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For the past 21 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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NEW YORK – Eight lovely, young Filipino beauties have been busy over the past several weeks practicing for
the coming spectacular “Diwa ng Kalayaan” (Spirit of Independence) Pageant and Gala, a major celebratory component of this year’s commemoration of the 110th anniversary of the declaration of Philippine Independence.
Planned, organized, produced, directed, executed and presented by the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI), the annual commemoration is now regarded as the largest celebration of Philippine Independence outside of the Philippines.
The title, “Diwa ng Kalayaan,” after all, has led all other beauty contests in the New York region since it was introduced in 1991 as one of the celebratory events of the area’s annual independence anniversary commemoration.
Since its inception, the “Diwa ng Kalayaan” contest has steadily risen to the number one beauty, brains and talent contest in the Filipino and Filipino-American community in the U.S. The winning candidate reigns during the months-long commemoration of Philippine Independence.
Four of the candidates come from New York while the other four are from New Jersey. All eight are teenagers, ranging in age from 16 to 19 years old. There are three 16-yearsolds, namely Rachel Anne Meneses and Kristine Reyes, both of New York; and Erika May Pineda of New Jersey; two of the three 19-year-olds are from New Jersey: Jessica Munoz and Andrea Querijero, while the third, Marjorie Perlas, is from New York. Another New Yorker is Jennifer Lyn Adarna, who is 17 years old while Marilis Pineiro of New Jersey is 18 years old.
The winning beauty will be selected and crowned during the “Diwa ng Kalayaan” Pageant and Gala, this year scheduled on Saturday evening, April 26 at the Grand Ballroom of the Newark Airport Sheraton Hotel in Newark, New Jersey. The glittering pageant and gala is when the year’s candidates for the title are presented to the community and selected by a board of judges.
Last year, emerging from a bevy of eight candidates, one of whom came from Philadelphia, another from Connecticut and the rest from New Jersey and New York, Maricelle Talatala Rodriguez walked away with the most coveted title in the U.S. Filipino and Filipino-American community of “Diwa ng Kalayaan” (Spirit of Independence) and the top prize of the contest – a round trip airline ticket to the Philippines.
In collecting the trip, she joined the “Ambassador’s and Consuls Generals’ Tour” organized annually by the Philippine Department of Tourism. She represented the PIDCI and the northeast USA’s Filipino community as “Ambassador of Goodwill.”
One of the crowning glories of her reign as the year’s “Diwa ng Kalayaan” is when she graces her own float at the annual Philippine Independence Day Parade, this year being mounted on Sunday, June 1. The other is when she is presented at the Philippine Independence Ball, scheduled Saturday evening, June 7 at the Grand Ballroom of the New York La Guardia Airport Marriott Hotel.
As in past years, this year’s “Diwa ng Kalayaan” will receive a round trip airline ticket to the Philippines, and possibly take her prize as part of the 2008 “Ambassador’s/Consuls Generals’ and Tourism Directors’ Tour to the Philippines.
Young ladies (ages 16 to 25) of Filipino descent are invited to enter the contest. Candidates must be single (never have been married), of good moral character, at least 5’1” tall, charming, witty, talented and personable.
For information or tickets to the “Diwa ng Kalayaan” Pageant and Gala, please call the PIDCI “Diwa ng Kalayaan” Committee’s Fe Martinez at (973) 222-0085, Joji Jalandoni at (201) 401-7559 or Dr. Bernie dela Merced at (201) 699-1849.
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NEW YORK– Filipino American Human Services, Inc. (FAHSI) announced that it will immediately launch a $100,000 college scholarship program entitled the FAHSI College Scholarship Program (FCSP). The first scholarship award for the 2008-09 academic term is named after its donors, Frederick and Demi Seguritan. The program will select one recipient each year for the next five years. The five recipients will each receive up to $5000 per year for four years for a total of $20,000 each.
The scholarship is awarded to one Filipino/ Filipino-American graduating high school senior who demonstrates a passion for business and service to the Filipino community. Applicants living in the tri-state area will be eligible to apply. The applicants must be of Filipino heritage and involved in an organization that serves the Filipino community.
Students must also be able to demonstrate financial need. The deadline for filing applications for the 2008-2009 school year is June 15, 2008.
The scholarship recipient will be required to maintain at least a 3.5 grade point average each year. FAHSI must receive copies of the recipient’s transcript after the completion of each semester. Recipients may receive mentoring from the donors and FAHSI staff and board of directors during their matriculation at a four year college or university.
