Notebook

By: Elsie Sy-Niebar

 

*Four against incumbent Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Feb. 24!

*Rahm Emanuel, ‘Mayor for the Elite?’ Who gifted him his $30M political war chest?

*Goodbye to Kababayans Aster Bhandari and Joe Sarmiento…

*Year 2015 is the Year of the Goat or Sheep in the Chinese Lunar Calendar

*Watch for the ‘magical transformation’ of the Rizal Center, soon! *Reminiscence of “St. Valentines” Magic Moments…

On FEBRUARY 24, Chicago voters would troop to the polls to elect their “May’r” for the next four years. This will put to a scalding test whether Mayor Rahm Emanuel is a one-timer Mayor or is on to track of the Legendary Daley’s political foothold in Chicago. Former Mayor Richard M. Daley, whom Emanuel had succeeded, opted not to run (or retire?) following the death of his wife, Maggie, after serving Chicago for over two decades. Had Mayor Rich Daley decided to run, BIG CHANCE for his Victory!

One of the most common complaints from the “Ordinary People/Voters” against Emanuel is: “Mayor Emanauel has NO TRANSPARENCY in the Neighborhood.” This columnist agrees 101%! As a former Political Foot Soldier and later, a Chicago City public servant for the needy, I say without any reservations that the former mayoral administrations, particularly that of Mayor Richard M. Daley, was very community- oriented. His office celebrated Ethnic Community Heritage Month celebrations, like the Asian American Heritage Month, the Philippine Independence Day Reception, and all other ethnic communities’ historical independence celebrations .

Mayor Rahm butchered all the ethnic communities celebrations, and left one “Umbrella” commission to handle all ethnic communities. Since its inception under Adolfo Hernandez, I haven’t heard anything about it. And gone were all community events heritage celebrations, except of course, by “mainstream” ethnic communities like the African Americans and the Hispanics, two very strong political power in the mainstream politics. Come to think of it, ethnic receptions are the only time of the year when the mayor can meet up with his constituents, who are mostly Community Leaders. More importantly, this is the only opportunity when the Constituents would meet their Mayor in person.

“This Mayor does not care about the Neighborhoods,” said his Hispanic opponent, Cook County Commissioner, Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, at the Channel 11 political forum, last February 4, sponsored by the Chicago City Club.

Willie Wilson, an African American “rags-to-riches” millionaire candidate, calls Mayor Emanuel a “Mayor for the Elite.” According to political critics and his mayoral opponents, Emanuel’s “elite connections have vested interest in some city contracts; they are the top contributors to his $30 million political war chest. Emanuel’s political TV commercials were on very early during the election campaign months. At press time, two weeks before the election, I have not seen one TV commercial of his four opponents: Jesus Garcia, Hispanic; Willie Wilson and Dock Wall, African Americans; and Robert Fioretti, of Polish and Italian descent.

CANDIDATES’ FORUM ON WTTW CH 11: Last February 4, all four candidates – Emanuel, Wilson, Fioretti and Garcia, appeared on a “Forum” hosted by Phil Ponce. Following are brief bios of the candidates:

INCUMBENT CHICAGO MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL is the 55th mayor of the city of Chicago since 2011. Prior to becoming mayor, Emanuel served as the White House Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama and had previously served as Senior Advisor to former President Bill Clinton’s President’s Policy and Strategy Committee. As mayor, Emanuel made some tough choices necessary to secure Chicago’s future as a global capital. He added more than 200 hours to the school day and year; implemented full-day kindergarten for every Chicago child; reduce violence in the neighborhoods; attracted companies to Chicago; etc. Mayor Emanuel graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1981 and received a Master’s Degree in Speech and Communication from Northwestern University in 1985. He is married to Amy Rule; they have three children.

Willie Wilson is an African American, product of the cotton and sugar cane fields of Louisiana, who managed to create a most impressive multimillion dollar empire, a journey that began with only twenty cents in his pocket, and big dreams in his head. He had been penniless and was stranded numerous times. Today, he donates hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to small churches and community programs across the United States. He owns five McDonald’s restaurants within two and a half years; he is the founder and producer of the first nationally-syndicated African American gospel entertainment program on commercial television, now in its 20th year; and founder and CEO of one of America’s fastest growing international medical supply companies. He is the recipient of a Doctor of Divinity from Mt. Carmel Theological Seminary. Wilson has lived in Chicago since 1965, a father of four grown children . He is proud of his success “which comes from perseverance and hard work.”

