|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A TRIUMPH in choreography, design and in concept. Kinding Sindaw wows the audience with vivid colors, rich historical narrative and exotic eloquent dance movements.
The show, “Sultan Kudarat (Lord Kudarat),” reminds us of the enduring account of the 17th century ruler and his people of Maguindanao (Flooded Plains) - from Sultan Kudarat’s ascendancy, his success story from his defeats by the Spaniards and rival sultans up to his eventual triumph, when he united virtually all of present-day Southern Philippines against Spanish colonialism.
“Sultan Kudarat” is conceptualized and choreographed by Artistic Director Potri Ranka Manis, tradition-bearer and daughter of a Sultan of the Maranao people of Mindanao.
Kinding Sindaw (Dance of Light), founded in 1992 by Potri Ranka Manis, is a resident repertory company at La MaMa, E.T.C.
Kinding Sindaw’s past venues include Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, the Sylvia and Danny Kaye Playhouse, Theatre of the Riverside Church, the United Nations, the American Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian Institution to name a few.
The company’s repertory is built upon the dances, music and orature of the T’boli, Maranao, Maguindanao, Yakan, Jama Mapun, Higaoonon, Tausug and Bagobo Peoples.
“Kinding Sindaw asserts, preserves, reclaims, and re-creates the traditions of dance, music, martial arts, storytelling, and orature of the indigenous peoples of the Philippines. By asserting their arts and traditions, the historical and contemporary stories of these peoples are brought to life,” says Manis,
An additional attraction is the importation of Special Talents from the Maguindanao Master Artists. These are musicians, chanters and dancers - Faisal Monal, Akmad Siao, Teng Emba and Karatuan Kalanduyan.
The four artists who flew in to join the cast are part of the cultural group “Maguindanao Master Artists,” led by Gutierrez Mangansakan II, which promotes and preserves the indigenous music, dance and other art forms of the province.
Faisal Monal is a master choreographer, dancer, musician and chanter, a descendant of Maguindanao royalty, Mr. Monal also lectures on Maguindanao history, sultanates and cultural tradition, and narrates legends and folklore which is integrated in the performance.
This is a fully launched Musical complete with songs, dances and drama. An eye candy of beautifully designed Maguindanao outfits fit for kings or in this case Sultans.
The rythmic beat of the kulingtang, “talking” gandingan gongs, the kudyapi lute and the dabakan drums bring to life the choreography of Potri Ranka Manis to a different level as it emphasizes the movements and brings the narrative to the forefront.
The dance has a lot of levels, and nuances highlighted with the fluid hand and pelvic movement. Educational, entertaining, endearing, Kinding Sindaw’s “Sultan Kudarat” at La MaMa E.T.C. is a Must See!
Schedule: Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm; Sun at 2:30 pm; and 7:30 pm; November 24-27, 2005
Venue: La MaMa E.T.C. 74A East 4th Street New York, NY 10003; Tel: 212-475-7710
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jersey City, NEW JERSEY --- On Sunday, December 4, the Philippine American Friendship Committee – Community Development Center (PAFCOM-CDC) will hold its First Annual Community Heroes Award Gala.
The gala will take place at the St. Demetrius Banquet Center located at 681/691 Roosevelt Avenue in Carteret, NJ. Doors open at 2:00 pm.
The recipients of PAFCOM-CDC’s first Community Heroes Award are:
Councilman Steve Lipski, who represents Ward C of Jersey City; Freeholder Bill O’Dea, District 2 of Hudson County; Frank Lang, Director of Planning and Development at Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE); Dr. Baby Bleza, General Practitioner and former PAFCOM Parade Grand Marshall; Fred Diaz, former President of the Philippine American Veterans Organization (PAVO); Jess Atencio - owner of Hudson Printing in Hoboken and a former PAFCOM Parade Grand Marshall; Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham , to be given a Posthumous Award to be received by Mrs. Sandra Bolden-Cunningham
Distinguished guests include Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy as the keynote speaker and Philippine Consul General Cecille Rebong as guest speaker.
Among the sponsors of the First Annual Community Heroes Award Gala: CLO Funding Corporation, Rose De Castro and Prudential Life Insurance, Fe Caliolio and Phil-Am Faces, and Western Union.
For the last 15 years, PAFCOM has been in the forefront of promoting Filipino culture, tradition, and history through its annual parade and festival in Jersey City, which draws thousands of participants and spectators from the tri-state area. The visibility and impact of this parade and festival has grown each year. Elected officials, dignitaries, and many community partners and collaborators take part in the annual event.
For reservations and other information, please contact Ludy Corrales @ (908) 693-4277, Lita Pena @ (201) 725-5526, Helen Castillo @ (201) 920-9441, Carmen Flores @ (201) 433-7391 or Marizon at the PAFCOM-CDC office @ (201) 332-4711.
PAFCOM is 501(c)3 non-profit community development organization whose mission is to enrich the quality of life of families, especially those in need. PAFCOM promotes inclusiveness, opportunities, interculturalism, advocacy, and intergenerationalism.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEWARK --- Following a tradition of honoring top Filipino American graduates for academic excellence, the Philippine Community Center Foundation of NJ, Inc. (PhilCom-NJ) presented its 2005 honorees during its 7th Annual Awards Night and Foundation Ball held at the Newark Airport Marriott Hotel on November 11.
