In line with positioning the country as a premier diving destination in the region and the world, the Philippine Tourism Office of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, in cooperation with the California Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Activentures Philippines, is inviting scuba divers, dive masters, instructors, underwater photographers, marine environmentalists, as well as all underwater enthusiasts and aficionados, to PHILIPPINE DIVERS NIGHT – a celebration of Philippine Diving and a networking of underwater enthusiasts. The networking celebration will be held at the Social Hall of the Philippine Center Building, located at 447 Sutter Street, Suite 507 San Francisco Ca 94108 on July 17, 2008 at 6:00 PM.
The highlight of the evening will be a presentation by Dr. Terry Gosliner, Senior Curator of the CAS and Dr. Meg Burke, Director of Education at the CAS. The presentation will focus on the opening of the new CAS at the Golden Gate Park in September of this year. One of the exhibits that the public will behold is the Philippine Coral Reef Exhibit, the World’s Deepest Living Coral Reef Display in a 212,000-gallon aquarium tank that will house a variety of corals, fishes, and other sea creatures that are native to the Philippines . During the event, the CAS will be signing up aquarium volunteers who are willing to dive in and would like to learn how to take care of a wide range of aquatic and terrestrial animals, test water quality, check on animal health, and show off their horticultural skills.
An evening of fun-filled divers fellowship is in store as Philippine dive tours will also be offered by Activentures Philippines during the event. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP your attendance by calling the Philippine Department of Tourism SF at (415) 9564060 or sending an email to pdotsf@aol.com.
After World War II, Filipinos were being stereotyped as "cooks." When I arrived in the U.S. in 1970, I went to an employment agency in San Francisco looking for work. I was surprised -- and shocked -- that most of the employment counselors suggested that I took a job as a restaurant "busboy." They also told me not to mention in my employment application my bachelor's degree in engineering and experience in computer programmer. They said that would make me "over-qualified" for the job. I told them why can't they find me a job as a computer programmer? Their answer: "You do not have local experience and a degree from an American university." I asked one of the counselors, "Why would you recommend me for a busboy instead of another type of work," and her reply was: "that's what most of your people do."
I refused to work as a restaurant busboy so I enrolled in a "computer programming" class in a local school. I was the best in my class (my classmates didn't know that I was a trained computer programmer back home). After finishing the six-month course, I was recommended by the school to work as a computer operator at AT&T. That's a step down but it was a good start. I worked in the graveyard shift. Where else would they put me? After nine months, my former instructor called me and he said that he had a new job as programming manager in Sacramento. He offered me a job as programmer. I took it and moved to Sacramento. The point I am trying to make is that 38 years after my "experience" with employment agencies, Filipinos are still being stereotyped as "cooks" -- no less by the President of the United States.
Since 1970, Filipino-Americans have progressed in the employment arena. We now have doctors, lawyers, nurses, caregivers, accountants, IT professionals, businessmen, etc. We're no longer railroaded to jobs as cooks or busboys. I remember meeting a former Filipino judge in San Francisco working as a busboy and a lawyer working as a night shift security guard. Now, thousands of Filipinos are working as lawyers and some have been appointed judges including a Filipina in a State Court of Appeal. We now have Filipino doctors owning their own hospitals and clinics and caregivers owning their own care homes. We have progressed quite a bit.
I am proud to say that we were once a community known for our cooking abilities catering to the bud tastes of Americans including Presidents since the time of Franklin Roosevelt. However, to be stereotyped in any manner -- cooks, laundrymen, gardeners, manicurists -- is a subtle form of racism and should not be condoned. Filipinos are a people of many talents and we deserved t obe treated with respect.
What would the visiting Vietnamese Premier say if Pres. Bush told him, "Everytime I look at my polished nails, I am reminded of the Vietnamese-American ." And how about the Pres. Bush telling a visiting Chinese dignitary, "Everytime I put on my newly laundered clothes in the morning, I am reminded of the Chinese-Americans." Or how about a visiting Mexican president, "Everytime, I looked at the manicured lawn from my Oval Office window, I am reminded of the Mexican-Americans."
The following is a transcript of what Pres. Bush said during his meeting with Pres. Arroyo:
PRESIDENT BUSH: Madam President, it is a pleasure to welcome you back to the Oval Office. We have just had a very constructive dialogue. First, I want to tell you how proud I am to be the President of a nation that — in which there's a lot of Philippine-American s. They love America and they love their heritage. And I reminded the President that I am reminded of the great talent of the — of our Philippine-American s when I eat dinner at the White House. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT ARROYO: Yes.
