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Founded in 1986
Founding Publisher/Editor:
Lito A. Gajilan
Columnists:
Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel
Joseph G. Lariosa
Gani P. Tolentino
Ted L. Reyes
Atty. Reuben S. Seguritan
Photographers:
Butch Gata
Sheryl Garcia
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not reflect the opinion of the paper nor that of the publisher
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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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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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THE 2nd of November is All Souls’ Day to most Christians. It is a day to commemorate those who have died in the hope of reuniting with the Almighty.
According to Roman Catholic tradition, All Souls’ Day is a time to pray for the souls that are debarred from the beatific vision due to venial sins. These souls are said to be lingering in a place called Purgatory awaiting entry to God’s kingdom. The prayers of the living, alms-deeds, and the sacrifice of the Mass could help these souls and allow them entry to the pearly gates.
Given its deep theological idea, All Souls’ Day is also a day to reflect on our own mortality in general. We all know that death is a certainty, however, we are always taken aback when we come face to face with it. It seems that there is really nothing we can do to prepare ourselves for the inevitable.
Why do people die? We die because we are finite beings. Our nature as created beings state this fact – everything that has a beginning, has an end. Some skeptics believe that man is immortal, however, given the truth that our corporeal bodies age, decay and suffer, it is easy enough to accept that, like anything in this physical realty, our bodies are dispensable.
What happens when we die? The subject of life after bodily death has been a point of argument for many years. Although most organized religions stand by the existence of the soul, there is simply no empirical data to support a conclusive answer – It is a matter of faith.
People who have had near-death experiences often report seeing white lights, long tunnels, their dead bodies and departed relatives– a somewhat sensual proof of the reality of the human soul. However, modern-day scientists say that near-death experiences does not in any way prove the existence of the soul or the after life. These visions are mere symptoms of the human brain shutting down.
Whatever we have to make a conclusive statement on what happens to us when we die will never be enough, hence, it is still unknown. Perhaps, this unknown state is the main reason why we are all afraid to die– we fear the unknown. The awareness that we are all going to die is vital to living a full life. Carpe Diem–Seize the Day! Let’s live happy lives for tomorrow, we will all die.
The lines from the song ‘Do you Realize’ by the Flaming Lips says it all.
“ And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round
Do You Realize - Oh - Oh - Oh
Do You Realize - that everyone you know
Someday will die“
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(Editor’s Note: REUBEN S. SEGURITAN has been practicing law for over 30 years. For further information, you may call him at 212 695 5281 or log on to his website at www.seguritan.com)
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RIGHT after the lopsided victory of Filipino lightweight Genebert Basadre over Faraj Al-Matboli of Jordan last Sunday, 1970 Asian Games bantam weight gold medalist Ricardo Fortaleza, who is part of a cheering squad at the bleachers of University of Illinois in Chicago Pavilion, told Filipino international and Olympic referee Doy Vidal to join him at a barbecue party Monday.
The invitation was not yet a victory party, since the three Filipino boxers, Violito Payla, Harry Tanamor and Basadre, have yet to gain an Olympic berth Wednesday. Monday was a day of rest for the 500 something athletes. But it should be a welcome treat to the four other Filipino boxers – Joan Tipon, Charly Suarez, Delfin Boholst and Wilfredo Lopez -- who were officially eliminated after they lost to their respective opponents in the preliminary rounds.
RAIN CHECKS Payla, Tanamor and Basadre would have to take rain checks from Mr. Fortaleza since they need additional training sessions for the next two days to prepare for their respective opponents. Light fly weight Harry Tanamor, a campaigner in the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympics, will be facing at 2 p.m. Wednesday Sherali Dostiev of Tajikistan for the round of 16. Tanamor will try to prove that when he beat Dostiev during the 2004 Athens Olympics preliminaries, it was not a fluke.
In the later bout, the 27-year-old fly weight Violito Payla will be up against the 20- year-old American fly weight Raushee Warren, a veteran of the 2004 Athen Olympics, and the U.S.’ best hope for a boxing medal in Beijing. While later in the afternoon, light weight Genebert Basadre will be facing Armenian fly weight Hrachik Javakhyan.
The four losing boxers will have to cheer on three remaining Filipino boxers, who are one win away from gaining berths in the 2008 Beijing Olympic. Having too much time on their hands as tourists, the losing boxers, if they are not rooting for the winning Filipino boxers nor attending the barbecue party being hosted by Mr. Fortaleza, may be tempted to go window shopping in expensive department stores in Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.
Since amateur boxers do not have money, unlike professional boxers, they could be tempted to shop for something beyond their means.
SHOP-LIFTING This is exactly what happened to three Romanian boxers, who broke the AIBA Code of Ethics, when they were caught shop-lifting Friday (Oct. 26) night at Nordstrom Department Store. Because they paid for the stuff after they were apprehended, no charges were filed by the police.
The boxers Messrs. Bogdan Marius Dinu, 21, Ronald Gavril, 21, and Julian Gabriel Stan, 20, who already lost in the preliminary round, had nothing else to do.
