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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 tell us what you think about Filipino Express Online or to comment on the stories published here, E-mail us at Filexpress@aol.com
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Bridgeport , CONNECTICUT --- The citizens of Bridgeport, Connecticut celebrated Col. Henry A. Mucci Day on August 17. 2005 in front of the Superior Court House, Bridgeport, Connecticut, in honor of a World War II hero, the late Col. Henry A. Mucci.
Aided by Filipino guerillas and local residents, Col. Mucci led the U.S. Army Rangers in one of the most daring and successful rescue missions in U.S. military history.
Hundreds of American and Allied POWs at the Japanese prison in Cabanatuan, Central Luzon in the Philippines were about to be massacred when they were rescued.
Several members of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NAFFAA) Eastern Region headed by Chairman Arnulfo S. Rosario, Sr. participated in a brief, simple and solemn celebration, a fitting tribute to an outstanding hero.
The NAFFA group led the singing of the Star Spangled Banner and the Philippine National Anthem. LCDR Sylvester L. Salcedo, USNR (ret.) and private practice attorney of Bridgeport, CT was the master of ceremony.
A message from the Philippine Ambassador to the United States, Albert del Rosario was read for the occasion as well as a resolution from the Governor of Connecticut designating August l7 as the Col. Henry A. Mucci Day.
It was indeed an honor for Filipinos to be a part of this celebration. Col. Mucci’s life of courage, patriotism, loyalty to his country and his fellow men, love to his family, and firm commitment to peace and freedom.
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CADET Daniel Manglicmot Asis was named to the Dean’s List of the U.S. Military Academy. This was announced by Westpoint-based military academy last July.
Cadet Asis, a native of Jersey City, graduated from Saint Peter’s Preparatory school in 2003.
He plans to graduate from West Point in 2008 as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
He currently holds a grade point average of 3.331 and is ranked 89th in a class of a thousand.
Cadet Asis is also an athlete, currently the reigning boxing champion at West Point in the 125-lbs division.
He was also a silver medallist in the Eastern Conference and was an All-American bronze medallist in the National Collegiate Boxing Association held in the US Air Force Academy in Colorado.
The U.S. Military Academy has educated, trained, and inspired the Corps of Cadets to produce graduates that are committed to the values of Duty, Honor, and Country.
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Secaucus, NEW JERSEY --- “Star for All Seasons” turned politician Vilma Santos swayed her hips and sang love songs. The group Rhythomology danced to the rhythm of hiphop music. A Filipino American band crooned popular ditties.
All these and more at the Philippine Fiesta at the Meadowlands Exposition Center over the weekend.
Bus loads of fiesta goers from New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut flocked to the Exposition Center came to this year’s staging of the annual Philippine Fiesta.
The crowd was estimated to be between 4,000 and 5,000 mostly Filipinos.
Other performers who entertained the crowd were former child star now balladeer Aiza Seguerra and “Filipino Idol” champion Stephanie Dayonden. Both rendered soulful, romantic songs.
Unlike the past stagings of the Philippine Fiesta, which were more about cultural and native dances, this year’s celebration was a showcase of high spirited modern hip-hop dances.
There was also stand-up comedy.
Filipino comedians Leo Martinez, Nanette Inventor Jon Santos took turns satizing current Philippine political and social realities.
Known for mocking Philippine politics and politicians, Martinez entertained the crowds with his funny jokes on taxes. He said sex will taxes and will be known as “amusement tax”. Having facelift will be subject to tax to be know as “Botax.”
Inventor and Santos, however, were not as successful in ribbing the Filipino crowd’s funny bone. Inventor’s monologue derided Filipinos’ physical features. Santos satirized actress Armida Siguion Reyna. Their acts bordered on being boring.
Like all other fiestas, the one at the Meadowlands also has its Mutya or queen. The charming Therese Palencia was crowned as Ms. Philippine Fiesta 2005.
Another highlight was the Santacruzan, a Catholic procession that celebrates the recovery of the Holy Cross by the Roman Emperor Constantine and her mother Queen Helena.
Beautiful girls, dressed in splendid gowns and protraying various queens representing Catholic virtues, line up in the procession.
At the children’s pavilion, children were taught art crafts, like flowers, frame, hats and participated in games.
“I made a picture frame. I made a bag , and a book mark. I like it. It’s fun,” said Hannah Comia, 7 who attended the Fiesta with her sister Elena and her Mom.
The Fiesta, now on its seventh year was also a showcase of Filipino products. It featured trade shows, business seminars on owning homes, investments and consumer fraud.
An eye-popping array of hard-to find products from the Philippines like jewelry, woven clothing, shell crafts, food products, accessories, home furnishing, and others, were on sale.
Among those that were selling well were indigenous Philippine Jusi or silk, being sold by “MyBarong.com.
“There’s a lot of traffic in our booth. Our products sell briskly, “ said Aileen Federinzo of MyBarong.com.
Over 150 booths, mostly American and Filipino companies were set up to sell products.
This year’s Fiesta was also transformed into a public service, civic-minded affair, when British multi-millionaire Dylan Wilkes, who sold his computer game business in England, to help poor Filipinos build their own homes, spoke to ask fiesta attendees to help raise funds for his project.
He showed a video of homeless Filipinos crying for help to build a home. He plans to build 700,00 homes for slum dwellers in the Philippines So far, 42, 000 homes for the poor have been built..
“My story is a love story of the rich to the poor. We have to rise to the challenge and be heroes,” said Wilkes amid cheers from the crowd.
The Philippine Fiesta started in 1996.
“America was in the midst of an economic boom , and we had high hopes that an event that mixed business and pleasure, trade and cultural entertainment, professional networking and friendly get-togethers would be welcome,” said Nanding Mendez , president of Special Edition Press which handles Philippine Fiesta.
“Phillippine Fiesta presents a rare opportunity for companies to connect with one of America’s largest and most sought-after consumer groups: the Filipino Americans,” said Mila Mendez, Vice President of Special Edition Press, who said that the annual buying power of Filipino Americans is at $52 billion.
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NEW YORK --- The Philippine Independence Day Council Inc. (PIDCI) will hold its annual election of officers on October 1, 2005 at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center.
The president and six members of the board will be elected.
So far, two candidates have submitted their certificates of candidacies. They Ludi de Asis Hughes and Gani Puertollano.
For board members; those who running for the six available positions are Dr. Baby Bleza, Edgar Buenconsejo, Philip Carreon, Belen Castillo, Buddy Deauna, Lolit Gillberg, Willy Macaraeg, Lita Peña, Francis Sison, Paul Verzosa, Mac Villapando and Tambi Wycoco.
The PIDCI’s committee on election are Lolit Compas, Honesto Quijano, Tom Rodriguez and with Dr. Ben Ileto as chairman.
Applicants have until 12:00 midnight of August 31, 2005, to file their candidacies.
Interested candidates should submit their candidates to Dr. Ben Ileto, at 9 Westchester Avenue, Jericho, NY 11753; or email at benileto@aol.com, or fax at 516-433-2338.
For voice messages, call 516-642-1454.
Those interested to run for a position must be a bonafide member of a paid listed member organization of the PIDCI.
Candidates for president must have served the PIDCI for at least one year as a member of its board of directors.
The Philippine Center is located at 556 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, New York.
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