August 15, 201322

August 15, 2013 3

Aquino expands jurisdiction of embassy in D.C.MANILA -President

Benigno Aquino III has expanded the jurisdictions of the Philippine ambassador to the United States and four other envoys in a major revamp of key diplomatic posts overseas.

The President expanded the power and responsibilities of Jose Cuisia Jr., the ambassador to Washington who has concurrent jurisdiction over the US Virgin Islands, Grenada and Puerto Rico.

The revamp gives Cuisia three additional territorial juris-dictions - Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Haiti.

Nine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) offi cials were also given overseas postings in the United Kingdom, France and other European, Latin American and Middle Eastern countries.

Mr. Aquino submitted their nominations as ambassadors extraordinary and plenipoten-tiary to the congressional Com-mission on Appointments on July 19.

Besides Cecilia Rebong, former consul general in New York who was appointed as the new permanent represen-tative of the Philippines to the United Nations, Mr. Aquino appointed the following ambas-sadors: Maria Rowena M. San-chez (Turkey with concurrent jurisdiction over Georgia and

Azerbaijan); Victoriano Lecaros (Czech Republic); Theresa Lazaro (France with concurrent jurisdiction over Monaco); Jaime Victor Ledda (The Netherlands);

Catalino Dilem Jr. (Mexico with concurrent jurisdiction

over Belize, Costa Rica, El Sal-vador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela and Cuba); Narciso Castaneda (Oman); Edsel Barba (Iraq); and

Vicente Vivencio Bandillo (Ban-gladesh with concurrent juris-

diction over Sri Lanka and the Maldives).

Dilem will replace the cur-rent ambassador to Mexico, George Reyes, who will be retir-ing soon.

The incoming ambassador to Mexico will oversee a vast

posting encompassing the cur-rent jurisdiction of the Philip-pine Embassy in Mexico (plus the Central American countries), with Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Cuba as additional jurisdictions.

Former press attache and now Amb. Patricia Paez last month presented her credentials to the Prime Minister of Poland in Warsaw.

August 15, 2013 5

Ocean City holds annual tribute to PHOCEAN CITY - Ocean City

held its fourth annual Tribute to the Philippines late last month. It was highlighted by an open-air barrio fi esta that included cultural shows and display of Philippine products.

Done in coordination with the Philippine consulate in New York which has jurisdiction over the area, the two-day fes-tivities drew crowds from New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia.

The city celebrates the event to mark its sister-city relation-ship with San Jose, Occidental

Mindoro.But even without the annual

celebration, Ocean City is also the favorite summer vacation spot for Marylanders and Virgin-ians beause it is closer to them. Many FilAm families have con-dominiums in the city.

The Tribute was started by Rene Sese, a local resident and owner of a resort guest house. As a Cultural Ambassador of Ocean City, he founded the trade-tour-ism-cultural-medical event in 2010.

This is a win-win situation for the two cities, said Sese in

an interview with the Press of Atlantic City. I fell in love with Ocean City because of its seren-ity and the congeniality of the people. I am proud to live here, but I am also proud of where I am from. I am fortunate to have two hometowns, and I am just happy to bring attention to both of these great cities, where the future is very bright.

The venue of the cultural shows was the Music Pier. There were also tables selling Philip-pine food and products.FilAms perform the Tinikling dance. (Photo by Elton Lugay, Filam.)

August 15, 2013 11

MPI says more than 1-M immigrants talents wastedWASHINGTON D.C. - The

Migration Policy Institute here says the talents of more than 1.6 college-educated immigrants, including hundreds if not thou-sands of Filipinos, are going to waste because of diffi culty in obtaining certifi cation to practice in the US.

In its latest report written by Michelle Mittlestadt, MPI said it is now focusing its strategies to reduce brain waste in the US. It said foreign-trained immi-grants should be put to good use in the host-country labor market,

particularly in regulated profes-sions.

Many Filipino American professionals now recall the time in the past when many doctors, nurses and other profession-als had encountered barriers in obtaining license to practice in the US. The result was that many doctors had to work as nursing assistants, accountants as boo-keepers, engineers as draftsmen, etc. in order to survive.

This, MPI said, was mainly dut to differences in education and training, language profi -

ciency or employer resistance to hiring a candidate with unfa-miliar qualifi cations. The result is that many Filipino doctors accept work as nurses, accoun-tants as bookeepers, etc.

MMPI said: For occupa-tions that require licensing or registration-such as in engineer-ing or health care-examinations, application fees or supervised training requirements can repre-sent additional barriers to entry.

Mittlestadts report has sug-gested strategies to improve the recognition of immigrants

foreign qualifi cations, examines the range of policies immigrant-receiving countries have intro-duced to improve the recogni-tion of foreign credentials and focuses on strategies to remedy the credentialing gaps that keep many immigrants from fulfi lling their professional potential.

The sheer complexity of licensing systems and the vast number of agencies and govern-ment departments involved at different levels of government leave room for confusion and make it diffi cult for govern-

ments to ensure that policies are implemented consistently, said MPI Senior Policy Analyst Mad-eleine Sumption, who authored the report.

Said MPI President Deme-trios Papademetriou: In an era of growing competition for human capital, policymakers in countries such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and in Europe increasingly understand the importance of focusing on policies to address the recogni-tion of foreign credentials.

The report notes that there are issues other than credential recognition at play when it comes to maximizing the skills and experience of immigrant work-ers. Some immigrants require signifi cant support to fi ll gaps in their skills, gain local work expe-rience and address other barriers to employment.

Foreign professionals, especially the newly arrived, are often not completely inter-changeable with their locally trained counterparts, the report says. As a result, effectively demonstrating that their training meets local standards may not be enough; they may also require opportunities to fi ll knowledge defi cits without prohibitive time and expense.

