|
For the past 20 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIVINGSTON, NJ – Smiles, applause, and tears greeted Filipino-American Dominador Madrid, when he celebrated his 100th birthday in Ramada Hotel here dubbed as 100 years of faith and prayer.
Despite his gray hair, and frail look, Madrid was very cheerful in party packed with loving relatives. Some members of his family shed tears of joy of seeing the man they all adore.
His friends and family, reminisced Madrid’s golden years, his greatness and kind spirit.
When Madrid was a school teacher during World War ll in the 1940’s, he would use his money he earned to feed the hungry soldiers and American troops, fighting the Japanese troops.
“My father is a hard working man. He knows how to share and how to live life,” said Ester Madrid Barga, a chemist from St. George, Utah who flew to attend the celebration.
Madrid was later promoted as a school superintendent in Aguila, Pangasinan.
He devoted his life to teaching children, reading the bible and proposing projects that would benefit the community and his country.
“My father is very meticulous, he wants to put everything in order. But he is a great man of integrity,” said Dr. Teresa Madrid, who practices internal medicine in NJ.
His children say that Madrid’s secret of growing old gracefully means eating a lot of vegetables, fish and grain and being active mentally and physically. Madrid mourned the death of his wife in the 90’s but quickly recovered by getting involved in community civic activities.
Madrid has seven children who are mostly in medical field in the U.S.
At the age of 100 years, Madrid keeps himself busy. He starts his day early at around 5 in the morning, then he will start praying, then he eats breakfast, reads the bible, and does gardening and walking.
His mind is still agile, and he is healthy but Madrid has a hearing problem.
“The greatest memory of my father was when he cooked fish that he caught himself and he would share it to all of us,” said Teresa.
When Madrid became a supervisor of school in his province, he family was criticized by some people because they said Madrid’s Spanish ancestors had tortured poor Filipinos in the 17th century, damaging their name. His family owns a vast land in Pangasinan being run by tenants, a feudal system where landlords earns while poor tenants till the land.
“My father is a disciplinarian. He would never hurt anyone. He would just look at us, and we, children knew what my father wanted to say,” said Teresa.
Madrid’s children recalled how their father shared food to the neighbors and poor children in their town.
“He is a compassionate and greatly generous,” his children said. His seven children are all naturalized U.S. citizens and fulfilled the American dream through their dedication to their profession. They are mostly working in medical field–medicine, pharmacy, and chemistry.
During a party held to honor Madrid, this beloved man looked happy and satisfied to see his grandchildren , children and friends. At the sunset of his life, Madrid feels the reality that he won’t be living forever. His children recalled his early struggles and survival, his achievement to bring honor to his family’s name and his to see his grandchildren grow healthy and achieve their dreams in life.
His grandchildren dressed in red and white hopped to dance a native music. His other grandchildren belted out songs of love and hope.
“I feel honored. I feel happy to see everybody,” said Madrid.
Madrid was honored years ago in Pangasinan as outstanding man of the year.
He finished a bachelor’s degree in education at Dagupan College. He immigrated to the U.S. in the 70’s.
“I hope he will have more years to live. His always kind and sensitive to others,” said Dr. Domingo Madrid of St. Louis Missouri.
For his seven children and 14 grandchildren, the greatest legacy of Madrid would be his encouragement that all his children and grandchildren should obtain college degrees.
“He inculcates to us the value of education and studying well,” said Teresa.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THEY are truly a sight to behold. Beautiful reynas, charming escorts, pretty flower girls and adorable Constantinos provide the sparkle of Philippine Fiesta’s Santacruzan.
Introduced by the Spaniards centuries ago, Santacruzan is the dazzling culmination of the colorful Flower Festival of the Philippines. It depicts the finding of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, and the joyful celebration that followed.
