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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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MANILA, Aug 1 --– Former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino has passed away.
She was 76.
Her son Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III confirmed that she died of cardio-respiratory arrest at exactly 3:18 a.m. Saturday at the Makati Medical Center.
Mrs. Aquino has been diagnosed with colon cancer early in 2008 and has been confined at the Makati Medical Center for more than a month.
Mrs. Aquino, widow of Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., will be remembered as an icon of democracy, having led a military-backed popular revolt in 1986 that ousted a dictator who ruled the country for 20 years.
At about 5 a.m. outside the hospital, Noynoy read a statement announcing the death of his mother.
The statement read:
"Our mother peacefully passed away at 3:18 a.m., August 1, 2009, of cardio-respiratory arrest.
“She would have wanted to thank each and every one of you for all the prayers and your continued love and support. It was her wish for all of us to pray for one another and for our country.
“Hinihiling po ng aming pamilya ang kaunting panahon para makasama namin ang aming mahal na ina.
“Later today, we will be announcing further details of her wake para sa lahat ng ating mga minamahal na kababayan na nais magbigay ng respeto sa aming ina. Maraming salamat po.”
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed her condolences to the family of the former President, Arroyo's press secretary said. (MNS)
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NEW YORK– President Barack Obama finally met with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Thursday afternoon at the White House and called the Philippines a key ally in battle on terrorism. Mr. Obama praised the Philippines for making –good progress in combating terrorism and applauded President Arroyo’s government for stabilizing the country despitebeing besieged by unrest for too long.
It was the first meeting between the two leaders after several attempts by the Philippine president to make contact with her American counterpart since he was sworn-in last January of 2009. Mrs. Arroyo even attended an inaugural prayer conference of world leaders in Washington, DC in honor of the new American president in February, but the two failed to meet.
The Philippine delegation brought in a full-agenda that included matters of security, development assistance and counter-terrorism. Mrs. Arroyo in turn thanked the United States for helping the Philippines in infrastructure projects and quell tensions with their military, presence in Mindanao, where Muslim rebels have established a base.
Arroyo’s visit was marred by protests by Filipino- American activists from all over the nation. Some protesters demanded Mr. Obama to look into Mrs. Arroyo’s long list of human rights violations, including, torture and unlawful detention and summary executions. They also claimed that Mrs. Arroyo intends to change the Philippine constitution and extend her term in office.
The rallies in the US were also augmented by several mass actions in the Philippines. Mr. Obama is scheduled to visit Southeast Asia in November to attend a summit of leaders from the Asian and Pacific rim in Singapore. Likewise, he added that the Philippines will host a nonproliferation treaty conference next year.
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Son remembers his father who was killed in shuttle crash with FedEx bus
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JERSEY CITY– 53- year old Conrado Cruz of Van Winkle Avenue had a simple routine. He would spend the entire day with his grandson and daughter and take care of them while his “apo’s” parents and her wife were at work. Then at night, for a part-time income, he worked as a night-shift shuttle driver for Marriott Newark Airport to take guests from the airport to the hotel and vice versa. It was a routine that greatly showed how much a loving and selfless person and was–always putting his family first before himself. Yet, on July 22, 2009 at around 1:30 AM, his simple routine in his little happy world was cut short when his shuttle bus collided head-on with a wayward FedEx operated bus on the south service road near Newark Airport. Conrado Cruz suffered massive injuries and was pronounced dead at University hospital in Newark.
“ I am sad of this sudden loss,” said Conrado’s son, Paolo, who also lives in Jersey City. “ He was a great man.”
Conrado migrated in the United States nearly 30 years ago. He initially settled in Brooklyn, New York and worked for Philip Morris-the tobacco company. He moved to Jersey City and petitioned his family to settled with him. When Philip Morris decided to move their operation to another state, Conrado did not follow and instead retired from the tobacco giant. He then decided just work part-time to be able to look after his grandson and his daughter.