August 15, 2013 15

August 16 (Friday) 8:00 pm and August 17 (Saturday) 7:30 pm I Do Bidoo Bidoo movie musical. Starring Gary Valen-ciano and Zsa Zsa Padilla. Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, DeSales Hall, 8601 Wolftrap Road, Vienna, VA 22182. $15 (prepaid). Send check to Chiqui Sanchez, 1106 Jackson Court, Falls Church, VA 22046. Pre-paid tickets may be picked up

at before the screening. Pro-ceeds will benefi t the projects of MOWELFUND Philippines and the Filipino Catholic Ministry at OLGC. Contact: Chiqui 571-499-8277

August 17 (Saturday) 7:30pm Filipino Mass at St. Ber-nadette Catholic Church, 7600 Old Keene Mill Road, Spring-fi eld, VA 22152. Sponsored by Filipino Ministry of St. Berna-

dette. Contact 703-569-1054.August 17 (Saturday) 8:pm-

12mn Fil Am Multicultural Center and Tutubi Enterprises, An Evening Motown, Jazz and Blues with the Pnoise Band. Fil-ipino American Multi Cultural Center, 7500 Livingston Rd., Oxon Hill, MD. $5.00 donation (free if you arrive before 8) Con-tact: julianoteyza@gmail.com or (703) 969 5469

August 23 (Saturday) 6:00pm-12:00mn Progressive Alliance of Filipinos and Ameri-cans, Inc. (PAFAI) Hawaiian Night a fundraising event at For Myer Community Center, Arlington, VA

August 24 (Saturday) 7:30am ANCOP Global Walk 2013 Washington DC-Southern and Central Maryland to raise awareness and funds for its vari-

ous programs- Childrens educa-tional sponsorship, Community development, Family health and Nutrition, Medical and Surgi-cal Mission. 1771 Tucker Rd, Oxon Hill, Fort Washington, MD 20744. Online registration, visit www.ancopwalk.us Registration fee $15.00.

August 24 (Saturday) 8:pm-12mn Fil Am Multicultural Center and Tutubi Enterprises Ballroom Dancing . Filipino American Multi Cultural Center, 7500 Livingston Rd., Oxon Hill, MD. $5.00 donation (free if you arrive before 8). Contact: julian-oteyza@gmail.com or (703) 969 5469

August 30 (Friday) 6:30pm Eucharistic Celebration & Heal-ing Service with Fr. Fernando Suarez, Holy Family Catholic Church, 12010 Woodmore Rd.,

Mitchellville, MD 20721. Reg-istration required. Email your name, tel. number, Names of attendees (indicate if using wheelchair) to holyfamilyevent@gmail.com. Contact: presygue-vara@yahoo.com

August 31 (Saturday) 5 pm-7 pm. Filipino American Multi Cultural Center Closing Party Brown Strokes on a White Canvas Traveling Exhibit. Free. Followed by the Tutubi Evo-lution Classic Rock Concert 8 pm-12 mn, 7500 Livingston Rd., Oxon Hill, MD. $5.00 donation (free if you arrive before 8). Con-tact: julianoteyza@gmail.com or (703) 969. $5.00 donation (free if you arrive before 8pm).

August 31 (Saturday) 5 pm-7 pm. Filipino American Multi Cultural Center Closing Party Brown Strokes on a White Canvas Traveling Exhibit. Free. Followed by the Tutubi Evo-lution Classic Rock Concert 8 pm-12 mn, 7500 Livingston Rd., Oxon Hill, MD. $5.00 donation (free if you arrive before 8). Con-tact: julianoteyza@gmail.com or (703) 969. $5.00 donation (free if you arrive before 8pm).

September 1 (Sunday) 12:00-5:00pm Generals Douglas MacArthur/Vicente Lim VFW Post 5471 and Ladies Auxillary Hawaiian Luau Fundraising Event, Ador & Nanette Carreon Residence, 315 Syria Court, Fort Washington, MD 20744. $25. Contact: Jay Cabacar at jaycaba-car@gmail.com

September 14 (Saturday) Mrs. Philippines Home for Senior Citizens, Inc. and Yo-Yo Fiesta Tiatro (A Dinner The-atre Show of Filipino Songs and Dance). Mrs. Philippines Home at 6482 Bock Road, Oxon Hill, MD 20745. $25. Three shows: 12 noon (Contact: Earl Echon 301-248-9655); 3 pm show (Contact: Maria Cacas 301-567-2935; 6pm show (Contact Roy fune 443-493-0391.

September 21 (Saturday) 6:00pm-1:00am Medical Mission of Mercy USA Superheroes Night Masquerade Ball to benefi t 2014 Medical Mission to Sorsogon, Bicol. Fairfax Park Marriott in Falls Church, VA. $80. Contact: Yoly Arzadon 703.750.3768.

September 28-29 (Satur-day & Sunday) 10:00am-8:00pm Asian Festival. Rosecroft Race-way, 6336 Rosecroft Dr, Ft. Washington, MD 20744. Spon-sored by Singha Beer and Thai Tennis Organization of America. Featured Village is the Philip-pines and is sponsored by PAFC. For participation as a vendor or performer, contact: Eileen Nadal, eileen_nadal@yahoo.com

October 5 (Saturday) 8 pm-2 am. Ateneo Alumni Asso-ciation of Metro Washington DC Charity Gala Dinner-Dance and Auction. Crystal Gateway Mar-riott Grand Ballroom, 1700 Jef-ferson Davis HighwayArlington, VA 22202. Contact: Aimee San Ramon at aimeesr@yahoo.com

August 15, 20131616

Philippine Barakos remain champions in Filipino Americans hearts.Text/photo credits: Angelyn Tugado-Marzan

[As PONY (Protect Our Nations Youth) Baseball Asia Pacifi c Zone Bronco 11 champions, the Philippine Barakos competed July 25-28, 2013 at the PONY International Bronco-11 World Series at the Harry Daniel Baseball Park in Iron Bridge, Chesterfi eld, Virginia. Warm Filipino hospitality was once again extended to the Barakos team (11-year-old baseball players Vincent Mendoza, Ivan Tolentino, Lloyd Cinco, John Matanguihan, Kenneth de los Santos, Jewell Dimapilis, Jerome Pamute, Bryan Mag-naye, Neil Perez, Dax Fabella, Reden Tapia, Sancho Llamas & Juilien Filart) and their chaperones (Philippine Tot Baseball Foundation president Rodolfo Boy Tingzon, Jr., Tanauan Sports Development Offi cer Teotimo Toti C. Leus, Tato Dimayuga (of the offi ce of new Mayor Antonio Halili of Tanauan City, Batangas), coaches Romar and Teddy Landicho, Apple Landicho, Mae Mendoza, Rosemarie Go, Junie Tapia, Doji Llamas, Lala Fabella, Ms. Perez, Evelyn Mendoza, Mike Galicia, Guillermo Edrinal) by offi cers/members of Fil-Am organizations (Don Bosco Philippines Alumni Association Greater Washington, D.C., Filipino American Association of Central Virginia [FAACV], Visayan American Association, Philippine Nurses Association of Richmond, Himig Filipino Choir, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Kultura Pilipino, etc.), including, among oth-ers, Art & Annie Asistores, Raul & Jan Mercado, Nitoy & Sarie Lopez, Gerry & Beth Balallo, Rumy & Marj Mohta, Lilia Baker, Rudy & Evelyn Bolipata, Meaning Lagangan, Ana Marie Joson, Raul Moreno, Montoro, Nilo Migo, Romeo Casupanan, Delphin Raymundo, & Nesty & Mishel Tanega.]

