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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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Freed hostage thanks Arroyo for his release
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A picture of released Filipino hostage Roberto Tarongoy, an accountant working for a Saudi Arabian company catering food to American troops in Iraq, is held by a relative beside his wife Grace Ivy (right) as they meet reporters in Manila. (MNSwirephoto)
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MANILA --- Freed Filipino hostage Roberto Tarongoy has thanked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for securing his freedom and asked the media to give time with his family.
Tarongoy has been freed June 22 by Iraqi militants, more than seven months after he was seized from the compound of a Saudi firm he worked for in Baghdad.
“I thank her for the trouble that she went through. They did not abandon me. The government did a lot for me and if they had not done so, I would not be alive today. If the president had not paid attention to me, I would not have (had) a chance,” Tarongoy said upon arrival in Manila.
“I hope they (the media) will understand and give me some time to get reunite with my family, my wife, my mother and father and my siblings. I want to rest for a while and I hope they respect that I have been in Iraq for a long time and have not seen them,” Tarongoy said.
He did not give any details of his release from the hands of Iraqi militants who kidnapped him in November.
The Philippines last year pulled out its token military contingent serving with US-led coalition forces in order to save the life of a Filipino truck driver who was kidnapped by Iraqi militants.
The move frayed relations between the Arroyo government and its chief ally, the United States. (MNS)
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Benedict XVI mourns the death of Jaime Cardinal Sin
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THANKING SIN. Pope Benedict XVI expressing gratitude to his friend, the late Cardinal Jaime Sin of Manila through a telegram, which also included his sentiments of grief over the former Archbishop of Manila's death.
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VATICAN CITY --- Benedict XVI said he was “deeply saddened” by the death of Cardinal Jaime Sin, the retired archbishop of Manila who died at the age of 76.
The Pope relayed his sentiments in a message of sympathy to the faithful of the Archdiocese of Manila, which the Philippine cardinal headed for almost three decades. The archdiocese noted that Cardinal Sin has been described as “patriot and prophet.”
In a telegram to the prelate’s successor, Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales, the Holy Father recalled “with gratitude Cardinal Sin’s unfailing commitment to the spread of the Gospel and to the promotion of the dignity, common good and national unity of the Philippine people.”
“I join you in praying that God our merciful Father will grant him the reward of his labors and welcome his noble soul into the joy and peace of his eternal Kingdom,” said Benedict XVI. He imparted his apostolic blessing to those gathered in Manila for a Mass for the cardinal’s eternal rest.
According to the Archdiocese of Manila, the cardinal was hospitalized on Sunday and succumbed today to multiple organ failure related to sepsis.
His delicate state of health -- he suffered from kidney problems and diabetes -- had prevented him from taking part in the conclave that elected Benedict XVI.
Bishop Socrates Villegas of Balanga, the cardinal’s longtime private secretary, and Father Rufino Sescon Jr., his present secretary, were with him at the time of his death.
According to the Communications Office of the Archdiocese of Manila, Archbishop Rosales visited Cardinal Sin on Monday afternoon. The archbishop said the cardinal received the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. The prelate said he gave him a “farewell blessing.”
With Cardinal Sin’s death, the bishops of the Philippines have lost “a friend and a brother,” said Archbishop Fernando Capalla of Davao, president of the country’s episcopal conference, on behalf of all its members.
“Cardinal Sin was a great man, a great Filipino, a great prince of the Church,” wrote Archbishop Capalla in a statement. “We are saddened that he left us, but we rejoice that he has entered into Real Life -- one that never ends.”
Cardinal Sin’s mortal remains were taken to the Cathedral of Manila, where he will lie in state until his burial, tentatively scheduled for June 28.
Archbishop Rosales presided over the first Mass for his eternal repose together with about 100 priests and numerous faithful, including former President Corazon Aquino.
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JERSEY CITY --- In a move that would allow Filipinos to retain Rizal park in its present location in Columbus drive in Jersey City, Council-at-large Mariano Vega, who is running for Council President, pledged to author an ordinance that would preserve the park as a symbol of Filipino heritage.