Because AIBA considers the conduct “unacceptable,” the Romanian boxers and their team manager were sent home Sunday. All the four are banned from AIBA for life.
“This misbehavior tarnishes the image and reputation of AIBA and the sport of boxing, all other federations and the other athletes competing in the AIBA World Boxing Championship in Chicago 2007,” AIBA’s Taiwanese President Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu said.
“The measures AIBA has taken are a strong illustration of the new AIBA and its zero tolerance for misbehavior inside or outside of the ring and a reminder to all teams that all team managers are responsible for the actions and movements of their athletes at all moments during the tournament.”
APOLOGY The President of the Romanian Boxing Federation Mr. Rudel Obreja issued a public apology to AIBA, the Local Organizing Committee and the athletes participating in the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Chicago 2007. AIBA also urged all team managers to sign a “Commitment to the AIBA Code of Ethics.”
“It happens every day unfortunately,” according to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, downplaying the incident. “I was a prosecutor for 10 years. It happens all the time, they just reprimand the individual, they catch them and say don’t do it again.”
Meanwhile, President Wu also issued severe sanctions against the following officials: Suren Ghazaryan (Armenia), Seppo Lujanen (Finland), Shadrack Monethi (Lesoto) and Radisa Saric (Serbia). All four have been removed from refereeing and judging duties for the remainder of the competition. Nasrollah Deishad (I.R. Iran) and Alvin Sargent (Bahamas) have been removed from refereeing duties only but will continue as judges. There were no explanations for the sanctions.
MISSING IN ACTION After the opening day computer snafu that delayed the setting up of draws and the spectators had to wait an hour for the boxing to begin, the city was shocked to discover two boxers from Uganda and one from Armenia had gone missing.
Because of the unfortunate turns of events, Chicago needs “to dust off the crumbs and bake a better pie,” if it wins a bid to host the Summer Olympics in 2016, according to a critic.
Host Chicago may not have fielded a boxer in the 11- day AIBA World Boxing Championships that ends on Nov. 3 but it is using the occasion to launch its “Gloves Not Guns” program. It is a boxing program for the youth, which Mayor Daley said, “will provide our kids with positive alternatives and keep them off the streets and away from the dangers of gangs, guns and drugs.”
(lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)
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“ALL politics is local,” former US House of Representatives Speaker Thomas “Tip” O’Neill often stressed. And Monday’s 68 percent turnout of voters, who picked officials for 41,994 barangays, underscored that axiom.
Nationwide, barangay candidates fielded by embedded family dynasties seemed to dominate. But do “currents of change” swirl below the surface? At the Laging Handa barangay in Quezon City, former United Nations officer Ralph Diaz won by a landslide, beating tv personalities.
Or look at Cebu City. Mayor Tomas Osmena considers that his fiefdom. In the June 2002 elections, we noted that : “Arse kissing is the name of the barangay game here… Somos o no somos? ( “Are you for or against me”?) Shouldn’t “deeds be the universal currency for governance?”
Five years later, Osmena’s massive machine again corralled 77 of 80 barangays. But the mayor was, again, clobbered where he’s boasted his political machismo would be proved: Lahug.
In the biggest barangay of Cebu’s northern district, barangay captain Mary Ann de los Santos swamped Osmena’s hand-picked candidate 9-to-1, despite patent fund lack. That landslide, anchored on her track record, swept her slate into office.
Did this remind you of John Kennedy’s wisecrack on his father’s fictitious telegram, we joshed Ms de los Santos. “Dear Jack”, it read. “Don’t buy more than a vote necessary. I’ll be dammed if I’m going to pay for a landslide.”
No, she replied. “What I remember is Tomas saying: ‘Mary Ann is nothing. He forgot the people are everything. This is the sixth election I’ve run head-to-head against his proxies. And every time, he got trashed.”
Why has a street-smart Osmena always fielded mediocres? As in earlier elections, he ladled time, funds and material to swamp Ms. De los Santos. In 2002 and 2007, he personalized the campaign. A vote for Ms. de los Santos’ opponent is a vote for me, he insisted. Egg splattered on his face after the landslides.
Was this necessary? No. But it was inevitable. This mayor believes he has all the answers – and acts accordingly. One crosses him at risk. This results in governance anchored to Osmena’s say so. The result are his non-descript candidates and syncophants..
“Flattery is all right, as long as you don’t inhale,” Ambassador Adlai Stevenson once cautioned. Leaders worth the name look beyond themselves and their short tenure of office. Instead, they identify and nurture growth of others – not their wives or children -- for the day when they will have passed on. But is this possible with Osmena’s mindset? Indeed “nothing grows under the shade of a banyan tree,” the old Pilipino proverb says.
This mayor takes political setbacks as a personal affront. Repeated whacking of his candidates festers in someone who thinks family name invests one with privilege. His get- even syndrome is always in overdrive.