Robert Fioretti was born and raised on the South Side, the son of a Polish-American mother and an Italian immigrant father. A civil rights attorney and progressive leader on the Chicago City Council, Bob believes it’s time ordinary Chicagoans had an ally in the Mayor’s office. He’s never been afraid to stand up to the political establishment, and he’ll fight to make our neighborhoods safer, clean up city government and re-unite our city as one Chicago. As a practicing attorney, Bob has been involved in more than 500 civil rights cases, he has been appointed in numerous cases as a Special Assistant Attorney General of Illinois and a Special Assistant State’s Attorney. Bob is a recipient of various public service awards, among them are — “Legislator of the Year” ;” Best Aldermanic Voting Record Award” and “Defender of Public Schools” the Chicago Teachers Union.

Jesus Garcia: Immigrating with his parents from Durango, Mexico at the age of ten, Jesus Garcia has lived since then in the communities of Pilsen and Little Village. He was first elected to the Chicago City Council in 1986 as a reformer and supporter of Mayor Harold Washington and was among Mayor Washington’s most trusted allies.. In 1992, he was elected as the frist Mexican American who served two terms as State Senator, then as Cook County Commissioner of the 7th District Jesus Garcia earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and went on to acquire a Master’s degree in Urban Planning. Chuy served as a Fellow at DePaul University and as adjunct professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago in the Departments of Political Science and Latino and Latin American Studies. Chuy founded several non-profit organizations to serve less advantaged people and communities throughout Chicago.

Chuy Garcia lives in Little Village with his wife Evelyn and dog Mia. He has three adult children.

Glaring issues brought out by the three opponents of Mayor Rahm against his administration: his failure to make good of his campaign promises during his first terms “to hire 1000 police officers to serve the neighborhood with ongoing, escalating crimes;” closure of several public schools; his indifference to the Neighborhoods; his concentration on the “elite” who have vested interest in the city contracts; lack of job opportunities; raise of minimum wage which is contradicted by other candidates “because the city has no money to afford it.”

Racial prejudices robbed on, when Willie Wilson (African American) commented on the issue about his fellow African American Aldermen who are supporting Emanuel, when he made this comment at Forum: “To the Whiteys here, I’m letting you know, I ain’t prejudiced.” This comment which stirred up laughter among the audience, was flared up by the American media. Although Wilson denied he said this, he apologized, anyway in the media. See how POLITICS can be “HUMBLING?”

William “Dock” Wall was not present at the Ch 11 Forum. He is known as a “perennial candidate for Mayor.” He was a political supporter and Adviser to the late Mayor Harold Washington .

As of press time, the poll survey shows the mayor at 42 percent support, shy of the 50 percentplus- one majority, his need to win re-election. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia has 8 percent, Ald. Bob Fioretti at 10 percent, Willie Wilson at 7 percent; and William “Dock” Walls at 2 percent.

The City Club of Chicago, sponsor of the Forum, is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization whose members include prominent business, civic and government leaders in Chicago. The organization attracts those interested in civic responsibility, public issues, open political debate and networking opportunities. Founded in 1903, it is the longest-running civic forum in Chicago. The mission of the City Club of Chicago is to provide a forum for the discussion of civic and political issues in Chicago and Illinois. Today, the City Club of Chicago has over 1,600 members, including high-caliber politicians.

“The City Club forums have frequently garnered attention in the media, both locally and nationally. The City Club of Chicago sponsors events and makes its events and their content available to the public by all appropriate means. I encourage you to explore this new and improved website to learn more about the City Club and the benefits of membership, which is open to everyone,” said Jay D. Doherty, President. ***

With sadness, I want to share with our Fil-Am community the loss of two of our Kababayans (compatriots) the late Aster Glimane Bhandari and Joe Sarmiento.

