VIA Times – June 2014 Issue Vital News, Vibrant Views for Asian Americans in Chicago & Midwest
Join Chicagoland’s biggest celebration of Philippine culture! One of Chicagoland’s biggest celebrations of Philippine culture is coming to suburban Bolingbrook! Celebrate Philippine Independence Day at Piyesta Pinoy sa Bolingbrook, Saturday, June 21, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the Bolingbrook Village Hall and Town Center, 375 W. Braircliff Ave. Admission is free. There will be a parade of costumes, a dance competition, activity and craft booths, food and merchandise vendors, and a cultural tent for hands-on workshops! Catch Filipino American mainstays from the Navy Pier Piyesta: The Apuli Brothers, Chicago Angklung Rondalla Ensemble, Hataw Pinoy Chicago, Jeremiah Blu, L.E.D. Band, No Limits Band, PACF Performing Arts, PSA UIUC Barkada, Divine Rhythm, the Puzzle League, Samasama Project, Mark Tesoro, Nina Mae Vidal, James Agena, Audrey Esquivel, and Illustrations of Inquiry. Confirmed mainstream acts include Andrew Salgado, winner of the 2013 songwriting Pepsi Southern Original Competition, and concert opener for Toby Keith and the Eli Young Band; the Jessie White Tumbling Team and Ronald McDonald! Festival headliner is GMA International Kapuso primetime king and premiere leading man Dingdong Dantes, who stars in the upcoming teleserye “Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real” opposite Diamond Star Maricel Soriano. Piyesta sponsors GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA NewsTV International offer games and giveaways. Dance groups are invited to join the first-ever Piyesta Pinoy Dance Competition! To join, please visit piyestapinoy.com, or emailpiyestapinoy@ gmail.com. Join the “Split the Pot” raffle: 50% of proceeds benefit the Illinois Philippine Recovery Operations (ILPRO), a fundraiser under the 501(c)3 Philippine American Cultural Foundation (PACF). Tickets are $5 each. The other half of proceeds will go to three winners: First place, 25%, second place, 15% and third place, 10%. For more information on ILPRO, please visithttp://ilphrecoveryops.wordpress.com. At the cultural tent, try out a gangsa workshop with BIBBAK Illinois, an arts workshop with Healing Hearts for Haiyan and Philippine games with the Filipino American Community Health Initiative of Chicago. The Filipino American Historical Society will have historical artifacts on display. A trio of non-Filipino artists with Connection Art Project will also display art from their recent trip to the homeland. Other activities include a Philippine martial arts workshop, a jeepney workshop, photo booths, a kulintang workshop, and a visit with Ronald McDonald at the McDonald’s booth. Filipino dishes will be served by established Chicago businesses such as Uni-Mart. Piyesta Pinoy is presented by platinum sponsors Signature Event Designs, Three Horses Jasmine Rice, GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, the Philippine Consulate General, the Philippine American Cultural Foundation, and Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar. There can’t be a better way to connect with our roots than at Chicagoland’s biggest Philippine festival! For a complete listing of performers, booths, activities and sponsorship, please visit piyestapinoy.com. Kitakits sa June 21 sa Piyesta Pinoy sa Bolingbrook!
US CONGRESSMEN SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE PHILIPPINES
WASHINGTON, D.C.— The Philippines can be expected to further intensify its efforts to engage the United States Congress with the relaunching this week of the US-Philippines Friendship Caucus in the House of Representatives. The Philippine Embassy said that as an expression of their solidarity with and support for the Philippines, more than 40 congressmen representing both Democratic and Republican parties have agreed to become members of the Caucus that was established during the term of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario as ambassador to the US. “The reinvigoration of this Caucus will lead to increased interactions not only between our governments but also between our citizens,” Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. said in his remarks during a reception he hosted at the Rayburn House Office Building on the eve of the 116thanniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence. “Let us seize this great opportunity to further strengthen the bond between our two nations. The House is one that is closest to the people, and this is where our bilateral relations become even more meaningful,” Ambassador Cuisia said. Eighteen lawmakers led by Caucus Co-Chair Bobby Scott (Democrat, Virginia) and Ed Royce (Republican, California), Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Relations, were present at the reception that was also attended by Embassy officials as well as leaders of the Filipino Community and officials from the Department of State and the Department of Defense. Also present were Congressmen John Barrow (Democrat, Georgia); Xavier Becerra (Democrat, California); Ami Bera (Democrat, California); Madeleine Bordallo (Democrat, Guam); Steve Chabot (Republican, Ohio); Trent Franks (Republican, Arizona); Al Green (Democrat, Texas); Joe Heck (Republican, Nevada); Mike Honda (Democrat, California); Bill Huizenga (Republican, Michigan); Grace Meng (Democrat, New York); Scott Peters (Democrat, California); Scott Rigel (Republican, Virginia); Eric Swalwell (Democrat, California); Mike Thompson (Democrat, California); Dina Titus (Democrat, Nevada). Other members of the Caucus were represented in th reception by their senior staff. In their remarks, Congressmen Scott, Royce and Honda cited the strong bilateral relations between the Philippines and the US and the important