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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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Amid protests, Filipinos salute Philippine Independence
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LOS MANIFESTANTES. 4 protesters hold placards denouncing Consul General Rebong's alleged extravagant lifestyle during last Sunday's Independence Day celebration in Manhattan. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Forum)
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NEW YORK --- The festive 107th celebrations of Philippine Independence in Manhattan last Sunday was marred with protests, denouncing government’s lavish spending and human rights violations.
Amid joyful celebrations, angry members of advocacy group Philippine Forum, carried placards and blew a megaphone criticizing the $10,000 a month plush Trump Plaza apartment of Consul General Cecilia Rebong, calling it “Imeldific.” Another group–Gabriela Women’s Network, who joined the parade, brandished placards and distributed papers, saying the US-backed Philippine Armed Forces perpetrated atrocious human rights violations in the Philippines, making the Philippines not a truly independent country.
Bursting with color and music, thousands of Filipinos trooped to Madison Street Sunday celebrating with pride the Philippine Independence. Filipinos transformed 23rd St. Into a virtual Philippine village with live rock band, dances on open stage , food and native products were sold on the streets.
Dr. Ellice Flores, chairperson of the Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC) said the theme of the event was “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” which highlighted in colorful floats the history of the Philippines from pre-colonial era of the 1400 when native Filipinos traded with other countries and the Spanish colonization that started in 1521 to 1898 . The relationship between the Philippines and the U.S. dates back to 1898 when America colonized the Philippines. Marchers presented the coming of the U.S. Thomasites teachers who educated the early Filipinos and the arrival of Maj. Gen. Douglas MacArthur who landed in Leyte in 1945 to liberate the Filipinos from Japanese Imperialism and ended World War ll. Dr. Flores said the second part of the parade showcased the Filipinos today in America, who are mostly professionals and contributing to the growth of the cities and the last part showed young professionals and children who will be the future leaders. “We are grateful for the good weather. We are so joyful to show our country in this celebration,” said Dr. Flores.
“This event is successful. We have showcased our culture, heritage and tradition,” said Lolita Gillberg, former chairperson of PIDC. Some 118 Filipino American organizations with 10 to 100 members each marched in the parade from 40th St. to 23rd St.
Over 15,000 Filipinos were estimated to join the celebrations and the concert, organizers said.
While marching on the parade, members of Philippine Forum, which has 100 participants, were stopped and ejected from the parade. Some members were shoved by the police because of their noisy megaphone protesting the lavish apartment of Rebong. Other members tried to join the end part of the parade The group later continued their protest on 23rd street while thousands of Filipinos converged to watch a lively concert.
“We are indignant. This shows that this government doesn’t respect our people. Rebong’s lavish apartment could build three classrooms for poor children in the Philippines,” said Robert Roy, director of Philippine Forum.
In a separate interview, Rebong explained that the Trump Plaza apartment has been chosen to be her official residence because of its prime location, and it could host events to promote Filipino projects. She said the plush apartment was approved by the Philippine government because the price was within the range of what the government allows for a Consul General. She said she was waiting for the renovation of the Philippine-owned townhouse on 66th St. To be her permanent official residence. She has been residing in the opulent apartment since July last year.
“People know I’m not extravagant. It’s my responsibility to showcase the Philippines while performing my responsibilities,” Ms. Rebong said, who remains popular as she is a strong supporter of Filipino American projects aimed to aid poor Filipinos.
For activist group–Gabriela, the event is not a celebration of independence but a celebration of the Filipino people.
“We are celebrating the resilience of the Filipino people, and the militancy of our ancestors, who refused to be silent even under mortal threat,” said Dorothea Mendoza of Gabriela. The group and other advocacy organizations , who joined the march , also protested the Philippine government support on the US-led global war on terror, the killing of 13 journalists in the Philippines last year, and the brutal slaying of women organizers and activists. They carried placards which criticized the U.S. military exercises in the Philippines, making the archipelago as the second front in the “war on terror.” They reported 23,253 victims of human rights violations , which included killing , forced displacement of people , torture, for January to March this year.
During the parade, Leyte Dance Theatre, dressed in bright red, and blue gowns, danced gracefully amid folk music. The group was chosen as the most colorful group.
Tom Rodriguez of the Knights of Rizal, one of the judges in the parade, said the best float was awarded to the National Federation of Filipino American Associations; the most impressive group award went to the young professionals group called CORE and the most enthusiastic group award was given to the Philippine Folk Arts Society of Philadelphia, whose ebullient dances delighted the spectators.
