Notebook

By: Elsie Sy-Niebar

 

*Chinatown Youth stand up against smoking, Asian Health Coalition says…

*Filipino World War II Vets honored on Bataan Day in Washington, DC

*Hats off to the PMAC ‘Lolas’ (Grandmas) and ‘Lolos’ (Grandpas) for their successful ‘Grandkids Fashion Show’ extravaganza

*Total overseas voters registered at the Consulate General: approximately 13,000. Election starts April 9.

*Dateline Philippines: ‘Kay Binay pa rin kami”; we will stick for Binay”- phone message from RP

*Chicago gun violence calamity: 776 people killed since January; Chicago wasted halfmillion taxpayers’money to search new Chicago Police Commander, whom Mayor Emanuel dumped in favor of his own pick

*Yahoo!This is Rey Sapnu from the ‘Pinas’ *PIWC ‘Beauty Queens’ named

 

Washington, D.C. Lt. Celestino Almeda, 99, of Gaithersburg, MD. and Private Rodolfo Panaglima, 86, of Arlington, Va., were honored last April 9, at a public ceremonies marking the 74th anniversary of the fall of Bataan, one of the critical moments of World War II in the Pacific. Observed every year on April 9, “Araw ng Kagitingan” (Day of Valor) commemorates the heroism of more than 260,000 Filipino and American soldiers who fought valiantly in Bataan and endured the 65-mile Bataan “Death March in 1942.” Almeda and Panaglima are among the four survivors who reside in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Today, less than 18,000 veterans remain, many of them ailing and disabled, and dying at the rate of 50 veterans a day.

At a commemoration program hosted by the Philippine Embassy, Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret), renewed a call to Congress to pass the Filipino Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Award of 2015. “We want to make sure that enough members of Congress in the House and Senate hear our voices and pass this bill this year before more veterans pass on,” Taguba said. “Tonight’s commemoration is an opportunity for us to win more converts and to build momentum towards fuller recognition of Filipino veterans and fuller incorporation into the American story.” Taguba is chairman of the Fil-Vets Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP) which spearheads a national initiative to educate the American people about the Filipino World War II veterans to obtain national recognition for their wartime service. Speaking on behalf of Philippine Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., Charge d’affaires and Minister Patrick Chuasoto noted that “our veterans have rendered a service that has no equal and one which we can only hope to repay by living up to the promise of a free, peaceful and civilized nation… The sacrifice of our veterans to forge a lasting peace has ensured the path to economic prosperity.”(Contributed by Jon Melegrito, FilVetREP, press relations officer) ***

Chicago’s Chinatown Kids Standing Up Against Tobacco: ASIAN HEALTH COALITION: Last month, members of the Students Council at Haines Elementary School distributed Chinese and English “window clings” to remind Chinatown businesses, and their customers, that there is “No Smoking Within 15 feet” of entryways. As part of a nationwide campaign to increase awareness on the dangers of tobacco and second-hand smoke, the students are helping promote Chicago’s Clean Indoor Air Ordinance. The current version of the ordinance prohibits smoking as well as “vaping,” or the use of an e-cigarette, in virtually all enclosed public places as well as within 15 feet of the entrances of these establishments.

Haines students are part of CASAP (Coalition for Asian Substance Abuse Prevention), a local grassroots program to reduce the harmful effects of substance use in Chinatown. The students were accompanied by Jessica Kung, current 1st runner-up at the Chinatown Miss Friendship Ambassador Pageant.

“Every day, these kids walk through a haze of second-hand smoke just to get to school. We’re proud to see them stand up for themselves on Kick Butts Day and encourage the community to stand with them,” said Angela Forfia, Program Director at the Asian Health Coalition. “We’ve made amazing progress in Chicago to reduce youth smoking. Only 10- percent of high-school youth in Chinatown smoke, which is one of the lowest rates in the nation.”

“What a great way for students to be empowered on speaking up, standing out, and seizing control against tobacco,” added Catherine Moy, Assistant Principle at Haines. “If we can prevent our kids from smoking, we can make the next generation tobacco-free.” This past month, Chicago also successfully passed legislation to raise the smoking age to 21, increase taxes on tobacco products like cigarillos, and eliminate tobacco discounts.