Aster, a Registered Nurse, was the wife of Ben Bhandari, a businessman who owned a bridal store and other businesses. They are the loving parents of five successful children – two doctors, one nurse, one Illinois Asst. State’s Attorney, and a businessman. When Aster, retired from her nursing work, she took a long vacation to her beloved hometown, San Benito in Surigao del Norte. At the urging of her people, she ran for town mayor and won! (She had dual citizenship.)

Aster was town mayor from 2006 to 2010. She was being groomed to run as a Congresswoman, but Ben told her to come back home to Chicago.

The Bhandari Family had asked Via Times to write a Cover story on the “Celebration of the Life of Aster” in our April issue. To cutshort Aster’s heartbreaking story, last January 17, while she and Ben were vacationing in India, Ben’s nativeland, they had a cab accident. Aster lost her life, leaving Ben hospitalized from bodily injuries and broken bones from the accident.

A three-day wake was held in Chicago for Aster. Following her wishes when she was still enjoying the Gift of Life, Aster’s loving family flew her body back to San Benito, Surigao for burial. More on the “Celebration of the Life of Aster in our April edition. Meanwhile, please pray for her grieving family especially, for her beloved husband, Ben.

Another loss in our community was Joe Sarmiento, husband of Aida Sarmiento, a Registered nurse. As we all knew, Joe was a hard-working businessman in the travel industry. He owned TravelFast which he left to one of his daughters, Vicky.

Joe was a community leader, who would not bow down without being heard. Joe’s heartwarming trait I could not forget was his sense of humor. When I was a Bagong Salta sa Amerika” (Greenhorn in America), Joe told me this Joke/Story for my “lesson”. Joe’s story: “ when I was new in Chicago like you, during weekends, with other newcomers looking for a job, we invited ourselves for lunch or supper to our Kababayans’ apartments who were already settled.

We, the newcomers, were broke; we could not afford to buy American foods. In one of our visits, our Kababayan Host told us– “feel at home, there’s cooked rice and delicious canned goods in the cabinet. Help yourselves.” I found cans of sardines in the cabinet. I was excited to eat American sardines for the first time. I opened about three cans, they’re small, sautéed the contents with lots of tomatoes and onions. It tasted so good. The rice and tasty sardines filled our empty stomachs.

When we were about to leave, I asked our friend to tell us where we could buy those masarap at mura na sardinas (delicious and cheap sardines). He did. To check the name of the sardines, I took out a can from the cabinet and read the label. My stomach turned up when I read ‘Cat Food.” Anak ng tinapa! (Son of a gun!) I screamed and ran to the washroom to throw up! Sardinas pala ito ng pusa. (These are cat sardines!) Even our host/friend did not know that their ‘favorite sardines’ were for the cats! He never read the printed name on the can. So, Elsie, always read the label before buying anything in America, especially food,” Joe warned me.

Joe, you’ll be missed. Rest in Peace. (Please read Joe’s Memoriam sent by his family in this VT issue). ***

Soon, or perhaps this coming March, we will see the Rizal Center sprung like Spring! The officers, finally found someone who can help scrub the aging walls of the Filipino American Council of Chicago (FACC), the Original Name of this building which once stood like the “Filipinos’ City Hall in Chicago! And hopefully, memorialized our Early Manongs and Manangs (Early Filipinos in Chicago) who chipped in to erect their “Dream Landmark for the Filipino Americans in Chicago,” a Dream which is beginning to die like the Rizal Center edifice. Hopefully, this new “idea of revival” will work out. Good luck and God Bless… ***

Let us include in our prayers a PEACE-full resolution of the latest political “Brothers against Brothers Civil War” between Christians and Muslims in the Philippines which took the lives of 51 Christian soldiers and 17 Muslim soldiers. Let us pray that Pope Francis’ Effect of Love and Humility will sink deepest into the hearts and souls of our Filipino brothers and sisters back home. Amen.