“I like watching the ladies and kids dancing. They are really great,” said Mikea Sanchez, 6 years old. She’s been attending the Independence parade with her Mom since she was two years old.
On the open stage, Filipino dancers, singers and rock bands entertained the crowds.
Many young people in attendance, specifically charming beauty queens , said the event was symbolical as it helped them get connected with Philippine history. “ I’m honored to represent Filipino women and I’m proud to show where I came from, “ said Barbara Apostol, 25, Miss Philippines USA.
“It’s fun to sing here. I love it. My singing will inspire others to perform too,” said Golda de la Merced who sang a Filipino song “ Halika’t Sumayaw.” (Let’s dance) with a lively cha-cha beat.
For over 10 years , Filipino American World War ll veteran Joe Genito, 83, has been marching on the parade despite looking frail and gray. He wants to remind Filipinos of the sacrifices of the veterans, who alongside with U.S. soldiers, fought during the war so that Filipinos and America would have peace and freedom.
“As veterans, we always march here to celebrate our independence. We want people to remember what we fought for,” said Genito who was wounded in his left leg during the war in Southern Philippines in 1942.
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NEW YORK --- She may have lacked drama of American experiences by other immigrants, but Linda Lanuza French took 30 years to decide whether she wanted to put her American citizenship on paper.
Born to Filipino and European parents, Linda Lanuza married an American, Bob French of Dallas, in 1961 in Okinawa, Japan. She was 17 and he was 21. Bob French and her father were both working for the U.S. military.
The ship docked in Savannah, Ga., in June 1967. There in Savannah, Linda French greeted her American in-laws.
French, who now lives in Euless, is among an estimated 3,322 Filipinos living in Tarrant County, and part of the nation’s Filipino population of 1.85 million, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.
She helps organize Asian and Filipino events in the Metroplex, such as the June Philippines Republic Day Celebration in Euless. The celebration observes the country’s independence from Spain.
The roots of her American journey began when she met her future husband, Bob French, in 1959. She grew up in the Philippines and in Okinawa, where she attended high school.
French said her parents were apprehensive about the marriage because of her age. Given that she was so in love, they relinquished.
“It was unusual in my culture for me to be married that early,” French said.
In 1967, she said she prepared to come to the United States so her family could experience life in America. Her son, Michael, and a daughter, Michelle, had not met their American grandparents.
Her uncle was the minister of Philippines reparations -- a government position overseeing restitution for damages during the Japanese occupation in World War II. He secured tickets for the French family to sail to the United States.
“My uncle would have done it for anybody,” French said.
She remembers the 55-day boat trip vividly. The French family boarded a ship in Davao, a port city in the southernmost portion of the Philippines, and sailed to Hong Kong.
While in Hong Kong, French bought instructional books to teach her children math to pass the time.
“My memory was that my mother had a tin box full of Starbursts, and she would bribe us with them,” Michelle said. “If you give me enough Starbursts, I’d remember any math problem. It was good fun.”
The ship then carried the French family to Hokkaido, Japan, where they saw the tip of Russia from the ship. They also encountered Japanese boat people selling Noritake china in boxes from canoes, French remembers.
“I bought one set of the china with a lovely bamboo design for my mother-in-law as a present that day,” she said. “It cost me $10 for the whole setting.”
“My first impression of the United States was the tall cypress trees with Spanish moss hanging from them,” she said. “We did not experience the usual landing in the New York City harbor like most immigrants in the movies, where your first glimpse of the country is the Statue of Liberty.”
A road trip from Georgia brought the French family to Texas, where Bob French had family. The Frenches later called a Dallas apartment their home, and Linda French began life as a homemaker.
Over the years, French attended El Centro College in Dallas, where she earned a degree in interior design in 1975, she said.
In 1975, the French family returned to the Philippines, where they lived for nearly six years, until the French children graduated from high school.
“I wanted my children to go to college in the United States,” French said.
Both French children would graduate from the University of Texas at Austin. Today, her daughter Michelle, who works in corporate sales, is married to Bryan Keathley, who owns an insurance agency. The Keathleys have two sons and live in Arlington.
Her son, Michael, recently received his master’s of business administration from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and works as a certified public accountant.
After 24 years of marriage, Linda and Bob French divorced in 1985. She moved to Euless and a year later opened Total Interiors, an interior design shop now in Grapevine.
In 1997, French said she was ready become an American on paper. A close friend arranged for a judge to come to her Euless home to swear her in as an American citizen. She was surrounded by family and friends.