PRESIDENT BUSH: And the chef is a great person and a really good cook, by the way, Madam President.
PRESIDENT ARROYO: Thank you.
By the way, "Philippine-American s" is not the proper way to address Filipino-Americans. With four million Filipino-Americans, Pres. Bush should know how to call us -- "Filipino-Americans."
PGMA Asks Filipino Community in the U.S. to Help Victims of Typhoon Frank
CITY OF FRESNO, California -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called on the Filipino community in the United States to extend assistance to the victims of typhoon Frank that hit the Philippines last Saturday.
The President sounded the call in her brief message during a program with some Filipino-Americans at the Fresno Convention Center here when she joined them in hearing Sunday mass.
''You have done so much without losing your bonds of affection for your motherland or your inherent pride in your Filipino heritage. Every year, Filipino-Americans extend all forms of assistance for your old schools, hometowns, provinces and local organizations, '' the President said.
''From medical and dental missions, to educational and internet support, to humanitarian and charitable causes, Filipino-Americans are ever ready to help the land of your forefathers, '' the President added.
She said that with the onslaught of typhoon Frank, the Filipinos back home are hoping that the Filipinos here will again extend their help to the less fortunate.
''To our Fil-Am brothers and sisters, for your generosity towards the less fortunate in the Philippines, and for your commitment to enhance development in our motherland, Salamat!'' she said.
Some 600 Filipino-Americans witnessed the President's conduct of a video conference with the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) where President Arroyo showed that despite her being out of the Philippines to foster diplomatic relations with its most important ally, she remains focused and on top of the situation back home.
Any assistance to the typhoon victims could be coursed through the embassies and consulates as the President has given out instructions for them to open disaster-relief donation accounts.
In addition, the NDCC was directed to set up an accounts website and text number.
JUAN GABRIEL E. AGCAOILI Administrative Officer Philippine Department of Tourism 447 Sutter Street, Suite 507 San Francisco, CA 94108 T - 415.9564060 F - 415.9562093
The Philippine Declaration of Independence occurred on June 12, 1898 in the Philippines, where Filipino revolutionary forces under General Emilio Aguinaldo (later to become the Philippines' first Republican President) proclaimed the sovereignty and independence of the Philippine Islands from the colonial rule of Spain after the latter was defeated at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.
The declaration, however, was not recognized by the United States or Spain, as the Spanish government ceded the Philippines to the United States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris, in consideration for an indemnity for Spanish expenses and assets lost.
While the Philippines first celebrated its Independence Day on June 12, its independence was only recognized on July 4, 1946 by the United States. Henceforth, Independence Day was observed on July 4, but in the name of nationalism, and upon the advice of historians, Republic Act No. 4166 was signed into law by President Diosdado Macapagal on August 4, 1964, proclaiming June 12, which up to that time had been observed as Flag Day, as Independence Day
Madonna Decena (a Filipina) - Britain's Got Talent Contestant
Madonna Decena touches a lot of hearts. Read article, then click below to view video:
MANILA, Philippines — Filipina Madonna Decena, who made it to the semi-final round in the second episode of the UK reality competition, "Britain's Got Talent," is now an Internet sensation.
The video of her performance of Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" has merited over 39,000 hits as of Monday, and a five-star rating (exceeding the four-star system) from YouTube viewers.
In the video, Decena's sob story—and singing—left the entire Manchester Theater in tears, including judge Amanda Holden and two stagehands who led the 33-year-old Filipina to the stage.
Holden, an acclaimed West End actress, explained on the program's Web site that she was "moved" by the Pinay's touching real-life drama. "She had to leave her two daughters in the Philippines to work [in the UK] and she hasn't seen them in a year (actually, six months)," Holden related. "Every penny she earns, she sends back home."
At first, Holden said, she tried to contain her emotion. "But when she started singing … I completely lost it, really badly. I knew she was singing for her babies." Now dubbed Madonna of Manchester on the Web site, Decena received two standing ovations from the audience—one at her song's end, another after the judges' comments—and a wink from the initially blasé judge and show co-creator Simon Cowell, who was shown chewing on a pencil throughout the Pinay's performance.
