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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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Pacquiao knocks Morales out on 8th
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Filipino boxing sensation Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao training in Los Angeles in front of the international media.
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Las Vegas, NEVADA --- While almost everybody said the fight could last the distance, at least there was someone bold and more specific predicting a Manny Pacquiao victory inside eight rounds.
“Put your money on the smart place. It’ll be an eighth-round knockout by Pacquiao,” Gary Shaw, the American promoter of the Filipino knockout artist, told the jampacked press conference Wednesday.
Shaw firmly believes that Pacquiao, who trained long and hard for his coming fight with Erik Morales, now has the power to deal the Mexican the first knockout loss of his career.
“You’ll see a different Manny Pacquiao. And you’ll probably be seeing the fight of the year on Saturday.
This is almost like the Olympics at the highest level,” he said.
Shaw also said Pacquiao using the Cleto Reyes gloves, known as the puncher’s gloves, against Morales’ Winning, which is thicker on the knuckle area, will be a factor.
“Erik Morales will be wearing pillows on his hands to protect his face,” said the portly American. As Shaw delivered his pep talk before the microphone, a Mexican who sat somewhere at the back of the Mounton Ballroom of Wynn Las Vegas kept shouting “Viva Mexico! Viva Mexico!”
Shaw turned his eyes on the fellow and gave him a shot.
“You’ll be removed in about three seconds,” he paused, before adding, “and as you see Filipinos are more respectful.”
The Mexican, however, wouldn’t budge, even when it was Pacquiao who was at the microphone.
The Mexican certainly drew Pacquiao’s attention, but looked stunned when the Filipino boxer, smiling at him, shouted “Viva Mexico!”
If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. (PS)
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Michelle dela Vega and Jacob Calero fight back the tears as they wait to enter a plea to felony child abuse charges in Walnut Creek Superior Court. The couple left their two children home alone while they went to Las Vegas for New Year's. (ContraCostaTimes)
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Walnut Creek, CALIFORNIA --- The Filipino American couple who left his two children home alone while they went to Las Vegas over the New Year’s weekend pleaded no contest to criminal charges late last week.
The Contra Costa Times reported that Jacob Calero, 39, and Michelle de la Vega, 32, both received jail sentences in the plea agreement with the District Attorney’s Office. Both will apply to serve their time in the sheriff’s home detention program, their attorneys said.
“Sometimes you have to step up to the plate,” said Calero’s attorney, Thomas McKenna, after the Superior Court hearing. “We admitted full responsibility. I’m asking the public to give him a second chance.”
Calero and de la Vega were released from custody Thursday afternoon, January 12. They had been held on $200,000 bail each since their arrest Jan. 4 at the Oakland airport as they got off a plane from Las Vegas.
During the morning hearing, Calero pleaded no contest to two counts of felony child endangerment and was sentenced to 270 days in jail. De la Vega entered the same plea to one misdemeanor count of being accessory to a felony. She received a 180-day jail sentence.
“It shows (Calero) recognized what they did was wrong,” prosecutor Dara Cashman said later. “This was definitely the worst of all bad judgment, but not what we reserve state prison for.”
De la Vega, a dentist, accepted the misdemeanor because a felony on her record could have harmed her ability to practice dentistry, said her attorney, G. Wright Morton. He added that her husband was more at fault.
“I think the prosecution recognized a difference in culpability between the two,” he said.
Cashman said de la Vega’s culpability wasn’t diminished because she is a stepmother, but because Calero said she didn’t know the children were left alone.
According to Calero’s signed affidavit, de la Vega spent the night at her mother’s home in Hayward on Dec. 29.
He left their San Ramon home early on the morning of Dec. 30 while the boys were still sleeping.
Calero admitted to prosecutors that he often left the house before the boys woke up and came home after they had gone to bed, leaving the 10-year-old boy in charge of his brother, Cashman said.
This “continuous conduct” led to what Cashman called “extremely stiff penalties” compared to other child endangerment cases, especially considering the children were not harmed.
“There really has been a lot of outrage at these parents because it’s not like they left the children to go to work,” she said. “They left to go to Las Vegas.”
San Ramon police, alerted by the boys’ maternal grandmother, found Joshua, 10, and 5-year-old Jason about 11 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, sleeping alone in their home.
Their mother, Calero’s first wife, died of cancer in 2003 at the age of 31. A nanny took care of the children until mid-October, when she quit.
Calero’s sister, Patsy Black, said last week that her brother believed the boys’ maternal grandmother was coming over to stay with his children. The grandmother, Liberata Holden, had said she never agreed to baby-sit.
Outside the courthouse Thursday, de la Vega’s mother, Elvie de la Vega, said her daughter, and the rest of the family, believed the boys’ grandmother was baby-sitting.
“Had we known they weren’t, we could have taken them,” she said.
Child welfare workers have placed the boys in Holden’s care.
“As I know, they’re doing well,” McKenna said Thursday. “I don’t think they’re going to stay with grandma. He said a juvenile dependency court hearing was scheduled for February.