Chicago’s Clean Indoor Air Ordinance prohibits smoking within 15-feet of bars and restaurants; recreational facilities; government buildings; public transportation facilities; clubs; lobbies; reception areas, hallways and other common- use areas in public buildings, apartment buildings, and condominium buildings. Additionally, the law empowers owners and managers of buildings and other spaces not covered by the ordinance to declare their buildings and other spaces to be smoke-free.

The ordinance is enforced by the Chicago Department of Public Health and the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection. For more information, please contact Angela at (312) 372-7070 or angela@asianhealth.org. Asian Health Coalition (AHC): Established in 1996, AHC is a 501(c) 3 non-profit with a mission to improve the health and wellness of the Asian American community through advocacy, technical assistance, community-based education and research. To learn more, visit www.asianhealth.org *** “Philippine election for overseas voters starts April 9, the Philippine Consulate General announced: “On April 9, we shall commence our solemn duty of administering the overseas voting for the 2016 Philippine National Elections and help preserve the will of our electorate,” Consul General Generoso D.G. Calonge announced, lately.

The Consulate General of the Philippines in Chicago has jurisdictions over the following states: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The total overseas voters registered at the Consulate General is approximately 13,000. The Consulate advised voters: To make sure that their ballots are counted and not invalidated, voters should place them in the official return envelope, seal it using the official sticker seal and sign the envelope on the designated area. In addition, all ballots must be received by the Consulate General not later than 4 a.m. Chicago time on May 9, at 5:00 p.m.

“The entire voting period runs for one month starting on April 9th. We urge our kababayans who are registered overseas voters to take advantage of this opportunity and not wait until the proverbial eleventh hour to decide and cast their votes,” Consul General Generoso Calonge said. For more details about the upcoming overseas voting, call the Consulate General at tel. no. (312) 583-0621 ext. 26 or 27 and email address: chicagopcg_ov@att.net. ***

“KAY BINAY PA RIN KAMI” (WE WILL STICK FOR BINAY):

While beating my deadline, my brother, Roselo Villanueva, a former Barangay Captain in Makati City, called to tell me – “Nang Elsie, kay Binay pa rin kami! Si Binay ay matulungin sa mga mahirap kagaya ko. As a Mayor of Makati, he made Makati, the richest city in the Philippines! Free uniform and school supplies for students; free medical care for poor people specially seniors like me; and Food Bags to almost everyone during Christmas Day. Kahit anumang paninira ang sabihin ng kanyang mga Kalaban sa pagka-Presidente ng Pilipinas, Kay Binay pa rin Kami!”(Big Sis Elsie: We STAND FOR BINAY! A man who has a big heart for the masses like me. … whatever bad accusations his opponents would say about him, WE WILL REMAIN STRONG WITH OUR SUPPORT FOR VP BINAY!)”

I met Philippine VP Binay in the Philippines last December when he visited my Alma Mater, Silliman University by the sea, in Dumaguete City. According to SU president Dr. Ben Malayang, “it was not a campaign visit.” VP Binay’s visit was one of his national visits to educational institutions in the country. VP Binay had an-hour Q & A dialogue with the Silliman U students. Meanwhile, Binay faces corruption allegations stemming from 30-year rule over Makati, the Philippines’ richest city. Defending himself against those allegations – he said those accusations “are politically motivated.” ***

From our Kababayan REY SAPNU: Rey Sapnu, who? Oh, yeah, Chicago Kababayans. But of course you remember REY SAPNU, the last president of the FILIPINO AMERICAN COUNCIL OF CHICAGO (FACC) who hung in there against odds to keep the doors of the Dr. Jose Rizal Center open! Like keeping the traditional celebration of the Philippine Independence Day complete with beauty queens held at the hotel ballrooms! After Rey stepped down, the Independence Day celebration was reduced to a Cocktail Party at the Rizal Center Hall attended by a handful of people. Lately, I “met Rey” in one of those shared emails from Don Azarias.