Philippine Tot Baseball Foundation president Rodolfo Boy Tingzon (4th from left) receives on behalf of the Barakos a plaque of appreciation from FAACV President Gerry Balallo (6th from left) with wife Beth Balallo. With the Barakos are (last row, l-r) Lourdes Balallo, Marty Martinez, Rumy Mohta, Romeo Casupan.

Tanauan Sports Development Offi cer Teotimo Toti C. Leus (left) and some of the Barakos team pose with Filipino American Raul Mercado, manager at the LEnfant Plaza Hotel where the Barakos stayed overnight.

The Don Bosco Philippines Alumni Association Greater Washing-ton, D.C (with its president Art Asistores, seated, center (in white polo) with his wife Annie Asistores (standing, 3rd from left) treat the Barakos team to dinner July 18th, 2013 upon their arrival at the imposing LEnfant Plaza Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Thryza Navarrete (left), Executive Assistant to Philippine Ambas-sador to the U.S. Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., helps serve strawberries and grapes to right fi eld Barakos player Vincent Mendoza during a merienda cena tendered by the Ambassador & his wife Vicky Cuisia July 19, 2013 at the Philippine Embassys Romulo Hall in Washington, D.C.

Barakos pitcher Ivan Tolentino (foreground, in black) looks curious as he and his team players survey July 19th, 2013 exhibits on the Philippines during World War II at the Smithsonians National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

The Barakos team are feted with a welcome reception by Filipino Americans July 20, 2013 at the residence of Gerry and Beth (kneel-ing, front, left) Balallo in Glen Allen, Virginia. Among those in photo are Raul & Jan Mercado and Sam & Lourdes Balallo (stand-ing, right, beside Mae Mendoza)

Barakos coach Teddy Landicho holds a Home Run Derby trophy won by pitcher Reden Tapia (front, 2nd from left) during a luncheon given by Filipino Americans at the residence of Albert & Mercy Magpoc in Chesterfi eld, Virginia. In photo are (standing, l-r) Guillermo Edrinal, Jane Rodis, Susan Salkin, Mercy Magpoc, Sarie Lopez, Lily Raymundo, Tato Dimayuga, Nitoy Lopez, Rosemarie Go, Sonia Martinez, Albert Mag-poc, Reiman Rodis, Raul Mercado, Anjelica T. Marzan, Nilo Migo (foreground, right) and Marty Martinez (front, left)

Filipino Americans bring dinner to the Barakos at the Harry Daniel Baseball Park in Chesterfi eld, Virginia. In photo are (kneeling) Justine and James Ho, Michael Rodriguez; (2nd row) Etta Phillips, Apple Landicho, Beth Taloma, Anjelica, Anne Ho, Jerome Pamute, Lloyd Cinco, Juilien Filart, Kenneth delos Santos, Dax Fabella and Boy Tingzon; (3rd row) Katherine Phillips, Cyrus Mohta, Art Asis-tores, Rumy Mohta, Fidel Rodriguez, Richard Mercado, Our Lady of Lourdes 8th annual Filipino Festival Chair Rosario Igharas, Kapitan Guillermo, Vina Rodriguez, Reden Tapia, John Neil Perez, & Conchita Ebarle

After dinner at the Wing Com-mand (by owners Nesty & Mishel Tanega), the formidable Barakos team sing, dance, and pose with some of their Filipino American sponsors (including Gerry & Beth Balallo (2nd row, 3rd & 4th from left), Lilia Baker (beside Beth), Evelyn & Rudy Bolipata (5th from right), and Raul and Jan Mercado (right).

The Philippine Barakos in sending a photo of their baseball fi eld in picturesque Tanauan, Batangas, are grateful for the signifi cant support of, among others, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, Ambassador to the US & Mrs. Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. & the Philippine Embassy staff, the Filipino American community, noted sportsman & former Congressman Rodolfo Totoy Tingzon, the Mayors Of-fi ce in Tanauan City, Batangas, PH Department of Education, & the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) under the Offi ce of the President of the Philippines.

Filipino American Community members join the Barakos at the conclusion of the PONY Bronco-11 World Series in Chesterfi eld, Virginia.

(Standing, l-r) Meaning Lagangan & Sarie Lopez lead enthusiastic Filipinos and Filipino- Americans in cheering for the Barakos.

August 15, 2013 19

Manila solon calls Pacquiao a geniusBuhay party-list Rep. Jose

Lito Atienza has described Filipino boxing icon Manny Pac-quiao who hopes to run for pres-ident someday a genius.

Lets not belittle him because he has a very bright mind. In fact, I call him genius. He wouldnt become a champion with eight world titles if youre not a genius. Atienza said.

Earlier, Pacquiao was at the Venetian Macao for the press conference with Mexi-can American Brandos Rios for their Nov. 24 fi ght in Macao. Pacquiao is looking to bounce back from a KO loss to arch-rival

Juan Manuel Marquez from last December.

And his adapting instincts to public service and politics, we already saw that as well as his capability to serve his country-men, the former Manila City mayor said.

Atienza said Filipinos owe it to Pacquiao, who has brought honor to the country in the boxing ring, to at least let him pursue his dreams for the coun-try in a way he knows how.

If that is whats coming to his mind (presidency), lets not belittle it because this guy did great things for the country. And

it may not be repeated by anyone in many years, Atienza said So lets leave him to his dream to good things for us. Anyway, hes a very intelligent man. In fact, maybe too intelligent, he added.

But Atienza advised his friend not to stop working hard to reach new heights both in his boxing and political careers.

[H]e still needs to keep on working hard and not allow himself to stray off the right path, Atienza said.

In a statement Tuesday morning, however, Pacquiao clarifi ed that his presidential aspirations are not indicative

of any immediate or concrete plans.

Serving in a higher elective post rests on the will of God and the call of the Filipino people, Pacquiao said.

He explained his focus is concentrated on his congressio-

nal duties, pushing for his legis-lative agenda which includes the improvement of the countrys sports program.

Speaker Sonny Belmonte said Pacquiao should fi rst run for senator before seeking the top position in the land.

Pacquiao was at the Venetian Macao for the press conference with Mexican American Brandos Rios for their Nov. 24 fi ght in Macao. Pacquiao is look-ing to bounce back from a KO loss to arch-rival Juan Manuel Marquez from last December.

