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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.
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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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“WHAT I will strive to do as chairman of PAFCOM is to re-energize this organization as a visible and solid player in our community, as it ‘promotes inclusiveness, opportunities, interculturalism, advocacy and intergenerationalism.’”
Thus declares Francis D. Sison, as he continues on a path of highly successful stints in various leadership roles in the Filipino-American community in the Greater New York and New Jersey region, in declaring his candidacy for the top post in the Philippine American Friendship Committee (PAFCOM), Inc., based in Jersey City.
A 2005 recipient of the coveted “Most Outstanding Community Service Award” given by the Pan American Concerned Citizens Action League, Inc. (PACCAL) of New Jersey, Francis was honored to receive, with his lovely wife Evelyn, a registered nurse, the esteemed recognition of “Most Outstanding New Jersey Parents of the Year 2005,” bestowed on them by the New Jersey Parents Foundation and the American Family Coalition of New Jersey.
After several years of continuing volunteer community work, Sison was appointed by the Philippine Independence Day Council Inc. (PIDCI) as Vice-Chair for the Independence Day Celebration and Chief Security/Assembly and Parade Services & Operations Committee the following year. Furthermore, h e was the Executive Chair of the most successful Diwa Ng Kalayaan staged to date, under the auspices of PIDC, that was held in April 2006. He is also a Director of the Board of PIDCI, having garnered the highest number of votes in the 2005 elections.
Sison further commits to being an enabler, to bridge various parties and segments in the community, toward dialogue and accomplishing the aims that PAFCOM was set up for, along with its Community Development Center (CDC) arm, that runs various civic programs, including the Wellness/Health and Youth and Family Services, offering free aerobics classes, senior dances, health fairs, and nutrition and health education, and walkathon events, and of course its most visible events, the Annual Phil-Am Friendship Parade and Filipino Idol competitions, along with the fundraiser balls to support these community events and activities.
As Francis often says, “I’m a uniter, not a divider; a builder, a doer, not a watcher, a participant, not a bystander,” adding, “I am committed to building on a track record of accomplishment, leadership, and service.”
Toward this end, he seeks as chair to consolidate and strengthen the PAFCOM and CDC capabilities, including their financial resources, in order that they continue to play a prominent and pro-active role to support the community, programs such as the Strengthening Filipino-American Families Program (SFAF) and courses in language, history and culture of the Philippines and of Filipino-Americans, particularly important in this Centennial of the Filipino Migration to the US, and in the ongoing efforts to increase the visibility and role of the Filipino-Americans in the political landscape.
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FILIPINOS in the Northeast region will again have the chance to feel the pure energy of a Gary V Concert at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on November 11.
Gary V, as he is fondly called, is practically a household name amongst Filipino music-lovers both at home and abroad having been in the music industry for 23 years now.
Apart from Gary V, Deither Ocampo and Kristine Hermosa, two of the most sought after celebrities in the Philippines will also take part in the concert.
From teenage characters to dramatic roles, Kristine has shown her versatility all the way. Among her most memorable roles were Princess Faye in “Enteng Kabisote,” and opposite Aga Muhlach in “All My Life,” and “Pangako sa Iyo” ‘s Yna which jumpstarted her career in soap opera TV. With a beautiful face and flawless skin, she is also an endorser of several beauty products and fashion lines.
Deither on the other hand, is a huge image model for Bench. He has appeared in a number of big screen blockbusters, “Dahil Mahal na Mahal Kita,” “Bakit Pa,” “Mula sa Puso,” and topbilling wth Maricel Soriano in “Soltera. “ On TV Soaps, he recently appeared in Bora, ‘Til Death Do Us Part and Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin opposite Hermosa.
Filipinos visiting Atlantic City will surely be treated to fantastic sights, not only in its bright lights, but also the glittering stars that will greet them from the stage of the Boardwalk Hall.
The concert starts at 7:00 pm.
Gary V in Concert, with specail appearances of Kristine Hermosa and Diether Ocampo is produced by Special Edition Press, Inc. and ERJ Productions. Tickets are $58, $68, $88, $108 and VIP and may be ordered online at shop.specialeditionevents.com or ticketmasters: (800)736-1420.
For more information, dial (212) 682-6610 (973) 641-5665 or email sepmgzn@aol.com, or visit www.specialeditionevents.com.
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THE Himig Heswita music ministry springs from a tradition that aims to make use of all things, including music, to praise, reverence and serve the Creator. It is a tradition that seeks to lead people back to God—by the “gate of beauty,” if necessary.
Ateneo Alumni Northeast, Inc. (AANI) presents Stand by Me Still, A Prayer and Healing Concert Series featuring Himig Heswita and Friends in five church venues in New York and New Jersey. AANI is collaborating with other Fil-Am community organizations to bring the message of prayer and healing to the community at large. The Northeast American Concert series kicks off October 14, 2006 at St. Malachy’s Actors Chapel at 7:00 pm. Tickets are at $20.
Performers include Jesuit Fathers Arnel Aquino, Ari Dy, Nemy Que, Chris Dumadag, Fiorge Sy, Charlie Cenzon, Jun Boress, Peter Pojol and James Gascon; Cenacle Sisters Bubbles Banddojo and Susan Valdez; and Veepee Pinpin, Jay Gomez and Oggie Benipayo. Their repertoire of original Philippine Jesuit liturgical pieces that are regularly sung at Eucharistic celebrations in the Philippines; most of the songs were composed or arranged by the Jesuits who are performing in the concert. A portion of the proceeds will go toward fundraising for Ateneo Alumni Northeast Inc. for Gawad Kalinga/Raise The Roof and the Tulong Dunong Scholarship program.
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