Notebook

By: Elsie Sy-Niebar

*MARCH 20 IS PRIMARY ELECTION DAY IN ILLINOIS!

*Former IL Gov. Pat Quinn (D), is making a come back as IL State Attorney General; please… let’s get him on the ballot on the March 20, primary election

*IL Governatorial race is crowded with millionaires, DEMOCRATS: Sen. Daniel Biss; businessman Chris Kennedy, descendant from the wealthy Kennedys; and big time entrepreneur/ philanthropist J.B. Pritzker! And of course, current Gov. Bruce Rauner (GOP)

*Goodbye to our beloved Friend, Merly Famarin Perricone

*Fate of the 800,000+ DACA ‘immigrants’ — 10,000 of whom are Filipinos, hangs on a balance …

*’AMERICA is built by immigrants’: Jerry Clarito, Fil-Am Human Rights Alliance

HAPPY, HAPPY and BLESS-FULL NEW YEAR 2018 to our dear readers of Via Times Newsmagazine, now celebrating its 34th Year of service to the Filipino Americans nationwide (through subscriptions), as well as all other Asian Americans in Chicagoland. I salute our Publisher and Chief Editor, Ms. Veronica B. Leighton for her undaunting spirit to reach out to advertisers so Via Times can bring to our readers “what’s happening” in our Filipino American and other Asian American communities, in the mainstream and Philippine news back home. Every month.

As one of the “pioneer” staffers since its founding (and the only fi rst staffer left today?), I saw how hard Veronica worked to meet the deadlines, reminding us of Deadlines, and even delivers the copies with her very dedicated “Signifi cant HeartMate” Joe Mauricio. I salute you, guys, for your perseverance! More importantly, I enjoy working with you. Me, as a “Young Once” Via Times is my best “brain therapy” and “Peace Book” connection with friends and the public. God bless VT and all of us, The Staff!

The Year 2018 is Election Year! The Primary Election is on March 20. General election is on November 6. Our chance to let go of politicians we voted but failed to serve us — the People. Who, instead of “Government for the People, By the People and Of the People, it became “Government Fool the People; Buy the People; and Off the People!

Introducing few of the Major Candidates! DEMOCRAT State Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s decision not to run after serving for FIVE consecutive terms, opened the gate wider at the start but left only three candidates, for the IL State Atty general — State Sen. Kwame Raoul, State Rep. Scott Drury and former Gov. Pat Quinn. the most familiar name on the Democratic primary ballot.

Candidates for the Illinois Attorney General Republican primary, are Erika Harold — a Harvard- educated attorney and former “Miss America” who has the backing of the state’s Republican Party, and Gary Grasso, a DuPage County Board member.

Former Gov. Pat Quinn, is the fi rst one to reach out to this VT columnist. Oh, well, the former Governor is no-stranger to the ASIAN AMERICANS particularly the Filipino Americans. In 2016, he was one of the Awardees at the FILIPINO AMERICAN ASIAN HALL OF FAME, annual project of Via Times and CPRTV. (My honor as his nominator.) Years back, with Rudy Urian leading, Bart Moy, and a host of other Asian American “Political Empowerment Soldeirs”, we worked hard for Pat Quinn when he fi rst ran as Illinois State Treasurer and won! But his being a Lieutenant Gov to controversial Gov. Rod Blagojevich, had “painted” him a not-so-goodcanvas, he lost to current Gov. Bruce Rauner by 46% in the 2014 re-election bid.

Here’s former Gov. Pat Quinn’s perspective and vision — why he is running for the Illinois Attorney General offi ce, in an interview with him:

“Yes, Elsie. I am running for Illinois Attorney General. As an Attorney myself, I believe that the Attorney General should be a lawyer for the people. Our Illinois Attorney General must be a strong voice for our consumers, workers, taxpayers, and voters.”

Pat Quinn is a long-time champion of progressive reform, consumer and environmental rights, and standing up for everyday people. Throughout his career, he had fought to protect middle-class families, as well as “the Ordinary People”. As a private citizen, Quinn founded the Citizens Utility Board that works to lower electricity rates and provide better service from the state’s investor-owned electric, gas, and telephone companies. It is now the largest consumer group in the state. Quinn also led the largest petition drive in Illinois history that stopped a century-old practice which allowed Illinois legislators to collect their entire annual salary on their first day in office.

“Our campaign is not supported by big utilities, big banks, or powerful economic interests that want to get their hold on the Attorney General’s office”, Quinn pointed out.

When Quinn took the oath of office as Governor, Illinois was in the midst of a triple crisis of government corruption at the highest level, budget instability, and economic collapse caused by the deepest recession since the Great Depression. Then, Gov. Quinn created jobs and got the state budget back on track. As governor, he signed into law important consumer protections and the strongest ethics laws in state history. He worked hard to pass and signed laws expanding voting rights in Illinois.

Pat Quinn added: “I am running for Attorney General because Illinois needs a leader who will stand up to Donald Trump’s unconstitutional and hateful policies that hurt Illinois residents and families. As Attorney General, I will forcefully defend the rights of all Illinois residents against Donald Trump and his shameful culture war. I will promote affordable healthcare for all and stand up for jobs and a living wage.’

“As the Attorney General, I will protect families from unfair utility rate hikes; crack down on corporate polluters, and fight on behalf of consumers against unfair corporate practices. I will promote integrity in government at all times,” Pat Quinn concluded.