August 15, 20132020

August 15, 2013 23

Dangers of Testosterone

The various media, print, radio, television, and the internet are fl ooded with infomercials about testosterone replacement (rejuvenation and sex enhancing) therapy. Some even suggests it to be a foun-tain of youth that could stop the biological clock and transform males to supermen in bed and athletes to champions.

They invariably hail the enticing benefi ts of this therapy that include increased sexual libido and performance, and increased muscle mass, which are actually what natural testos-terone men produced through their testes (testicles, balls in laymans term). While this male hormone is safe, testoster-one replacement drugs are not as safe and carry some dangers from their side effects. Taking these pill supplements has risks that are not worth the tran-sient improvement in libido or athletic (muscle) prowess they provide. Some athletes cheat by using testosterone, among other power-and-endurance-enhanc-ing substances

(steroids, etc) to gain advan-tage over their opponents.

Cyclist Lance Armstrong, whose 7 Tour de France titles and other honors have been stripped and who lost Nike and other cor-porate sponsors recently, is still under investigation for alleged use of any of these substances.

The peak level of testoster-one secretion in male is around age 18, and it remains fairly high up to age 30. The level normally declines by 1 percent to 3 per-cent per year thereafter. If the decline is abnormally more than that, muscle wasting, reduced strength and sexual libido occur, especially those who do not exer-cise. When the level is normal for the age, no testosterone supplement is needed even for diminished sexual libido, where Viagra, Cialis, Levitra might be a safer option. The Prolactin serum level is also tested to make sure the reduced libido is not central in nature (caused by brain/endo-crine system malfunction). Tes-tosterone is prescribed for men who are defi cient in testosterone due to hypoganadism (poorly functioning testes in men or ova-ries in females). Some older men have been taking this to slow down the aging process, which is ill-advised

and really risky.

Cardiovascular risksUse of testosterone, espe-

cially without physician guid-ance, is attended by high risks of developing heart problems, high blood pressure, heart failure and heart attack. The Mayo Clinic reported testosterone supple-ment may lead to polycythemia, an overproduction of red blood cells that thickens the blood, leading to blood clots, including thrombophlebitis (infl ammation of the leg veins, leading to clots which could travel to the lungs pulmonary embolus to cause death). The cholesterol also shoots usp, especially the bad variety. Anemia, acne, clotting problems, and sleep apnea are seen among those who take tes-tosterone supplements for some time.

Male breast enlargementMen can develop huge

enlargement of their breasts and have female breasts from tes-tosterone accumulation among those who take the supplements, which leads to testosterone breakdown. This then results in sex hormonal imbalance, making the estrogen, which men produces in small quantity, to become the dominant hormone, causing some degree of femini-zation. In women on testosterone treatment, the opposite happens, masculinization, causing smaller breasts, menstrual abnormali-ties, enlarged clitoris, body hair, and a deep voice. Women whose partner uses testosterone gel on his skin may also rub off some masculinizing effects on the woman.

Reduced sperm and infertility

Reduction in sperm count and infertility are two other side effects of testosterone supplements. With less sperm produced, the volume during ejaculation is also less, which leads to infertility. Testosterone supplement can also cause pros-tate enlargement, and therefore urinary retention and obstruc-tion with diffi culty in urination, especially in older people.

Liver cancerLong term use of testoster-

one, especially in high dosage, have caused deadly liver prob-lems, like liver cancer, includ-

Miss Saigon back in DC

When the musical Miss Saigon premiered in Londons West End in 1989, it was an instant hit.

And it was also a success when it premiered on Broad-way in 1991 where it ran for nine years.

This Tony Award-winning musical is also best remembered for the young Lea Salonga who played the lead role of the Viet-namese bar girl Kim. She won the prestigious Olivier and Tony Awards for best actress in a musical. It also catapulted her to international stardom.

Miss Saigon will be back at the Signature Theatre(August 15-September 22).

Created by the acclaimed writers of Les Miserables, this modern rock-infused adaptation of Puccinis 1904 opera Madame Butterfl y explores the ongoing impact of love, loss, and

the collision of cultures during the Vietnam War. Signa-ture Theatre is proud to announce the cast of this summers all-new production of Miss Saigon, directed by Signature Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer. Running in the MAX Theatre beginning August 15, the production opens the theatres 2013-14 season with all the adventure, romance, and excitement that Signature prom-ises with the re-imagining of a classic musical.

The production will be the fi rst Miss Saigon in 15 years, said Schaeffer. Audiences are in for an amazing experience-the reinvention of a beloved musical.

Signature is pulling all the stops on this production with a

terrifi c cast, full size orchestra, and a set that engulfs the entire 276 seat theatre.

I can think of no better way to kick off our 24th season than with a new environmental pro-duction of Miss Saigon. It will star Signature newcomers Diana Huey as the Vietnamese bar girl Kim, Jason Michael Evans as the American GI Chris, Thom Sesma as the mysterious club owner who calls himself The Engineer.

They are joined by many of Signatures most well-known actors, including Erin Driscoll as Ellen, Chris Sizemore as John, and Christopher Mueller as Tuey. For tickets and more info, call 703-820-9711 or http://www.signature-theatre.org/.

***The impeccable staging of

Company closed Signature Theatres stellar 2012-13 season. And the current production of the experimental musical SPIN was a wonderful one. The 2013-14 season line-up seems to be an exciting and fantas-tic one. Besides Miss Saigon, theres the world premiere of Pride In The Falls Of Autrey Mill(October 15-December 8, 2013). After the resounding suc-cess of 2012s Really, Really, Signature presents the newest work of Paul Downs Colaizzo.

The Falls Of Autrey Mill is the most desired zipcode in town. From the outside, the fl awless neighborhood glitters with ele-gant roman column porches and exquisitely manicured lawns. In this vicious and gripping play, Colaizzo rips the facade off of Americas privileged subur-bia with his trademark brutal honesty. Shakespeare Theatre Company Artistic Director Michael Kahn returns to direct this world premiere. Another world premiere of the musi-cal Crossing(Oct. 29-Nov.24), explores the interwoven stories of eight people from different decades of the past century who come together at a train station.

The iconic musical Gypsy(Dec. 17- Jan.19, 2014), is set during the 1920s during the fading vaudeville cir-cuit. Gypsy portrays the rise of famed burlesque per-former Gypsy Rose Lee and her Momma Rose, the arche-typal stage mother. Other pro-ductions to look forward to are Beaches(Feb. 18-March 23, 2014), another world pre-miere musical based on the beloved book. The groundbreak-ing musical The Threepenny Opera(April 22-June 1, 2014) and the new musical comedy Cloak and Dagger(June 12-July

ing hepatocellular type liver carcinoma. Jaundice (yellow skin and eye discoloration) and liver enzyme abnormalities can happen because of damage to the liver. Among females, this therapy may also increase the risk for breast cancer, and those who have had breast cancer may develop higher danger of recur-rence.