Phil Ponce, of WTTW Ch 11, hosts the “Mayoral Forum” sponsored by the City Club of Chicago, held at Channel 11 studios last Wednesday, February 4. All set to respond to his questions are, from left: incumbent Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, opponents — Willie Wilson, Robert Fioretti and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia. Mayor Emanuel kept his cool while being battered by his three opponents and their Host, Phil. Another mayoral aspirant William “Dock” Walls did not join the Forum. (Photo by Elsie Sy-Niebar)

Phil Ponce asked to be pictured with Elsie Sy-Niebar, ViaTimes senior editor/columnist when she told him, “I watched you every night on ‘Chicago Tonight”, my favorite TV program.

Willie Wilson, 3rd from left, the most charming among the four mayoral candidates, asked one of his guys to shoot this photo while on his way to the Ch 11 studios before the “Mayoral Forum.” From left are Karen Yarbrough, Cook County Recorder of Deeds; Mrs. Wilson and husband-mayoral aspirant, Willie Wilson; and this columnist, Elsie Sy- Niebar. On a personal note, I admire the friendliness of Ms. Yarbrough; we’re like long-time friends in our first meeting at the Forum, she and her Chief-of-Staff dropped me home after the forum. Thank you, Karen. See you in spring at my backyard picnic served with your favorite Filipino foods. (Elsie)

The Rev. John Chu, of Faith Community Presbyterian Church, poses with the Guest Preacher, Pastor Anthony Harris, on a short vacation from his Military duty as Chaplin of the United States Army deployed in Afghanistan. Pastor Harris was a recipient (twice) of the Philippine Medical Association of Chicago (PMAC) Scholarship. He said: “I am very grateful for the help of the PMAC during those hard times when I was graduating from McCormick Theological Seminary. Special thanks to Dr. Roger Cave, chairman; Mrs. Norma Manankil, coordinator; and to my ‘Big Sis in the Lord’ Elsie Sy-Niebar, who recommended me to the PMAC. God bless you all.” (ESNphoto)

HAPPY LUNAR NEWYEAR 2015 to my long-time Asian American Friends who are Outstanding Leaders in their respective communities: Chantimar Sriaroon, Thai American Community, Me at center, and Paul Park, Korean American Community.

This photo of the late Asteria Glimane Bhandari, R.N. and former Mayor of San Benito, Surigao del Norte (2006-2010) and her husband, Ben Bhandari, could be their last photo in their formal attires. This was taken at the Filipino American 40th anniversary celebration last September 2014, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Rosemont, Illinois. (Photo by Rosie Reed) Aster was called by the Lord to “Come Home” last January 17, this year. (ESNiebar).

 

PIWC BEAUTY QUEENS: Above are some of the outgoing Philippine Independence Week Committee (PIWC) Beauty Queens, as well as the incoming PIWC 2015, from left to right are: Neriza Pineda, MRS. PIWC 2013; Tina Pumarada, Mrs. Illinois 2014; Divina Pineda, Mrs. Chicago 2012; and Sally Abuton, Mrs. Philippines 2004; Genalene Lopez, Mrs. PIWC 2015; Dhollie Morales Weill, Mrs. PIWC ?; Maritess Vern Wynkoop, Mrs. Illinois 2015; Jackie Torress Recino, Mrs. PIWC ?; Susan Francisco, Mrs. Chicago 2015; Morgan Fernandez Loxley, Miss PIWC 2015;Yoly Zoleta, Mrs. Philippines PIWC 2014; Lourdes Livas, Mrs. Philippines 2005; JetJet Obinia, Mrs. Philippines 2012; Jovy Siriani, Mrs. Illinois 2012; and Jane Canon, Mrs. Chicago 2012. The presentation was part of the program of PIWC 2015 “Kick Off” headed by Lindy Tan held last January 10 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. PIWC 2015 Executive Chair is Ellen Tan. Photo by Ernie Antonio, Jr.) My apology to the 2015 PIWC Beauty Queens whose identities were not clear to me even with the help of Lourdes Livas and Lindy Tan, who was then, in the Philippines. Leticia Freihaut, chairperson of the Beauty Queen Committee, never responded to my several emails and phone calls to identify the PIWC 2015 Queens. I don’t have all month to wait, after all I am just helping in the PIWC publicity. VIA TIMES DEADLINE is most important to us. (Elsie Sy-Niebar)