revolutionary love songs.
In response to the marriage, representatives of the Philippine government have condemned the NPA for lacking religion.
A spokesperson for the Air Force generals told reporters, “This proves that they have no god and their morality is very much in question.”
Although proposals in support of same-sex marriage have been introduced several times to the Philippine legislature, none have passed so far.
The Progressive Organization of Gays (ProGay) responded to the NPA marriage with a challenge to the administration of President Gloria Macagapal Arroyo to enact legislation that would formalize equal rights for lesbian and gay Filipinos.
Michael Falguera, secretary general of Pro Gay, said, “Instead of branding homosexual marriages as immoral, the government should be taking steps to follow the example of the NPA by legalizing domestic partnerships and honoring gay families.”
Speaking on gays in the NPA, newlywed Ka Andres said, “Gay cadres adhere to the strong party discipline. They enhance the prestige of gays in the movement. This has gained positive results through the years. Comrades (male and female) and even the masses have learned to respect and recognize gays and their contribution to the revolution.”
Ka Jose said: “What we have to do now--with the help of the party--is to work on our marriage and to be strong while serving the people.” -- with reports from Leilani Dowell
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