Medical IrresponsibilityIt is a grave disservice to

patients when some healthcare providers prescribe, or some friends recommend, testoster-one supplement, without doing complete medical evaluation, including appropriate blood tests, etc. Persons who buy and take over the counter or herbal versions of this drug are endan-gering their health and their life. This supplement should only be used by those whose body does not produce testosterone due to infection or tumors which have destroyed their pituitary glands. And this should be taken only under a physicians supervision.

Unproven Therapy

Testosterone therapy remains a scientifi cally unproven method for preventing any phys-ical or psychological changes that men with normal testos-terone levels may experience as they get older, according to the US National Institute on Aging.

Certainly not a fountain of youth, use of testosterone is strictly reserved for those with extreme defi ciency of this hor-mone for the age, which makes it rare. Most of those using the supplement today are misguided and victims of the massive hype created by info-mercials of the trillion-dollar food supplement industry. There is not enough clinical evidence to justify the current popular use of this therapy.

Even the study conducted in Boston of 209 men 65 and over to evaluate a testosterone gel had to be stopped because of very high rate of adverse cardiovas-cular events (hypertension, dia-betes, elevated cholesterol, and obesity) among the subjects, as reported in the Endocrine Today website.

Unregulated Arena of risksLike all the so-called food

supplements in the market today, many with claims to be good for or can cure a host of diseases and ailments, includ-ing cancer, testosterone supple-ments, especially the herbal ver-sions, are not regulated by any governmental oversight agen-cies. The manufacturers are not under any legal obligation to send their products for testing and evaluation for quality and safety, unlike proprietary drugs, which are strictly screened and scientifi cally tested by the USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in great details for effi -cacy, proper dosing, side-effects and possible complications for any age group and for pregnancy and other conditions.

While this sounds ridicu-lous, this is, in fact, the reality. The public, the consumers, are left unprotected by the govern-ment, because this big loophole allows manufacturers of these food supplements to escape test-ing and scrutiny.

August 15, 2013 25

Beware the peoples wrathMANILA

The hottest news here now is the expose of a spiders web of scams siphoning congressmens pork barrel funds into the private pockets of fraud-sters. But the public dont seem to care about this massive plun-der of public money.

Have we become immune to shock? Where is the outrage over the epidemic of criminal activity? The alleged systematic raid on legislators pork barrel funds is mind-boggling in its scope, said to have netted P10 billion in a span of a decade. But its only the current sensa-tion. Weve had a long history of plunder through various meth-ods.

For example, past military comptrollers are on the dock for stealing hundreds of millions in soldiers money. A fertilizer scam, similar to the current pork barrel fraud, is still pending in the courts. The so-called Euro police generals were caught in Russia fl ush with bundles of the European currency. A senators wife was caught last year carry-ing large undeclared amounts of dollars in the United States (the same senator is said to have allowed his pork barrel used in the scam of the moment).

The list can go on and on to reveal willful ways of cheat-ing, stealing and fraud, like the fi elding by bus operators of unli-censed vehicles or multiple units bearing duplicate license plates and the shenanigans at our entry ports, which allow the entry of illegal commodities or under-declared goods.

Street crime has been on a rampage. Recto Street in down-town Manila, notorious for the peddling of bogus school diplo-mas and other fake legal docu-ments, has lately become known for petty criminals who snatch peoples jewelry and other valu-ables. Jeepneys and buses are help up even in broad daylight, their passengers divested of their belongings (as I write this another such holdup had just occurred along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, metro Manilas main thoroughfare).

The Abu Sayyaf, a bandit group in Mindanao, kidnaps for ransom, and sometimes kills, hostaged people, many of them innocent and have nothing to do

with the armed groups avowed cause. The Communist New Peoples Army rebels do the same, terrorizing the rural pop-ulace or extorting money from political candidates. Members of the police force are regularly accused of looting crime scenes, or are often involved in crimes themselves.

These are willful crimes, meaning their perpetrators knew their acts would be detrimental to others or to public welfare.

We Filipinos know that our money is being stolen through various ways. We know that large portions of money for proj-ects like roads, dams and schools go into the pockets of crooked politicians. We know that con-tractors and suppliers give back portions of project allocations to those in the approval chain. This practice gave the lexicon the infamous word kickback, later deodorized as SOP, from the bureaucratically benign stan-dard operating procedure, to denote that the kickback is part and parcel of doing business.

In the pioneering days of American settlers, especially in the virgin West, fortune-seekers used to exult: Thars gold in them thar hills! Some of those early homesteaders did fi nd gold, but most of them had to toil long and hard to eke out a decent existence.

In the Philippines, the more clever among us yell out: Thars gold in them government proj-ects! And all they have to do to get their hands on the gold is to know where the money is. Then they fi nd out whose signa-ture is needed to get the money released and they corrupt the owner of the signature or bypass him altogether and just forge his signature.

The pork barrel scam has been playing prominently in the news here but theres been no uproar among the broad public. If anything at all, people display a knowing grin, the equivalent of: Tell me something new.

Weve tolerated, accepted and ignored the widespread plunder as an integral part of public life. Politicians join gov-ernment to steal from the public treasury. Theyve made a milk-ing cow out of government.

We know it but we do noth-

Continued on page 30

On the Lore of Our Folks

Can I help you, folk?Folk? I had heard this word before and understood what it meant, in many of the books I had read. But hearing it from a total stranger, for the fi rst time in this country, using it to get my attention to a service he wanted to offer was a word that rang many bells in my head.

I was in a drug store, then called decades ago the Dart Drug, trying to explore and get acquainted with what conve-niences the store had to offer, for it was my very fi rst week in Washington, DC as an immi-grant. To my delight, the place carried more items than the sari-sari stores I used to frequent in the Philippines. The word though which the store clerk had said summoned me to places, events, customs and traditions that had been parts and parcels of my beinghow I feel, think, act about, and react to my envi-ronment. Encompassed all by the systematic pattern of behavior I acquired since birth from my parents. It was, and is, my cul-ture; theirs too. These parts and parcels are what sociologists and anthropologists call folklore, a part of any nations culture.