Wrote Rey: “Hi Elsie. Greetings from Malate, Manila. I now live in a condominium facing Manila Bay on Roxas Blvd. near the famous Aristocrat Restaurant.” My response: “I was in Da Pinas last December but I had no clue where to reach you. I was kind of lonesome having no friends except longtime- friends: two millionaire older ladies, accompanied with yayas and personal drivers.

REY’S SASSY RESPONSE: “Gee, am glad to hear that you can take care of yourself, Elsie, my friend. Determination is one of your attributes. You are really a strong woman…unlike the milyonarya friends of yours…hahaha. At least, ikaw wala kang yaya. Yes, I do miss Chicago very much.

Looking back as a longtime resident of the Windy City, Chicago always catches my attention. I get amused from it all – the people, the politics, the good and the bad. I had my share, thanks for the memories, Chicago. Now I am on the next chapter of my life. A life at home in our Motherland. I remember a friend here telling me: “40 years ka na sa U.S. nagbalik ka pa?”(You’ve lived 40 years in the U.S. you still came back (to the Philippines.) Sabi ko (I said), “where else, Pare? Here, I am a first-class citizen. Masarap gastusin ang $pension ko ditto. (So nice to spend our $pension here. Am very happy spending my golden years here. Masarap mag-retire dito in my remaining golden years. For $50 a month mayroon akong alalay 24 hours a day.”(For $50 a month, I got a 24-hr helper. “I am a cycling enthusiast now, a member of POLKIT cycling team with 130 members which plan bike tours to Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Bulacan and Bataan. My wife, Mila (R.N.), will be joining me soon here. We plan to travel to other Asian countries. So much fun here guys. To my friends who still remember me, if by any chance you happen to visit Pinas, get in touch with me. Let’s have a cup of coffee and reminisce.” Rey extended the same invitation to Veronica and me. Thanks, Rey.Will do. On my next visit to Da Pinas. ***

SOME DEPRESSING NEWS ABOUT OUR BELOVED STATE OF ILLINOIS and OUR WINDY CITY: * Gov. Bruce Rauner and Speaker Mike Madigan are on a stalemate, thus, leading Illinois to its Doom’s Day. According to the latest data released by the U.S. Bureau of Census: Cook County lost more than 10,000 residents in 2015, the largest number of any county in the nation. *2016: “CHICAGO’s ‘MOST VIOLENT YEAR’: At least 775 people have been shot in the city in 2016 during the first three months; which is 80-percent higher than the number (419) in March last year. A DNAinfo analysis of city shootings showed 650 separate shooting incidents in Chicago through March 28, the highest number of shootings to start a year during this decade. *Chicago cuts funding for schools, increased funding for violence: The Public Schools are in funding jeopardy, teachers held strike.REAL ESTATE TAX going sky-high! *Chicago spent $500,000 for the “Search of a Top Cop” only to be turned down by Mayor Rahm Emanuel for his “pick” high-ranking police officer Eddie Johnson. “We have a level of shootings and level of gun violence on the South and the West side that is unacceptable,” the mayor said. “Eddie Johnson has all those qualities to help stop the violence and improve the morale of the Chicago Police Department” the mayor said.

MOST DEPRESSING “sassy and zany” TOP NEWS: Our forthcoming national elections for OUR NEXT PRESIDENT, starring GOPs billionaire DONALD TRUMP; TED CRUZ; and GOV. KASICH. Da DEMs’ side: Former First Lady and Secretary of State HILARY RODHAM CLINTON, who played social media using government secret emails like her own; and Gov. BERNIE SANDERS. The way these candidates throw personal insults among them reminds me of the election campaigns in our dear Philippines which perhaps, inspired the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos to declare Martial Law in 1972! ***

COME JUNE, WE, the FILIPINOS and FILIPINO AMERICANS, will be celebrating our Philippine Independence Day. So far, I only heard from the PIWC (Philippine Independence Week Committee) “Beauty Queens” committee chair, the indefatigable Carlota Domantay, who named her beauty queens as follows: JOY ALEXANDER, “Mrs. Philippines”; ZARINA DE LEON, “Miss Philippines”; MELANIE CARLSON, “Mrs. PIWC”; ISABELA BATAGLIA, “Miss Illinois” NERISAMIDALLA; “Mrs. Chicago” NELLY LEQUIN DY; “Little Miss Philippines”; EMMA CALLADA; and “Little Miss PIWC” KAYLA FLORES.