Finalists for the program will be chosen in mid-July by a screening panel. The finalists will then meet with an interview panel, which will include the donors. The 2008-2009 recipient will be announced at the beginning of August.
FAHSI's Executive Director, Johanna Martinez, believes that the program will have a very positive impact in the Filipino community.
"We hope that the FAHSI College Scholarship Program will inspire Filipino youth to pursue higher educational opportunities and to give back to the Filipino community," Ms. Martinez said.
Application and program information may be downloaded from FAHSI's website at www.fahsi.org. Students may also contact Ms. Martinez with any questions about the FCSP or the application process via email at jmartinez@fahsi.org or telephone at (718) 883-1295.
Applications and supporting documents must be mailed to FAHSI, 185-14 Hillside Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11432 or emailed to www.fahsi.org or call FAHSI’s office at (718) 883-1295.
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JARYD is 10 years old and Cara is 8 years old. They have been dancing together for 13 months under the instruction of Spencer Nyemchek and have consistently placed 1st in their age category in both the Bronze and Silver Divisions in International Latin Ballroom Dancing.
This couple also holds the U.S. National Title in PreteenII Silver International Latin which they acquired at the 2007 National Dance Sport Championships in Louisville, Kentucky.
They have recently been featured twice on the MAURY Show on the Most Talented Kids Episode, which aired November 15, 2007. They received the most amount of online votes winning the first competition with over 300,000 votes, more than all the rest of the contestants in total.
Jaryd & Cara have also appeared on NBC’s TODAY show in December 2007.
Last April 15, 2008, they appeared on the hit television show “Dancing with the Stars.” You can check your You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3otbcL2_dz0
Jaryd has been taking ballet since the age of 3 1/2 and is also continuing his studies of lyrical, gymnastics, jazz, and tap at the American Ballet Academy in Dayton, NJ. He is a member of the Vision Dance Team.
He is currently the youngest member of FR3SH Jrs., a competitive hip hop dance company representing the tri-state area. He is the youngest dancer to audition and be accepted into FR3SH Jrs.
Jaryd also holds a 1st Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and is an accomplished figure skater.
He would like to become a Dentist like his parents as well as a dance instructor.
Jaryd and Cara joined a lot of competitions in the U.S. and Canada.
Meanwhile, Nina Sophia Waga Mojares is 9 years old and is one of two children of Dennis & Jeanette Mojares of Freehold, NJ. She currently maintains a straight A average in the 3rd grade and is also a member of her school chorus.
She enjoys many hobbies such as singing, ballroom dancing, tennis, golf and playing with her brother, Christian.
Nina aspires to one day be a teacher
On the Phil-US Expo ’08 on May 17 or 18, 2008 you can watch them at the National Guard Armory in Jersey City at 678 Montgomery St. and Summit Ave. For more info, you can call 201-920-6936 / 973-239-2539 or visit www.phil-us-expo.com
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FILIPINO Chess Super Grandmaster Mark Paragua will be at the Pinoy Musik Festival & Expo de Mayo Special Pavilion on May 17-18 at Meadowlands Expo Center Secaucus, NJ. The country's number one chess player will be conducting a simultaneous chess exhibition by playing against 50 or more opponents at the same time. Registration is $12 per person on a firstcome-first-serve basis and limited to first 50 entrants.
Winners of the games will be awarded with autographed Official Chess Set and Chess Clock. Drawn games will be awarded with autographed Official Chess Set. Time schedule of the games will start at 1pm on Saturday, May 17; and 12 noon on Sunday, May 18.
Born in Manila, the 24- yr old Paragua, was already Philippines chess prodigy at a tender age of nine when he became the youngest Filipino chess master. He represented the country to the World Junior Championship during his teens and qualified in 2004 World Championship in Tripoli, Libya and World Cup Chess 2005 in Russia.
He isthe first Filipino to enter the World Chess Federation Top 100 Player and first to breach the 2600 Elo rating or a.k.a. “Super GM” category. 2621- rating in April 2007.
“Mac-mac”, his alias, has won several major tournaments including Philippines and Asian Championships and always represented the country in Chess Olympiad.
He is currently in U.S. for a nationwide chess tour and will be in the east coast in May for the Festival. All chess enthusiasts of all ages, rated or not, are invited to join and take advantage of this rare opportunity of playing with one of our greatest chess players.
To register in advance, please call (212) 682-6610 or email: sepmgzn@aol.com. Chess coordinator is Nonoy Rafael and can be reached at 516 298-8428. or email: vvr4-info@optonline.net.
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