Folklore, when applied to the Filipinos and their descen-dants here in this country and elsewhere in the globe, is a point of origin, a way of life. It is ethnic and defi nitely native. It is a kaleidoscope of colors, movements, shapes, scents, and sounds, affecting our fi ve senses. It lives in our memories yet alive and real in our presence. It is undocumented and carries no ownership. And yet, we have been witnesses to festivals held, dances performed, games set, music played, and epics, myths and legends told, over and over in cities, towns, in barangays in the Philippines, in arenas, and in prestigious local and interna-tional theater venues. In its vari-ous forms, folklore is passed on repeatedly from one particular person or group to another.

Take the river festival in Bocaue, Bulacan, a province in Central Luzon. This fl uvial parade held every year to vener-ate and commemorate the dis-covery of an image of the Virgin Mary fl oating in the river is the main highlight of the towns festivities. No one knows how it started and who organized it. Some references made to its starting date and to person or persons accountable for its popu-larity are purely apocryphal, but the celebration has survived and continues.

The same is true with the Moriones Festival in Marin-

duque, a version of Mardi Gras; the Ati-Atihan in Aklan; the Santacruzan and Flores de Mayo in various cities and towns; and the Sugat in Naga City, a reen-actment of the resurrection Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. In Manila alone, there are the feasts of the Black Nazarene every Jan-uary in Quiapo, Nuesrta Senora del Pilar every October in Santa Cruz district, Santo Nino in Tondo, Lady of Loreto in Sam-paloc, and Nuestra Senora del Rosario in Santo Domingo. They are all religious in tone. Their origins are murky. Their survival and continuity have rested on the peoples faith alone.

Folk dances are the main aspect of Philippine culture as it is perceived by peoples of other countries. They identify the Fili-pinos and reveal the homoge-neity of peoples living in more than 7,000 islands. The steps and expressions of the dancers, the sway and balance, and the jigs are uniform as the dances are performed in various locations in the country, distinguished from one another only by nomencla-ture.

The Tinikling, a parody of tikling birds as they skip and hop between a farmers trap made of bamboo poles; Itik-Itik, a mimic of ducks waddling in ponds; Binasuan, a balancing act of dancers holding a glass on each hand and one on the head; and Maglalatik, Subli, Palo-Palo and Pandango Sa Ilaw were origi-nally social sideshows in a ritual to honor a person or an event. Until a professional dance group videotaped the steps and move-ments in a formalized choreogra-phy, these dances had been free for the taking and copying, for their ownership had been undoc-umented and unpatented.

Until the commercialized advent of GI Joes, Barbie dolls, and various imitations of comic strips and mangas heroes and heroines, the popularity of games like Patintero, Tum-bang Preso, It Bulaga (Hide and Seek), Luksong Lubid (Jumping Rope), Lawin at Sisiw (Eagle and Chick), and many others played by two or more participants in times of merriment refl ected a childs perception of physical hazards, pains in trying, and rewards. These games are no longer apparent, if played at all, but they affected a childs physi-cal, mental, and social adjust-

ments up to the ages of puberty and adulthood, stepping stones to eventual identity. They are parts of a rite of passage, like assigning colors pink to girls and blue to boys, circumcisions, fi rst dance, handing out cigars during childbirth, and hazing in school clubs.

Folk music is a legacy of the past and a treasure of the pres-ent. Long before the arrival of Magellans ship in 1521, Filipinos had their ears set to lively sounds of passion, melancholy, and the presence or absence of affi nity to ones god, kin or neighbors. The Ayegka, serenade of the Bontoc Igorots; the Tagunggo of the muslins of Sulu; Bunkkaka of the Tingyans of Abra; Tagumpay, commemorating a tribal battle; Tagulaylay, a monotonous lam-entation of grief over tragic events; and of course, Harana, a song of courtship sung by an ardent male admirer, a prelude to what is now termed hook-ing up. Not to be forgotten are the songs Bahay Kubo (Nipa Hut) and Magtanim Hindi Biro (Planting Rice is Never Fun). Over time, the Filipino music had undergone several modifi cations because of Spanish, European and American infl uences. Hence, there had been heard throughout the land sounds of jotas, tangos, habaneras, fox-trots, mazurkas, boleros, pasadobles, ballads and blues.

What were once legends, myths and epics told orally to children by parents in bedrooms or parlor are now in printed pages of the countrys literature. The incessant pull of commerce will ensure their survival.

Now let me invite you to my own household. Long before my children fi nished their college years and went out to live their own lives, we had our evening prayers or recitations of rosa-ries. After prayers, even before they hit their beds, they would each pull my wifes and my right hand and put it individually to their foreheads. These were acts of being blessed and an acknowl-edgement of owed respect, a practice my wife and I acquired from our own parents, and from our own parents parents. Acts like these are parts of our lore, an ancient song whose notes never end; it goes on and on, like ones morning ablution of doing toilet-ries in the privacy of a bathroom.

August 15, 20132626

MIXED VEGETABLE CREPESMaking crepes is not as dif-

fi cult as one might think. Here is the simplest way to make savory crepes. If you follow these steps to the dot, and make several trials and errors, this will give you more confi dence in no time at all. Since the batter ingredients are very inexpensive anyway, you can practice as many times as you can until you can make the perfect crepe. A whole new crepe-ing experience will open up a world of endless recipes like appetizers, fi rst course meals, main entrees, desserts, and so on.

Ingredients:Crepe Batter:1 cup fl our, bleached1/2 teaspoon salt3 eggs1 egg yolk1/2 cup milk1/3 cup water1 teaspoon vegetable oil or

butterMixed Vegetable Filling:1 medium size onion,

chopped1 cup water chestnuts, quar-

tered1 cup carrots, julienne5 pieces green beans, thinly

sliced1 cup sweet potatoes, juli-

enneSalt and pepper to taste

Methods:Making the Batter For Crepes:Mix all the ingredients to

constitute your batter.Pour the batter into an elec-

tric mixer and blend for 1 minute or until batter is smooth and lump-free.

If you do not have an elec-

tric mixer, use a whisk or egg beater. Then rest a strainer or sieve over a bowl and pour the batter mixture into the strainer. Press any remaining lumps in the batter through the strainer with the back of a spoon. Let the batter rest for at least half hour.

Cook the crepes in a 10-inch crepe pan or heavy gauged non-stick pan. (If the batter is too thick, add a little milk or water and blend well.) Brush the pan with vegetable oil and preheat over medium tempera-ture. Spoon about 3 tablespoons of crepe batter into the pan and evenly spread to cover the bottom surface by slightly tip-ping the pan several times. Cook for about 1 to 2 minutes until the edges of the crepe lift clearly from the pan. Turn the crepe over with your fi ngertips and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes until cooked. Do not brown both sides. (If golden brown crepes is preferred, cook both sides for 2 to 3 minutes each side.)