“It took a long time for me to decide to become an American citizen because it was like giving up one’s country to me,” she said. “I had been American in so many ways before I became an American citizen.”
French now spends time at the Keathleys’ Arlington home, and her son helps out at the interior design shop.
French has no life regrets. She’s a mother and grandmother. Michael French said he is proud of his mother’s journey to become an American citizen.
“It’s very interesting,” he said. “We have ties to two cultures.” (Adrienne Nettles, Star-Telegram)
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Skokie, Illinois Mayor George Van Deusen takes great pride with the plaque bestowed on him by the Philippine Week Committee 2005 led by its chairperson jelly Carandang beside him as guest of honor during the 107th Philippine Independence celebration by the Philippine Week Committee 2005 last June 4 at Marriott O'Hare in Chicago, Illinoois. (JGL)
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JERSEY CITY, June 2, 2005 --- Emi Villanueva, a retired Filipino-American teacher, loves to dance every weekend, together with seniors at St. Paul Church in Jersey City. When a senior gets sick, she and other members of the Senior Club visit a fellow elderly.
She has raised funds to provide assistance for the aging and sick seniors in Hudson County. Because of her tireless devotion to uplift the lives of seniors, Villanueva, 74, received an award from Mayor Jerramiah Healy last Tuesday, at the City Hall, in celebration of the Asian American Heritage Month. Three more Filipino-Americans and three Pakistani-Americans were also given the same award.
“We have the most ethnically diverse city. We have 50 languages. The Filipino community is very large and important part of Jersey City. “All immigrants in the city have made the city of what it is now,” said Healy who handed out certificates to honor 8 Asian Americans for their outstanding community service.
The certificates were also signed by Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, Assemblymen Louis Manzo, Anthony Chioppone, and Congressman Robert Menendez.
Sponsored by the Pan American Concerned Citizens Group headed by Linda Mayo and the Pakistanis for America, it aimed to recognize community leaders who mostly volunteer their time, talents and money to support worthy projects for the community.
“Asian Americans population is getting bigger. We have to be stronger and empowered. We want to recognize Asian Americans on their contributions for economic gentrification of Jersey City. This celebration is part of our heritage and culture,” said Mayo who was dressed in a colorful Filipino gown. Her group linked up with politicians and Pakistanis to spearhead the project.
Asian Americans honored were: Armand Porto of CitiGroup and former commander of the Knights of Rizal and officer of Santakruzan religious festival; Glenn Castillo, a businessman and officer of Fil-Am Lions Club; retired teacher Emi Villanueva, president of Senior Club; Dr. Eden Dalanon, former director at the Guttman Institute of breast cancer research in New York, an advocate for the homeless; Sadid Quraishi, former pharmacist of Merck and a member of Pakistan American Pharmaceutical Association; Wahid Shibli of Pfizer and Pakistanis for America, Amar Ali of Ivy Mortgage, founder of News Paper Asia and Choudhri Imtiaz Hussaim, former member of Pakistani Army, now an organizer of Pakistanis for America.
“This event makes me feel good as a community leader and an acknowledgment of what we have done,” said Porto.
Over 200 Asian Americans attended the event and celebrated it by tasting culinary delights from the Philippines and Pakistan.
“I feel satisfaction and happy helping fellow seniors. This award is a big accomplishment,” said Villanueva.
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MANILA --- Dr. Mercedes Concepcion, one of the Philippines’ foremost experts on population research and policy, won this year’s United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) Award, the Philippine Mission to the UN announced.
Ambassador Lauro Baja Jr., permanent representative of the Philippines, said: ‘The award (in the individual category of the award) recognizes the contribution of Dean Concepcion as it acknowledges the Philippine policy on population.’
The award was also announced in a on the UNPF website.
Citing the commissioner’s study of population growth in the Philippines, Baja said Concepcion is a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Commission on Population.
Baja, who nominated Concepcion, said the study was a significant input in the development, monitoring, and evaluation of the Philippines’ national population policy and program.
‘Her pioneering research and continuing work on demographic processes in the Philippines and in the rest of Southeast Asia has been recognized internationally,’ the ambassador said.
Quoting Ambassador Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, permanent representative of Bangladesh and chairman of the Committee for the UN Population Award, Baja said the award is presented each year to an individual and/or an institution in recognition of their outstanding contributions to increasing the awareness of population questions and to their solution.
The award was established by the General Assembly in 1981. The awarding ceremonies will be on July 7 at the UN Headquarters in New York. (MNS)
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