Holden says in the online interview that Decena is "a possible finalist—she's great!" On the show, she was just as effusive, telling the Pinay: "You'll go a long way on this show and you'll have all the money in the world and you'll be able to put your children in a plane and you'll be together. Because you, lady, have got talent." Inquirer Entertainment was alerted to Decena's story by reader Alma Borja. Blogger and TV host Daphne Oseña-Paez sent us a link. Clearly, this Madonna has touched quite a lot of hearts.
The Fil-Am Entertainment Industry: Growing from Live Events to Online Events
The Filipino American entertainment industry continues to be a growing industry here in the United States. After all, music and entertaining audiences unite Filipinos wherever they may be. Within any large city Filipino population, singers, musicians, a venue to entertain at, or a fiesta to perform at, are bound to come together. You can be a Filipino from the Philippines, or a Filipino American raised here in the United States, or a Filipino raised in another country, there is just something in our blood that makes a Filipino want to perform, sing and dance.
In the last ten years, cities such as San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Chicago, Seattle, Virginia Beach, New Jersey, and a few others, have seen hundreds of concerts, festivals, fundraisers, and community events. In the early 1990s, Filipino American artists such as Jocelyn Enriquez, Kai, Pinay, One Voice, and DropNHarmony drew in large crowds wherever they performed, thus creating a very viable Filipino American entertainment scene primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area. Concert promoters also emerged with concerts headlined by major Filipino artists from the Philippines, such as Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Kuh Ledesma, Jolina Magdangal, Apo Hiking Society, and more. Festivals and concerts seemed to grow larger and larger as Filipino artists locally and abroad began to share the same stages. Then through the media support of Filipino publications and television companies such as ABS-CBN International, GMA Pinoy TV, and KTSF Channel 26, more than ever, Filipino crowds grew and came together simultaneously in every major city.
And what about today? Well, if Filipinos can gather outside, Filipinos are certainly gathering through the Internet. Entrepreneurs and idea driven Filipinos are making their mark online, with the ability to gather thousands of readers. Of course, this isn't something new. It is a continued occurrence, with a large emergence of online avenues dedicated to the Filipino entertainment industry, through specialized websites, online stores, blogs, audio and video. With the click of a mouse, you can access live shows you've missed, get to know music artists through personal interviews, you can purchase music released in the Philippines, you can listen to the radio stations in Manila, you can read the thoughts of audiences, artists and entertainment industry professionals alike.
As this occurrence continues to grow, the entertainment industry and the internet audience can only grow closer together. The live world and the online world are becoming one, as the live world can be captured online in real time. We can watch live concerts and events from anywhere around the world. We can download new music from our favorite Filipino celebrities as soon as they release their record, or sooner. We can go behind the scenes and learn about the industry in a way that wasn't accesible before.
It's the perfect time for the Filipino entertainment industry to make some noise around the world through the live events and online avenues. It's an even more exciting time to be a Filipino entertainer, because for once ... the world really is your stage.
Here are some new and emerging online avenues relating to the Filipino American entertainment scene: DJ Romeo - an online journal and blog of Fil-Am Radio DJ Fil-AMusic.com - an online music magazine for Filipino Americans iAmFilAm.com - an online Filipino American lifestyle community Paloma Belara - an online journal and blog of a Fil-Am publicist and artist manager PinoyTunes.net - a digital online store with the latest Filipino/OPM music
Christina Luna is an artist and event manager in the Asian American music market. Her experience includes event management, artist management, and artist publicity and marketing. Christina’s goals include creating an awareness of the Asian American music industry either through events such as the Asian American Music Conference, the Asian Icon singing competition, or through preparing Asian American artists to be at the forefront of an emerging new market.
Obama Statement on the Filipino People Power Day and the Filipino Veterans Equity Act
Chicago, IL -- Twenty-two years after the People Power Revolution in the Philippines , we remember and commemorate the Filipino people who used the democratic, non-violent method of "people power" to overthrow the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos and end the martial law regime that ruled the Philippines for fourteen years.
On this anniversary, I urge my colleagues in Congress to honor the Filipino veterans who bravely fought with American troops in World War II. Approximately 250,000 Filipino troops joined American forces to fight in World War II, but too many of these heroes are still being denied benefits. The time has come for Congress to honor the Filipino veterans of World War II by finally enacting the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007. I applaud Chairman Akaka's leadership on this issue and will continue to urge my colleagues to provide the benefits and recognition these veterans deserve.
Today, let us join Filipinos in America to honor the sacrifices and determination of the Filipino people in the tireless fight for democracy and freedom.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 25, 2008 Obama Press Office, 312-819-2423
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