To get back at Ms de los Santos, Osmena canceled construction of a 20-room Lahug schoolhouse. In addition, he threatened to scrub City Hall gasoline for Lahug garbage collection, day care centers, drainage projects, etc. “Nobody likes to see schoolchildren kicked in the teeth, “Cebu Daily News snapped.“”(This) is using spite in a dangerous way.” He tucked tail.
Some 16 months back, Osmena tried to gut Lahug’s tax base by smudging map borders. Built-up areas – and their taxes – would be shunted to other barangays his partisans ruled. Barangay financial castration is not a felony. Nor is it clinical lunacy. “But it is usurpation of office”, Viewpoint noted. (Inquirer 06/07/07 ).
Mayors have no power to scrub boundaries at whim. That’s the function of local councils and, if need be, courts setting boundaries require criteria, so whim doesn’t supplant reason.
We court disaster if we forget what Justice John Marshall wrote: "The power to tax involves the power to destroy.” He has since asked his rubberstamp technical office to give him a fig leaf which his rubberstamp council will approve.
The Laging Handa and Lahug barangay landslides are protests against arbitrary governance. It replays Pampanga where citizens backed Fr. Ed Panlilio against entrenched politicians. It reflects Naga City where voters supported Mayor Jesse Robredo’s transparent governance. And it echoes protests against perversion of executive clemency for Joseph Estrada.
Investment in education and health are known as the “two pillars of development”. They mobilize an individual’s productive capacities. But “a new consensus…is shaping that the third pillar of 21st century development is promoting citizen participation,” UN’s Human Development Report notes. “People must have a say in decisions that affect their lives.” That curbs elite hostaging of government, the bane of today’s society. Like the trounced Prospero Pichay and Comedian Tito Sotto, are Joseph Estrada, the Lapids of Pampanga and Tomas Osmena becoming yesterday’s men?
What’s clear is: tomorrow belongs to those broaden opportunities, so ordinary men and women can rise to more humane standards of living and, yes, leadership.
“We need to have a much larger sense of common responsibility for those suffering from the weakness, corruption, cruelty and disorder of bad government,” the late John Kenneth Gailbraith of Harvard worte in “The Affluent Society.” That’s the “currents-of-change” message swirling, below the surface of those barangay polls.
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Economic Storm to Hit NYC
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THE approach of an economic disturbance sounds like a far off thunder. It's a faint rumble in the distant horizon. But as it nears, the noise becomes sharper.
The subprime crises is like that. When the big industry players began sounding off, we felt isolated. We heard noises about the impending problems but we felt distant and unaffected. We heard indications of problems from big name companies like Bear Stearns, Citigroup, Merrill Lynch. But felt they could not touch us. They were remote and impersonal.
The early hits struck the large monolith hedge funds, the large credit wholesellers. The next reactions came from the fund creditors which gradually felt their slack tightening as the credit squeeze began to affect their money sources.
Throw a pebble into a still pond and concentric waves begin to disturb the calm surface. The same law of physics create an ever widening credit disturbances. Now the ripple effect is starting to make itself felt to the ultimate end players, the small lenders. Until recently, the small investors who hold bonds backed by risky home loans continued to receive their monthly interest payments. But not for long.
The pinch is starting to be felt. Last week, collateralized debt obligations (cdo), made up of bonds backed by thousands of subprime home loans, are starting to shut off cash payments to investors in lower-rated bonds as creditrating agencies downgrade the securities they own, according to analysts and industry executives. It is feared this development will bring the hurt to individual lenders. And it will have a big impact in shaking confidence in the wider economy. Its ramifications will go over to the equity market eventually and adversely affect the overall economy. The stock market has already started to exhibit some volatility.
Lending institutions are in the process of revalidating collateralized debt obligations. The overriding fear now is that these financial institutions may be forced to write mortgage investments beyond the billions they have earlier written off. The figures being cited are staggering. The latest shock that hit the financial market is the report that Merrill Lynch will about $2.5 billion more to the $5 billlion worth of writedowns it had earlier announceed. A few other institutions have already written down $3 to $5 billion each.
As of last week, New York City officials and economists reported that some large investment groups, the so-called economic engines, have begun to sputtter. It is now feared this will begin to affect all growth projections not only for the New York region but eventually for the whole country. One big bank after another has already started to announced shrinking profits, job cuts or both. This economic slowdown in the US has a wideranging implications on the economies of other countries in the world, including Asia and the Philippines.
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Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 26 years, and is an active member of the State Bar of California and New York, as well as the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the Immigration Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has always excelled in school:
Valedictorian in High School; Cum Laude at UCLA; and Law Degree Honors and academic scholar at Loyola Law School, which is one of the top law schools in California.
WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com
Four offices to serve you:
LOS ANGELES:
219 North Brand Boulevard, Glendale, California 91203
Telephone: (818) 543-5800
SAN FRANCISCO:
966 Mission Street, San Francisco, California 94103 Telephone: (415) 538-7800
NEW YORK:
60 East 42nd Street, Suite 2101, New York, NY 10165 Telephone: (212) 808-0300
PHILIPPINES:
Heart Tower, Unit 701, 108 Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati, Philippines 1227
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