Repeat the process for the rest of the batter, making at least 10 to 12 crepes. Stack the crepes when done, wrap with plastic fi lm and place in refrigerator to cool. Then proceed to cook the fi lling.

Cooking the Filling:Saut onions in a skillet until

wilted. Add carrots and green beans and saut for 3 to 5 min-utes or until half-cooked. Add the water chestnuts and sweet potatoes and continue to cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Do not over-cook the sweet potatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to

a bowl and let cool down.Wrap 3 or more tablespoons

of the cooked vegetables in crepe. Continue wrapping the fi llings with the remaining crepes. Serve with cream sauce.

Cream Sauce:1 cup water or vegetable

stock1/4 cup creamsalt and pepper to taste2 tablespoons corn starch

dissolved in water.1 teaspoon chopped parsleyMethod: Blend all ingredi-

ents except the corn starch mix-ture. Then simmer and thicken sauce

with the corn starch mix-ture.

Editors Note: Master Chef

Evelyn: 100 Most Infl uential Fili-pina Women in the U.S., 2009, Fili-pina Womens Network; MHC Most Outstanding Migrant Award in Culinary Arts, 2011; PAFC Dakila Special Achievement Award, 2011; Owner/Chef, Philippine Oriental Market & Deli, Arlington, Virginia; Founder and President of CHEW (Cancer Help Eat Well) Founda-tion, a 501 (c) (3) public charity

formed to help and cook pro-bono for Filipino-Americans who are affl icted with cancer and other serious ill-nesses; Culinary writer; Member, Les Dames dEscoffi er International, Washington DC Chapter; Member, International Cake Exploration Society, Member, Culinary Histo-rians of Washington, D.C.; Master Chef, French Cuisine and Patisserie, Le Cordon Bleu, London.

EXECUTIONThere were three guys, a

Canadian, an American and a guy from Poland, who were all going to be executed. The executioner said that since all three were to be executed that night, that they would each get to choose the method by which they would die. Their choices were: lethal injection, electric chair or by hanging.

The American was afraid of needles and didnt want to be hanged, so he chose the elec-tric chair. When they pulled the switch, nothing happened. The executioner said that if this hap-pens a second time that he could go free. They tried a second time and again nothing happened so they set him free.

The Canadian was also afraid of needles and didnt want to be hanged so he too chose the electric chair. Once again, the chair didnt work twice and he was set free.

Next it was the Poles turn to pick how he was to be executed. He said Im afraid of needles,

the electric chair wont work so youre going to have to hang me.

MARRIAGEHusband: On our 10th anni-

versary, dear, Im so proud to be married to the same woman.

Wife: After 10 years with you, I am no longer the same woman.

FRIENDSHIPAmong women : A woman

didnt come home one night. The next morning she told her hus-band that she had slept over at a friends house. The man called his wifes 10 best friends. None of them knew anything about it.

Among men: A man didnt come home one night. The next morning he told his wife that he had slept over at a friends house. The woman called her husbands 10 best friends, eight of them confi rmed that he had slept over, and two said that he was still there.

REQUEST

There were 3 men who died and before God would let them into heaven, he gave them a chance to go back to earth as any-thing they wanted.

The fi rst guy said, I want to go back as myself, but 100 times smarter. So God made him 100 times smarter.

The second guy said I want to be better than that guy, make me 1000 times smarter. So God made him 1000 times smarter.

The last guy decided he would be the best. So he said God, make me better than both of them, make me 1,000,000 times smarter.

So God made him a woman!

DID YOU?Lawyer: Now that you have

been acquitted, will you tell me truly... did you steal the car?

Client: After hearing your amazing argument in court this morning, Im beginning to think I didnt.

HUWAG

Si Sir pumasok sa kuwarto ni Inday,

Sir: IndayInday: Sir, huwag po!

Huwag pooooo!Sir: Gaga! Uutusan lang kita.Inday: Si Sir namannagsa-

suggest lang.

BAKIT?Amo: Yaya, bakit namatay

ang aso?Maid: Pinaliguan ko po ng

laundry soap.Amo: Hindi naman naka-

mamatay ang sabon, ah.Maid: Ewan ko nga po

sir, eh. Pag-off ko ng washing machine patay na.

ANG GUSTOMister: Ano ba ang nakain

mo at matutulog ka sa sahig.Misis: For a change.Mister: Anong for a change

ang pinagsasabi mo?Misis: Hmmph! Gusto ko

lang makaramdam ng matigas.

YUNG ANONaguusap ang magina.Dalagita: Nay, tutuo po ba

na kung saan ipinasok yung ano, doon din lalabas ang bata?

Nanay: Oo naman anak.Dalagita: Hindi po kaya

masira ang ipin ko?

LUNASPasiyente: Doc, parating

masakit ang balikat ko kapag iti-nataas ko. Grabe!

Doktor: Eh, di huwag mong itaas!

August 15, 2013 29

Pres. Pacquiao?

Manny Pacquiao, the living boxing legend, for President of the Philippines? Dont laugh. Movie action star Joseph Estrada made it. Another . movie action star Fernando Poe, Jr. almost made it. In the fi gment of his imagina-tion Manny engages in a debate with his beloved Nanay Dionesia. Here is the partially translated exchange

Nanay, in my life I have always fought for the highest prize. In boxing, its the cham-pionship that measures success. Now, I am in politics and I still cant avoid thinking champion-ship.

Manny, walang tsampion-ship belt sa pulitika. Maraming tsampion kurakot lang dyan. Mag-artista ka na lang para maka-ekstra ako sa pelikula nagbobolroom danc-ing.

There is championship in politics too. Hind lang kurakot. I would like to aim for the highest prize.

Anak, ang highest prize ay presidente. Baka binabangonot ka?

Hindi ito panaginip, Nay. Englisin ko, for emphasis, I am not sleeping.

Papaano ka mananalo

Anak, eh ni hindi ka naka-apak sa unibersidad?

Eh bakit, what did Erap fi nish. What did FPJ fi nish? Wala sa Consitution ang college diploma para mag presidente. Si Marcos, ano ang natapos niya?

Anak, batikan na abogado yon.

Naayos ba niya and Pinas?Ay hindi nga, Anak. Sayang

lang ang kanyang diploma sa abo-gacia. Pero Anak, importante pa rin yong meron kang diploma na ma-isabit mo sa opisina.

Hindi problema yan. Matutu-pad ang iyong kahilingan, Nay.

Talaga Anak? Mag-eenrol ka ba sa U.P para mag-abogado katulad ni Marcos?

Hindi na kailangan. Bago matapos ang susunod na taon, mag-pagawa ako ng sariling unibersi-dad.