Because Calero and de la Vega may serve their sentences in home detention -- rather than in jail or prison -- the juvenile dependency court judge would have the option of granting the couple custody of the boys, said Pleasant Hill-based family law specialist Barbara Suskind.
“One of the factors the court will consider is whether the children will be safe there,” she said. “It depends on the court’s determination that the parents won’t make the same mistakes.”
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Trenton, NEW JERSEY --- Standing against the backdrop of an altar, Governor Jon Corzine spoke on embracing diversity as the state’s greatest strength. He said diverse people were coming together to create dreams, reflecting the pluralism of New Jersey.
“New Jersey is a home of immigrants with various ethnic backgrounds that must work together. We need to recognize we are interdependent..There’s a tie that binds our country . We are of different faces but we acknowledge one nation under God, “ he added.
Corzine pledged to protect the vulnerable at the same time restoring public and fiscal responsibility. His voice echoed renewed optimism. “We have a good chance to build a brighter future.” Reaffirming his commitment to deliver better education for children, healthcare and to uplift the lives of mentally ill, Corzine said he would work hard to maintain progressive values in the state.
In his in inauguration address ,the former head of Goldman Sachs and Co. Aimed to boost the state’s economy by using his Wall Street experience so as to reduce projected $6 billion budget gap.
With his 89 -year old mother beside him and holding the bible, Corzine was sworn in and became the 54th governor of New Jersey.
“To earn the public trust, we must act, but we also must trust the people with the truth. We cannot build a financial future on the crumbling, papered-over foundation of recurring fiscal crisis,” said Corzine.
Corzine is also facing a daunting task of pumping more money to the nearly depleted Transportation Fund being used for road and rail projects. He has to govern with integrity to protect his administration from the blows of political corruption and tarnished insider dealings.
“ Every dollar squandered in violation of the public trust is a book not bought for a classroom, a prescription drug with a higher co-pay, meals-on-wheels not delivered, a road or science lab not built,” the governor said.
The challenges are enormous as he faces today’s realities: The state is not growing enough jobs , many high tech jobs have been lost, and he has to implement initiatives in what his campaign promise called “blue print for economic growth.”
“And though this is a time of austerity, we must find the tools and the resources to fulfill our most fundamental commitments, staring with our commitment to our children, our families, and the health of our citizens. It is intolerable that a quarter million children in New Jersey go without healthcare, and that children lose their lives in our child welfare system, “Corzine said.
Corzine pledged property rebates and supported a constitutional convention to implement enduring property tax reform.
“I know there are legislators of both parties--men an women of conscience, who will stand with me, even push me,” he added.
The governor was honored with a stading ovation and 19-gun salute.
At Princeton University Chapel ,choir members sang with one voice. They clapped hands and rejoiced with sweet gospel songs that lifted the souls as 22 interfaith clergy leaders offered prayers to give wisdom, courage and strength to new Governor Jon Corzine.
Various clergies representing Christian, Catholics, Jewish, Islam, Hindu and other congregations, chanted and whispered prayers coming from the depths of their souls.
Eliezer Garcia, of Presbyter Assemblies of God offered prayers so that Mr. Corzine would lead the government to help citizens who are squeezed by poverty, and corruption to live justly and peacefully.
Many of the clergies spoke on a mantra to inspire Mr. Corzine so as to give hope and great love to the poor and the oppressed.
“Let the oppressed go free from captivity. May the homeless find homes, food to the hungry and more light than darkness,” said Rev. Bruce Davidson, pastor of the Lutheran office of governmental ministry in NJ.
As songs of praises roused the crowds, religious leaders urged Mr. Corzine to be committed for a change and persevered despite challenges.
Imam Muslim leader–Hamad Ahmad Chebli, director of Islamic Society of Central NJ drew his memory from an event two months ago when Mr. Corzine spoke at a gathering of Muslim and its leaders of 25,000 people. “The Governor offered peace and blessings to all. Mr. Chebli asked Allah to show them a “straight path” under the leadership of Mr. Corzine.
“Shalom...May God grant clarity of mind, strength of body and work with knowledge so he can face challenges,” said Rabbi Randi Musnitsky, regional director of Union for Reform Judaism.
People shook hands with Mr. Corzine who basked in the glory of worshiping crowds. The clergies blessings have soothed his spirits. Mr. Corzine is ready to lead his flock.
People came to him with one voice—warm greetings and seeking assurance that he would lend a helping hand. They want to sail with him in his dreams for the future.
“I knew that Mr. Corzine is sensitive to the needs of working families. He stood by us on raising the minimum wage to $6.15 per hour. We want our government to have universal health care.
“He visited our factories and he said he was opened to universal health care,” said Charles Hall Jr, president of retail, food , wholesale and department store union based in Maplewood, NJ.
“I hope Filipino Americans will have unity and stronger voice under the new administration. We can help as a commuity by contributing our time to some government projects,” said Fil-Am Zenaida Geoghegen.
“I hope that there will be more minorities in Corzine’s administration. We have to participate to be part of governance,” said Fil-Am Celeste Reside.
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