“It’s difficult for a city to take back what the city has given, I will fight to create this wonderful plaza,” said Vega who spoke during the 144th birthday celebrations Sunday at Rizal park.
At the heart of the issue is Rizal park which Mayor Jerramiah Healy said could be dismantled and relocated to a new place because the lot is not owned by the government but owned by a private Italian-American group. Healy told a meeting of the Knights of Rizal a couple of months ago that the owners could take the property back from the government.
Many opined that Rizal park dispute has become a prize in a political tug of war, at the height of city elections campaigns months back, as Healy courted both the Italian-Americans and the Filipino American votes.
“I expect that the monument will be here forever...All of Americans should share a piece of Filipino heritage,” said Vega.
Linda Mayo of the Lady of the Knights of Rizal said for six years, Filipino Americans celebrated Rizal Day every June 19 in a festive ceremony in the park, as it is a testament of the contributions of Filipino Americans to Jersey City’s socio-economic life.
Former Mayor Brett Schundler authorized the leasing of the park to the Knights of Rizal in 1999.
The Knights of Rizal leased the Rizal Park lot for $1.00 a year. It pays over $1,600 insurance each year to maintain the property.
Lito Gajilan, commander of the Knights of Rizal said the city government as announced by Healy, put off any developments to improve the park as the legal issues have yet to be settled. The owners of the property have not formally claimed the formerly vacant lot.
Rizal park was built on a triangular lot and part of a right of way property of the government, said Vega.
Against the silhouette of the sun, the gray statue of Rizal stood proud to remind Filipinos of their history and culture.
Ador Equipado, special aide to Healy, read the city’s proclamation, declaring June 19 as Rizal Day and recognizing Rizal in a posthumous award.
Healy said in a proclamation that that Rizal was a great Filipino. He was a physician, a scientist, an economist, a linguist, an eye surgeon, a writer, teacher, painter, an engineer and a poet who defended the rights of Filipinos against Spanish colonizers.
Rizal’s brilliant books and writings were a hard blow to Spaniards who colonized the Philippines for over 375 years. Because of his writings that arose the Filipinos to revolt, Spanish soldiers shot him in a firing squad in 1896, two years before the Philippine Independence was declared.
Guy Catrillo of Jersey City Historical Society compared Rizal to Thomas Jefferson. “Both men were voices of freedom. They were men of science, and strong philosophies, and more of real men, rather than politicians. They both believe in strong education, both were authors and their ideals will always live on,” said Catrillo.
Amid folk dancing and native music during the celebrations, Filipinos pledged to defend Rizal plaza as a piece of their heritage.
“We want to establish our own identity. We must be united to defend our rights,” said Joe Red, co-founder of Rizal park and a World War ll veteran.
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Chicago, ILLINOIS --- The Illinois House adopted a resolution calling for benefits for Filipino World War ll veterans.
The resolution 286 passed with a vote of 114.
Sponsored by Rep. Rich Bradley (D-Chicago), it urged President Bush and Congress to honor the contributions of Filipino veterans and to direct the federal government to pay promised veterans benefits immediately.
In May, 83-year old Crispin Echiverri of Warrenville, IL -- a Filipino World War II veteran -- traveled to Springfield to offer personal testimony before the Illinois House Veterans Affairs Committee.
Less than two weeks later, the Filipino World War II Veterans Initiative passed unanimously. The Rescission Act of 1946 removed Filipino veterans from “active” service and stripped them of all military benefits from the United States. Nearly 100 veterans live in Illinois, most of who are in their mid-to-late-80s. Nationally, an estimated 10,000 Filipino World War II veterans reside in the United States.
Filipino veterans groups estimate five to eight veterans die every day. On April 9, in remembrance of the 63rd Bataan Commemoration Day, officials of Illinois government saluted Filipino soldiers who survived the horrific 1942 Bataan Death March. Thousands died along the way of sickness or were shot and tortured by members of the Japanese Imperial Army. Officials and nearly 200 members of the Filipino community also took part in a symbolic march.
Copies of the Filipino World War II Veterans Initiative will be sent to President Bush and members of Congress.
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