This year’s outstanding graduates include one summa cum laude and three magna cum laude. They are Stephanie Juen, Patricia Astorga, Christine Mesias and Knic Rabara.
They join 29 Filipino Americans who had earlier received the same tribute from the organization since the program was started in 1999.
In her message to the honorees, Philippine Consulate Deputy Consul General Milita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek said that education does not stop with a college degree but goes on with life-long learning experiences.
“As we pursue our individual creativity, as we exercise our sense of responsibility,” she said, “we realize that our personalities cannot stand apart from our social settings. Our role in a community will define us. Without a community, we will not grow and develop.”
Cynthia Blue, from the Jersey City mayor’s office, presented a proclamation by Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy.
Stephanie Juen graduated summa laude from the Rutgers, New Jersey State University with a Bachelor of Science, major in Finance and minor in Spanish. An Edward J. Blaustein distinguished scholar and lifetime member of the Business School Honors Society, Beta Gamma Sigma, she is affiliated with Morgan Stanley as a Financial Analyst.
The daughter of Roland and Priscilla Juen of Colonia, New Jersey, Juen was 2005 Miss Performing Arts.
Patricia Astorga was a Phi Beta Kappa and graduated magna cum laude from New York University, with a double major in Politics and Psychology, and a minor in Philosophy. She is currently pursuing her law studies at Cornell University Law School where she expects to graduate in 2008.
An NYU Presidential Scholar and a recipient of many scholastic and civic awards including a recent Lloyd M. Johnson Minority Corporate Counsel Scholarship, she worked as a legal assistant in New York City.
Astorga also worked as an intern with the U.S. Attorney General Office, the Office of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and the Legal Aid Society. She is the daughter of Christopher and Dina Buenaflor of Jersey City.
Christine Mesias graduated magna cum laude from Barnard College, Columbia University, with a degree in Film Studies, minor in Psychology. An Edward Blaustein distinguished scholar, Mesias was in the Dean’s List consistently.
She was vice president of Liga Filipina of Columbia University and a member of Columbia University Film Productions. A daughter of Jojo and Mabel Mesias, she worked as an intern with Filipino Director Mac Alejandro on the set of “I Will Always Love You” and “Always and Forever.”
Knic Rabara, the son of Monico and Norma Corpuz of Jersey City, graduated magna cum laude from Rutgers, New Jersey State University College of Engineering with a bachelor’s degree in Science in Biomedical Engineering.
Earning a three-year full scholarship from the Rutgers Army ROTC program, Rabara was commissioned as a second lieutenant army officer and will join the 50th Brigade HHC for the National Guard in Laurenceville, New Jersey. He was a member of Alpha Eta Mu Beta Biomedical Engineering Honor Society, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society as well as the Scabbard and Blade, which is the ROTC Honors Society.
He is working part time at the Rutgers Labs where he is conducting research for a biomaterial that may cure spinal cord injuries.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEW YORK --- Aiming to boost its remittance business, Western Union Financial Services , a global leader in money transfer services, is expanding in the Philippines and has tied up with Bank of Philippine Island to roll out its direct-to-bank money transfer service.
Squeezed by tight competition among remittance firms, prospects for money transfer business have remained rosy due to increasing number of Filipino immigrants working in the U.S. This bodes well for Western Union, which is targeting a bigger slice of the $5 billion remittances of Filipinos in the U.S.
When Western Union Direct to Bank service was launched Friday, November 18, at the Philippine Consulate, representatives of the Filipino-American community were expressed their approval because the new service would allow added convenience to Filipino customers.
It allows customers to directly deposit money into BPI, BPI Family and BPI Direct banks from any of 55 participating Western Union Agent locations in New York and New Jersey.
Customers may send up to $2,500 US dollars per transaction, and the funds will be deposited to either a savings or checking account in Philippine Pesos. The transfer typically takes 2 to 5 banking business days, subject to the banks’ operating days and hours.
Filipinos globally remit $9 to $10 billion annually to their relatives back home.
“Western Union’s reliable and convenient D2B service is being offered to the Filipino community at participating Agent locations in the New York and New Jersey area,” said Ming-Ren Shiu, marketing director, Western Union, Asia Region.
Western Union hopes to offer ther services to other states in the U.S. such as Hawaii, California and Chicaco where a big population of Filipinos reside.
According to the Asian Development Bank Study, conducted in July 2005, 52% of U.S. based Filipinos currently utilize deposit to bank account type services when transferring money overseas to their home country.
“Since Filipinos that migrate to the United States are commonly skilled professionals and extremely family-oriented with close family ties in the Philippines, it is customary to send a significant amount of money and savings back to the home country.” Cecille Rebong, Consul General said. , “Western Union’s Direct to Bank money transfer service benefits both Filipino senders and receivers,” she added.
Pia Palpal-latoc, assistant marketing manager of Western Union International said that part of their plans include increasing the number of Western Union agents and to partner with other national banks in the Philippines. They are currently negotiating with RCBC bank to be part of their D2B service.
She said customers who use their D2B service are automatically enrolled in the Gold Card program where they receive free phone time, earn points to get discounts and other bonuses.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
