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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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To elect Greg Racelis or not, that’s the challenge, says Fil-Am voters
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A WELL BACKED CANDIDATE. Freeholder Bill O'Dean (right) has endorsed Greg Racelis -- the Filipino-American running for councilor in Jersey City's Ward B. The picture was taken during the PAFCOM's Friendship Night held April 24.
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Jersey City, NEW JERSEY, May 5, 2005 --- As soon as the voting precincts will open on May 10, the biggest challenge for Filipino community here is to elect Greg Racelis — the only Filipino-American running for councilor in Ward B.
While the Filipino population in the city is increasing, the Filipino community is still considered voiceless in politics. And many believe that Racelis could be an answer, only if Filipino voters would unify.
“I will be there for Greg. If he won in the elections, I will be the first one to celebrate his victory. If he will not, I will still be happy if we all tried to support him from beginning of the campaign to the Election Day,” said Tom Simba, who helped distributing campaign flyers of Racelis on West Side Avenue and Bergen Avenue last week.
Simba, 67, said that Filipinos have waited long enough to have a representative in the City Hall.
“We are not the people who just attend gatherings of government officials. It’s time to show that we are indeed participants of the leadership in Jersey City.”
Ward B — West Side Avenue, Kennedy Boulevard, PATH tracks on the north and Culver Street on the south — or the area where Racelis is running for councilor is an ethnically diverse neighborhood with Filipinos, blacks, Hispanics, Arabs and whites.
According to the Jersey Journal, about 10 to 20 percent of Ward B’s voting population are Filipinos, and it offers a test of strength for the Filipinos.
“Greg only needs about 2,600 votes to win in Ward B. I’m sure, that number is small as compared to the whole population of eligible Filipino voters within that area,” said Lito Gajilan, publisher of the Filipino Express.
But Gajilan said Racelis should give all his best in order to win the elections. Gajilan and members of the Knights of Rizal in Jersey City will throw a good-luck-party for Racelis on Monday evening.
“We want the Filipino-Americans to be represented in decision-making process of Jersey City. If Greg Racelis is elected, it will speak well of us as a community,” said Deputy Consul General Melita Sta Maria Thomeczek.
Thomeczek called on the Filipinos in Jersey City to be united for Racelis or any Filipinos running for public posts.
“If we elect a Filipino in government, our concerns will be heard. If we have a representative in council, it will be great,” she said.
Linda Mayo, executive director of Pan American Concerned Citizens Action League (PACCAL) said that Filipinos have a very large population in Ward B and Filipinos must all go out and vote.
“All politicians are observing if we can be together as a community,” said Mayo, a former deputy mayor, who run but lost in 2001 elections for council-at-large. “We have to show our strength.”
Freeholder Bill O’dea has also endorsed Racelis for Ward B. He praised Racelis for his good work. Racelis worked as an aide for O’dea.
On Wednesday, a week before the elections, Racelis showed high hopes and asked for the support of the Filipino voters.
“On May 10 elections, come out and show our solidarity and let us answer to this challenge. Let us show that Filipino-American votes matter,” said Racelis in a separate interview.
With solid track record of serving the Jersey City government, Racelis, former chairman of the housing authority and director of economic opportunities, pledges to provide stable taxes by capitalizing on his experience as an auditor and an accountant who has worked for both government and the private sector. To provide a long-term crime fighting solution, he will increase the number of police in Ward B.
Racelis also promised to provide affordable housing, well-lighted streets and a one-stop youth center. His campaign also mirrors the coalition of black and Filipino voters as one of his top campaigners is African American Darrell Laval, director of housing authority.
In addition, Sandra Cunningham, wife of the late Mayor Glenn Cunningham, publicly issued her support for Racelis and backed his candidacy.
Racelis’ campaign manager, Marie Tauro, who is a white American with a solid experience in political campaigns, 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,” Tauro said.
Racelis also reached out to Hispanic voters by visiting their houses and talking to them at the church social halls.
He and his campaigner will distribute thousands of roses to moms on Mother’s Day this Sunday.
“It’s time for Filipinos to unite and elect our own official. We only have one candidate this time. We have to support him,” said Rose Javier, president of Filipino American organization at St. Aloysius Parish in Ward B. -- Rita Villadiego contributed to this report.
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Visa cap added for foreign workers
with master’s degree from US schools
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NEW YORK, May 5, 2005 --- The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has made available 20,000 new work visas for foreign workers, in addition to the annual cap of 65,000 H-1B visas mandated by the Congress.
But USCIS said the added work visas are only for foreign workers with a minumum master’s level degree from a US academic institution.
The new regulations are part of the changes in the sections of the H-1B Visa Reform Act of 2004, and will take effect upon publication in the Federal Register this month, according to a press release sent by Shawn Saucier, USCIS northeast area manager of communications.
After careful consideration of the H-1B Visa Reform Act of 2004 and assuming regulations publish according to schedule, USCIS has determined that it is a reasonable interpretation of the Act of 2004 to re-open the filing period for FY 2005 on May 12, 2005, and make available 20,000 new H-1B numbers limited solely to those aliens who have received a master’s or higher degree from a US institution of higher education.
The H-1B visa program is utilized by some US businesses to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in a specialized field, such as scientists, engineers or computer programmers.
Congress created the H-1B program more than 50 years ago, and established an annual cap of 65,000 in 1990, the press release said.
As part of the H-1B program, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires US employers to meet specific labor conditions to ensure that American workers are not adversely impacted, while the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division safeguards the treatment and compensation of H-1B workers.
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WHAT FILIPINO WOMEN WANT -- SEXUALLY? A group of Filipino couple kissed on Valentine's Day. Six is the average number of men that Filipinas have slept with, according to an Esquire Survey.
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NEW YORK, May 5, 2005 --- Filipino women are faring well when it comes to sex as compared to other gals in other countries, a new survey shows.
Esquire magazine recently conducted a worldwide survey of more than 11,000 women with an average age of 22, and found that while American women do have more sex on the brain, Filipino women are not far from being prudish.
On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being most important, Filipino women rated 6 on how important penis size is — a 0.2 percent difference below the Americans. Israeli women gave it a 7.4 rating.
Interestingly, Filipino women also tend not to stick to one man these days.
Asked how many men have they slept with, Filipino women averaged 6 men. Brazilians got 10, followed by Americans with 9 men, and Australian, German, Spanish and English women with 8 men.
About 54 percent of Filipino women said they would be ready for sex, while 46 percent wanted to spend more time on quality hugging and cuddling.
But as far as how many dates do they go on with a man before they have sex, Filipino women do not easily get frisky with 6.6 dates. The Polish would wait for a long time with 7.4 dates.
As for whether they own a vibrator or sex toys, Filipino women had the second lowest score. Americans and British said yes, yes, yes, with 46 percent and 45 percent, respectively.
Also, some Filipino women do gratify themselves. The survey reveals that about 20 percent of Filipino women masturbate several times a week.
In terms of first sex experience, 17 is the average age that most Filipino women lost their virginity. This is just a year older than the American, Australian, German and British women, who mostly had their first sex at 16.
Unshaven men are also more sex appealing to Filipino women. The more hair in man’s body the sexier it would be for Filipino women, rating 6.9 on a 10 scale when asked whether they like their men to be hairy.
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