THE ILLINOIS GOVERNORS’ RACE this year’s primary election is a Millionaires’ star-studdied platform. Under the DEMOCRAT banner are — Daniel Biss, State Senator with; Running mate: Litesa Wallace, State Representative Chris Kennedy, former Chairman of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees and member of the Kennedy family; J. B. Pritzker, billionaire venture capitalist and philanthropist, new state Rep. Juliana Stratton, his running mate for the 2018 primary election.

One Great and humble Lady, whom I am privileged to be her friend, is current Cook County Recorder of Deeds, KAREN YARBROUGH. She is running for the CLERK OF COUNTY position being vacated by Mr. David Orr after so many years of service. As of press time, I haven’t heard from the Republican side who’s running against Karen? UNOPPOSED? I won’t be surprised. THUMBS UP, our dear KAIBIGAN. Pilipino word for: FRIEND. She is no stranger to our Fil-Am community. Once she was guest speaker at our Philippine Independence Week and at the Dennis J. Niebar Charitable fundraiser, in memory of my late hubby, a Cook County employee.

NIGHTMARES of the DACA ‘American Dream’ Quo Vadis, Dreamers?

The NewYear 2018 is the loneliest and saddest New Year celebration among the over 8,000 DACA immigrants, 10,000 of whom are Filipinos! All because of President Donald Trump’s announcement last September that he was rescinding DACA or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, implemented by former US President Barack Obama in 2012. Officially called “Dreamers”, DACA gave “freedom” to hundreds of thousands “Dreamers” to come out from the dark, free from fear of deportation, were able to study and work legally in the United States.

President Trump put the fate of the Dreamers in the hands of Congress, and gave them until March 5, 2018 to find a legislative solution. A federal judge in California was braved enough to stand up against Trump by blocking temporarily, the decision of the Trump administration to end DACA, soon. Trump has said that any deal to extend DACA must include plans for a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico.

DACA VOICE from our FILIPINO AMERICAN COMMUNITY: “Over 122 young people lose protections from deportations per day following the Trump Administration’s rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Failure to pass the Clean Dream Act puts over 42,000 Illinois residents and over 800,000 young people nationally at risk of deportation. According to many polls, 86% of Americans support legislation that will keep DACAmented individual in the U.S. Last January 9, a U.S. judge in San Francisco temporarily barred President Donald Trump’s administration from ending a program shielding young people brought illegally by their parents to the United States, from deportation.

“As an immigrant rights advocate, I want to see our elected officials in Congress pass a clean DREAM Act and to ensure that immigrant families are protected. Our community is an Immigrant Community. We must continue to organize and fight for the passage of a clean DREAM Act. Trump’s disparaging remarks against certain immigrants are divisive. Historically, we know that immigrants, wherever they come from, have been contributing to the progress of America. Indeed, it has always been said that America was built by immigrants. Therefore, promoting racist and xenophobic policies will only divide the country.” Jerry Clarito, co-convenor of Filipino American Human Rights Alliance and AFIRE retired Executive Director.

GOODBYE, to our very dear Friend, Merly Famarin Perricone: Sadness swept in the hearts of those who learned about the death of the late MERLY FAMARIN PERRICONE, R.N., last December 24th, perhaps, few hours before the whole Christendom celebrated the Birth of the Holy Child, Jesus, our Lord, to Whom Merly dedicated her life in service to God. Merly was a Beautiful Woman, heart and soul. Soft-spoken and very calm, she still smiled although she was displeased, at times. She was a lady whom I haven’t heard criticized or put down someone. As a nurse, she was very caring to all her patients. She was the Best Mom to her children and Best Wife to her beloved late husband, Frank Perricone, whom she took care ‘till death did them part.” To entertain Frank, she took him with her to parties with his oxygen tank on. They were always together at parties enjoying their “good ol’ days as a young happy couple or as parents to their kids. Merly Perricone was a Great Wife and Mom; a sincere Friend; a dedicated “Florence Nightingale” who had helped saved many lives not only as a Nurse but as a “Comforter” to those in grief. Merly in her own small but sincere ways — have been a COMMUNITY SERVICE VOLUNTEER, starting from the organization she was affiliated with like the Philippine Nurses Ass’n. and the FILIPINO INTERNATIONAL COUPLE SOCIETY (FICS) which the then, Margie Hart (now Boerema) and I have co-founded. (FICS was formed to “battle” against the American media’s stereotyping and prejudicial name-calling of foreign women specially from Asia married to Americans — as “Airmail Brides.) She was also president of the Bayanihan Sampaguita Lions Club; the Philippine American Cultural Foundation; etc. Her parents were the late Francisco Famarin, Sr., and Leonila Famarin, of Romblon. Merly and Frank were the loving parents of their children (and their better-half) as follows: Glenn (Heather); Frankie (Mary); and Jeff. Their loving grandkids are Glenn, Jr., Vace and Gemma. (Sorry if I missed out some. My follow up phone calls to the family were not answered.) To the Perricone Children: YOUR MOM WAS MY BEST FRIEND and almost my Sister. I feel your sorrows for her loss. However, she is now in the Hands of the Lord with your beloved Dad. Enjoy both their Memories. Keep their values and love running in your respective families. God bless you all. (Tita Elsie Sy-Niebar).

My heartfelt condolences also go to the families of the late Cesar Reyes, M.D., Sally Amiscarray Abuton, and Leah Borromeo. I tried calling these families for information. Understandably, they were in deep grief they have no time to return my calls. Cesar, Sally and Leah are now with their Maker. Amen.#

HAPPY ST. VALENTINE’s DAY to All! Coming up!#