This year’s Hermano Mayor is Architect Z.G. “Zonny” Lerum Jr., and his beautiful wife, Amelia, is the Hermana Mayor. Zonny was Grand Marshal of the Philippine Day Organizing Council (PDOC) in 2005, awarded Man of the Year in 2002, and together with his wife Amelia were honored as “Parents of the Year” in 1998 by the New Jersey Parents Foundation. Zonny has received accolades from all fronts. He was cited by Speaker Jose de Venecia of the Philippine House of Representatives as “a distinguished professional and a dynamic leader.
Zonny has been one of the strongest pillars of the Filipino community in the U.S.” Some of this year’s participants in Santacruzan are Therese Palencia as Reyna Elena, Barbara Frez as Reyna de las Flores, Joanne Casingal as Reyna de las Estrellas, Anna Gomez, as Reyna de las Angeles,Joanna Jacinto as Reyna Judith, Lavina Demafiles as Emperatriz.
A mass will be celebrated on Sunday, August 20 at 10 pm, before the Santacruzan, officiated by Fr. Dave Sison.
The Philippine Fiesta in America has become an annual summer destination for Filipino-Americans in the East Coast, and each year is bigger and better than the last. This year, Philippine Fiesta Sa Amerika will open its doors on August 19 & 20, 2006 at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus, New Jersey, USA. The event is the largest indoor gathering of Filipino-Americans in the Northeast, with an average attendance for the two-day event of over 21,000 – and growing. This year’s sponsors are Citibank, DirectTV, Western Union, Pizza Hut, EvaAir, McDonald’s, Cathay Land, Coca Cola, 3M & Sons, Brittany Corp., Philippine News, My World Unlimited, Mama Sita’s & Tancinco Law Offices, Accurate Mortgage Company.
For more information, or to exhibit or attend, please call (212) 682-6610, email: sepmgzn@aol.com or visit www.philippinefiesta.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TO embrace Dr. Jose Rizal’s teachings and inspire the new generation, over 300 members and officials of the Knights of Rizal will gather on September 1 to 3 in Casino at the Park and at Double Tree hotel in an international assembly so that Filipinos can rededicate their ideals to their greatest hero.
Lito Gajilan, New Jersey chapter commander of the Knights of Rizal said that former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Hilario Davide, the Supreme Commander of the Knights of Rizal, RP ambassador to the US Willy Gaa, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, Consul General Cecile Rebong and City Council President Mariano Vega would be the guests of speakers at the annual international assembly, now on its 15th year.
The host of the international assembly is the Order of the Knights of Rizal , New Jersey chapter.
The event will also feature speaking engagements of Supreme commander, regional and area commander of the Knights of Rizal.
There will be a wreath laying at Plaza Rizal, reports of the top officials, fraternal signing and pledge, reception, coctails, dance and cultural shows.
Rizal encouraged Filipinos to gain freedom and he inspired Philippine revolution. He was a great nationalist, a book author, an educator, physician, an educator, painter, and economist... his memory lives on...
Gajilan said 300 delegates would be coming from Europe, Asia, U.S. and Canada.
The assembly will also feature awards night, rededication to Rizal, plenary sessions, gala night, musical and cultural shows.
Known as the great Malayan hero. He was also a scientist, a painter, a linguist, sportsman and a writer. He founded the La Liga Filipina to defend Filipinos against the evil acts of Spaniards colonizers. Because of his deep intellect ,passion for social changes, and non-violence ideas to gain freedom. His ideas of non-violence inspired Mahatma Gandhi . His patriotism and fight for equality had been compared to Martin Luther King. His great writings were a hard blow to Spaniards who committed abuses to their Philippine colony for almost 400 years. Squeezed by oppressions, Filipinos at that time opted to revolt. He once wrote that the “pen is mightier than the sword.”
He wrote about great love for country, uplifting the Filipino race and the golden value of education.
In his writings he said: “ God has not made anything useless in this world, as all beings fulfill or fill a role in this sublime drama of creation. I cannot exempt myself from this duty, and however small, I , too, have a mission to fulfill such as alleviating the sufferings of my people.”
Rizal was sentenced by a Spanish military court and died in a firing squad on December 30, 1896, two years before the Philippine Independence from Spain.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