“My father chose not to work full-time so he could take care of my son and my half sister,” Paolo continued. “ Now, my son is looking for ‘lolo’ and he is no longer around. He sacrificed his dreams for us para maayos kami.”
The accident that killed Conrado and critically injuring one of his three passengers is still under investigation by Port Authority agents. According to initial reports, the First Transit bus contracted by FedEx to carry employees was in the wrong lane when it smashed into the Marriott shuttle. It was also reported that the critically injured woman, a flight flight attendant for Northwest Airlines is in a coma. The two other passengers were already released. Meanwhile, the FedEx bus driver remains in the hospital for observation.
According to Conrado’s son, his family contacted a lawyer with an intent to pursue a case against FedEx and the driver. Conrado’s interment was last Tuesday July 28 in North Arlington. It was attended by his family, relatives and friends.
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JERSEY CITY– A prominent Filipino-American businessman here in Jersey City filed a civil lawsuit for three counts of breach of contract and estoppel against a production company that recently handled the Atlantic City, NJ production of a popular Filipino noontime show last April 2009.
Isagani Morales, owner of Top Notch Electronics, claimed in a signed affidavit that Vid M. Figuerras and Dominic Gonzales, operators of First Name Entertainment production LLC refused to pay him back $32,523 worth of credits resulting from an agreement he entered with the production company to become the exclusive New Jersey distributor of tickets for the “Eat Bulaga” show in Atlantic City.
According to Morales’ affidavit, he issued a check in the name of First Name Entertainment in the amount of $79,835, the total price of 1,121 worth of “Eat Bulaga” tickets to be sold. The deal was that any credits given to Morales shall be deducted from the prepaid check he issued. Morales also said that Figuerras and Gonzales agreed that any unsold tickets should be returned before March 31, 2009 and if not, such tickets are considered sold. Morales also maintained that part of the deal they agreed on would grant him 20% commission for tickets sold.
Morales is seeking a court decision so he could be paid the following credits: $11,510 for tickets returned on March 20, 2009, $15,445 for tickets returned on March 30, 2009, $500 for posters ordered by the production company on March 4, 2009, $90 for a complimentary tickets ordered by Figuerras, $225 for more complimentary tickets, and $4,753 in unpaid commission. Despite repeated demands, Morales said that Figuerras and Gonzales refused to pay. Morales then filed the complaint at the SuperiorCourt of New Jersey in Hudson County.
On the other hand, Figuerras issued a signed counter affidavit claiming that he had no knowledge of any agreement between Morales and First Name Entertainment. He also said that if there ever was any verbal agreement between his partner Gonzales and Morales, he was not part of it. He even stated that he had reprimanded Gonzales for this ‘unwise move and decision.’
Figuerras refuted Morales’ claims stating that when he took over the sales and marketing of Eat Bulaga from Gonzales in March, he personally notified Morales that any prior agreement that Morales had with Gonzales was ‘amended and replaced’ by a new ticket sales policy. Figuerras also clarified in his counter affidavit that one of the changes he made was the resetting of the deadline for unsold tickets from March 31 to March 21, 2009, which he maintained Morales had knowledge of. Based on these changes, Figuerras further noted that Morales received several checks for unsold tickets returned on March 13, and March 24. However, Figuerras said he informed Morales through several emails that the March 30 tickets that Morales returned are already considered sold and thus cannot be returned.
Figuerras is also the owner of Garden State Travel based in Jersey City and in Morales’ demand letter drafted by his lawyer Victor G. Sison, he intends to include the travel agency as a defendant in the civil suit against First Name Entertainment by virtue of the ‘Entire Controversy Doctrine.’ The letter stated: “Morales is constrained to include Garden State Travel as a possible defendant due to the fact that ‘Eat Bulaga’ was advertised as a production by First Name Entertainment in cooperation with Garden State Travel.”
Eat Bulaga is a popular Philippine noontime variety show hosted by Vic Sotto, Joey De Leon, Tito Sotto, and The Dabarkads. The show has been running for 30 years. According to several people who have attended the April show in Atlantic City, the show was well-attended and well-received by the audience.
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