Coronation will be on Saturday, June 18, PIWC GALA NIGHT at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Coming up soon: Satuday, April 23, go Hawaiian at the CHICAGO FILIPINO AMERICAN LIONS “Dancing with the Lions & The Chicago Lighthouse” Hawaiian Night, at the Hilton Northbrook. Call Lion Yoly Zoleta at 773- 677- 5010. ALOHA!

Press releases are most welcome. Deadline: on or before 2nd day of the coming month. Is the Virgen “Mama Mary” sending her Message to our Lady Publisher, Veronica? I’ll tell you next issue.

HAPPY SPRING!!! Give Thanks to God…always. ##

Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret) calls on Congress to pass the Congressional Gold Medal bill. Photo by Bing Cardenas Branigin

Filipino World War II Veterans Celestino Almeda and Rudy Panaglima (3rd and 4th from left) are flanked by Philippine Embassy officials and Philippine military officers followed a wreath-laying ceremony at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Bing Cardenas Branigin)

Students from Haines Elementary School and staff from the Asian Health Coalition, joined Jessica Yung (at extreme left), 1st Runner-Up for the Miss Chinatown Pageant, to post signs on storefront windows announcing the new Ordinance which prohibits smoking within 15 feet of public entryways in Chicago.(Edwin Chandrasekar, Asian Health Coalition Executive Director)

BATAAN DAY Birthday Celebrant– Vilma Villanueva Molina (3rd from left) was treated to a Luncheon Cruise along Lake Michigan aboard Spirit of Chicago — by her Big Sis Elsie (this columnist) and son, John Paul Molina ( in photo), last Saturday, April 9. A-board was a “Rainbow of People” — tourists, locals, sweethearts, friends and families enjoying the Chicago Spring and celebrating happy occasions in their lives. Excellent service by the staff. Good food and dancing as you like it — as you wish at your own tempo — with your Special Someone. For the FUN of it! Or even minus a partner like I did! Never alone in a Crowd of Happy Feet! Go cruising…

Congratulations to Dr. Nits Rubio, Chairperson of the very joyful and successful “Spring Extravaganza Fashion Show” featuring their cutie Grandchildren… followed by the Grand Dad and Grand Moms in their “Filipiniana lovely gowns and barongs. The Happy Family Show was held last Sunday, April 3, at the Hilton DoubleTree in Alsip, Illinois. See all the pics on the special two-page spread story and pictorial. (E.Pavel

(1) BalikBayan Retiree, Rey Sapnu, former president of the Filipino American Center of Greater Chicago and VT Sprts Columnist, is now enjoying his retirement in the Philippines as a member of a Cyclist Club. Looks like retirement in our Homeland recaptures the youthful Rey! (2) Students from Haines Elementary and staff from the Asian Health Coalition joined Jessica Yung, 1st Runner Up from the Miss Chinatown Pageant to post signs on storefront windows on the new rules which prohibit smoking within 15 feet of public entryways in Chicago.(3) HAPPY 96th Birthday (March 30) to Mr. Gabriel Bonje, shown cutting his birthday cake with grandson Andrew and wife, Nene Bonje,during the Sunday Fellowship lunch at Faith Community Presbyterian Church in Chicago. The Bonjes are the parents of Dr. Neil Bonje ( in Chicago) and Atty. Gamliel Bonje, who practices in Bohol, Philippines.

Belated Congratulations to Kristine Abogado, one of our lovely young Members at Faith Community Presbyterian Church, Chicago. Accompanied by her loving step Dad David Rickert, she went home to the Philippines last December to exchange “I Do” with her childhood sweetheart. In photo from left are: her sis Shayne Anne Abogado; Dad David Rickert; the bride Kristine Abogado-Abad, the groom Eric Abad, and bride’s brotherWinnard Philip Abogado