Sige Anak. Ano ang itatawag natin sa Universidad mo?

Yong simple lang. Siguro ganito- Pac U.

Tapos, mag-aaral ka sa saril-ing Universidad mo para magka-diploma?

Hindi na kailangan. Kung ako ang magpakagawa ng Univer-sidad, garantisadong bibigyan ako ng Honorary Doctorate of Laws. Mataas na diploma yan, Nay.

Aba, puede na rin yan, Anak ko.

Pero Anak, dahan dahan ka pa rin. At saka, Anak, pagdating sa debate, ano ang masasabi mo?

Nay, alam ko ang ibig sabi-hin ng taxation. Para sa kaun-laran, bawasan natin yan para hindi tatakbo ang mga gumagawa ng negosyo. Laban ako nang laban sa America, pero nag malaman kong malaki pala ang kinakaltas ni Obama, doon na lang ako mag-boxing sa China. Alam ko rin ang ibig sabihin ng pork barel. Basta may pork, masama iyan. Maram-ing kolestirol daw iyan. Ipapatigil ko ang nagpapasama sa kalusugan ng

Wishful thinking

News the Washington Post was sold to Amazon.com founder Jeff Bozos drew surprise, nostalgia and hope for one of the worlds most respected media brands.

We remember the papers Watergate coverage in the 1970s and marveled at how it was able to topple the most powerful man in the United States . That was also the decade we woke up one morning to a Philippines under Martial Law; and as the despo-tism wore on, our fascination with what the Washington Post and its journalists achieved grew as well.

The sale sparked specula-tion about the reasons why the Grahams divested the familys crown jewel or what Bozos has in mind to plunk $250 million of his own money to buy the Post.

In a Facebook post, our colleague Bing Branigin wrote about how she met and eventu-ally married her husband, Wash-ington Post editor Bill Branigin who was posted for a time in Manila . She described the Gra-hams management style that bred a family atmosphere.

We recall our own experi-ence working with the late Betty Go-Belmonte who published the Philippine Star. She too had her peculiar style of running one of

the countrys top newspapers.The Evening Star was the

groups afternoon broadsheet. It was the late Ka Louie Beltrans baby and recruited seasoned newsmen Angel Sambo, Jun Valera and Rolly Espina to help put out the afternoon daily.

The spirit behind the Water-gate coverage still fresh in our mind, we joined the Evening Star in 1987 and inevitably began writing about the foibles of town bureaucrats and the sleaze of lowly cop commanders.

But the afternoon paper faced stiff competition from tabloids and although Mrs. Bel-monte fought hard to keep it in the streets, the economic realities dictated the eventual demise of the Evening Star.

Weeks before she announced the decision, Mrs. Belmonte called me aside to say she was moving me to the fl ag-ship Philippine Star as a Defense reporter. We didnt understand it at the time but when her rea-

sons became evident, we can only remember that episode with immense gratitude.

We got to keep our job which was fortuitous because a few weeks later, mutinous troops would mount the Decem-ber 1989 putsch that became the most serious challenge against the government and helped defi ne my work in media.

We doubt the Washington Post realizes the full extent of its infl uence over countless people through the years. Some specu-late the Grahams and the Posts stockholders were trying to pre-serve their stakes. The papers fi nances have been hemorrhag-ing for the past six years and reportedly stood to lose $40 mil-lion this year.

For people like us whove observed and admired the Washington Post, fi rst from a vantage across the Pacifi c and now up-close, this institution stands for values that epitomize

Opinion

Continued on page 30

Two Books & a Doc

So far this summer, our community has feasted on some extraordinary cul-tural treats, which more than make up for the unbearable heat in June and July. And Im not referring to the gaudy sex scan-dals which may have provided much-needed distractions. Or not. But thanks to PFCs family-oriented picnic, this towns puri-tan instincts remain untainted. Or not.

Still, theres reason to cheer. The cicadas stayed away from our neck of the woods. The grand children romped for a few days in our neighborhood, drawing out the other kids in the block and giving us a rare chance to get to know our neigh-bors better. And then theres the ampalaya garden, promising to stay lush and green through the dog days of August.

And now to the hot stuff.

The Mango Bride. Highly-acclaimed novelist Marivi Soliven Blanco, a Palanca Memo-rial Awardee, read excerpts from her recently-published book at the Philippine Embassys Romulo Hall one evening in June. The book launching was an auspicious occasion, said Minister Maria Andrelita S. Aus-tria, Deputy Chief of Mission , because it was on the same day the US Senate passed a bill that gives hope to many of our kaba-bayan who have had to deal with the uncertainty of their situa-tions. The book, after all, is the story of two Filipina immigrants and about the Filipino Ameri-can experience, which is about fi nding your place, and making it your own, Ms. Austria noted. It is about giving back and enriching the community we live in, while also achieving our full-est potentials. Well said, Maam Austria.

Sponsored by the alumni associations of Ateneo and UP, the reading and discussion that followed raised questions about the Filipino American communi-tys lack of visibility in the Amer-ican mainstream. Shocking, isnt

it? But no worries. Thankfully, theres a young generation of Fil-ipino Americans today who are staking their claim as Americans, unburdened by the cultural bag-gages that have kept the older generation thriving in a culture of self-imposed disempower-ment.

So, to gain more insights about the Filipino American experience, grab this book, avail-able at Amazon. Marivi is an acute observer of Philippine life, wrote a Manila reviewer, and youll be mesmerized by the books sweeping telenovela quality from the upstairs/downstairs struggle (complete with a secret and forbidden love affair), to the surreal, tragic and sometimes comic realities that befall the main characters in Manila and California . Hot stuff.

MARTIAN PANAHON

VIRUS. What does the future frontier of Mars hold for the bold, hardy and adventurous Filipinos?

FilAm community leader Mitzi Pickard posed the question during a discussion about a sci-fi novel written by Kevin Owens of Arlington Va.

Apparently, the planet most like Earth in the solar system holds much promise. Recent news accounts confi rm that Mars could indeed have supported microbial life a stunning dis-covery made by the NASA rover Curiosity after making a dare-devil landing on Mars a year ago. So, as you can imagine, the excitement over Curiositys amazing fi ndings makes Kevins book timely indeed, says Mitzi, President of the Philippine Arts, Letters & Media (PALM) Coun-cil, which hosted the event along with PAFC at Sweet City Des-serts one recent Sunday after-noon.

Kevin, an active member of the National Space Society and the Planetary Society, sets a scene two hundred years in the future where Filipino miners from the

Continued on page 30Continued on page 30

August 15, 2013 31

August 15, 20133232

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