role played by the 3.4 million members of the Filipino Community. The lawmakers, who included a number who came from congressional districts with large Filipino constituencies, also gave assurances of their support for legislation and other initiatives that would have a positive impact on the Philippines and the Filipino people, including peaceful efforts to resolve the West Philippine Sea dispute, veterans concerns, immigration reform and the grant of Temporary Protected Status (TPS). In his remarks, Ambassador Cuisia also expressed his appreciation for the strong support of the US Congress, particularly in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan. “Our friendship is enduring and dependable. When Super Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines, we were heartened by the strong support of the US Congress,” Ambassador Cuisia said as he cited the two congressional resolutions on Haiyan that were introduced in the House of Representatives. He also mentioned the briefing on Haiyan that was organized by the Caucus upon the initiative of Congressman Scott and his Co-Chair, Darrell Issa (Republican, California) in coordination with Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus led by Rep. Judy Chu (Democrat, California). Ambassador Cuisia also expressed appreciation for the visit to the Philippines of two congressional delegations led by Rep. Chris Smith (Republican, New Jersey) and Congressman Royce, to express solidarity with the Philippine Government and with the victims of the typhoon. He also cited the support of legislators for the grant of TPS for the Philippines as well as the efforts led Congressman Swalwell for the passage early this year of the Philippines Charitable Giving Assistance Act. The reception was capped by an impressive performance by the University of Sto. Tomas Singers who are in Washington for a series of engagements. ###
FILIPINOS IN US CAN NOW LISTEN TO RADIO STATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES VIA MOBILE PHONE
WASHINGTON D.C.—Filipinos in the United States can now listen to radio broadcasts from the Philippines on their mobile phones with the launching of the second phase of a public diplomacy initiative aimed at connecting them with the motherland. The availability in the US of broadcasts from six leading Filipino radio stations, including the Catholic-run Radio Veritas, was announced by the Philippine Embassy and AudioNow, the world’s leading call-to-listen platform, on the occasion of the 116th anniversary of Philippine independence. “Today, we bring our kababayans here in the US closer to home with the launching of AudioNow’s call-to-listen service that would allow them to hear radio broadcasts from the Philippines with their mobile phones,” Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. said. With the service, Filipinos may now access the following radio stations by calling their assigned telephone numbers: Radio Veritas (Manila): 231.460.1846; People’s Television Network (Manila):231.460.1000; Catholic Media Network (Manila): 712.432.7150; Spirit FM (Antique): 712.432.7197; Radio Maria (Tarlac): 231.460.1020; and D’Ultimate (Clark Free Port): 712.432.6999. The calls have no surcharge and use only mobile minutes. “With this next phase, it is our goal to continue serving the Filipino Community in the US with as many resources as possible from home,” said Ambassador Cuisia, adding that the six stations broadcast in both English and Filipino. “AudioNow extends the reach of our broadcasters into the United States and we applaud Radio Veritas, PTV, Radio Maria, the Catholic Media Network, Spirit FM and D’Ultimate for recognizing this and invite other leading Filipino broadcasters to join this effort.” Since the end of last year, the Embassy has been working with AudioNow and utilizing its call-tolisten- platform as a new avenue to reach out to members of the Philippine diaspora in the US. With the launching of Radyo Tambuli, which was developed with the assistance of AudioNow, the Embassy earned for itself the distinction of being the first foreign mission to utilize the call-to-listen platform for public diplomacy purposes. Radyo Tambuli can be accessed by calling 415.628.5777. “After Radyo Tambuli, adding radio stations from the Philippines was the natural next step,” according to Elan Blutinger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AudioNow, adding that more Philippine radio stations are expected to take part in the initiative in the next several weeks. “We are honored to provide a bridge home to the Philippines during this important time,” said Blutinger. “With the support of the Philippine Embassy here in Washington, we look forward to working closely with Radio Veritas, PTV, Radio Maria and other Filipino broadcasters.” Radio Veritas, ranked as the No. 1 faith-based station in the Philippines, brings news advocacy and social concerns, religious programming and public service for the poor with inspirational music in Tagalog to its audience. Featured programs include Veritas Pilipinas, which provides in-depth coverage of advocacy news in Mega Manila and around the world, as well as Barangay Simbayanan, which features the Catholic Church responding to the needs of the community. Veritas846 K apanalig also brings nationally renowned healer Fr. Fernando Suarez on the air every Sunday, 6pm to 8pm, Sundays (phil time). Listeners may access Radio Veritas by calling 231.460.1846. The government-run PTV, which was established by an act of Congress in 1992, showcases educational programs on science and technology, the arts, culture and sports, in English and Tagalog. PTV can be accessed by calling231.460.1000. As the largest radio station network in the Philippines, the Catholic Media Network’s mission is to “bring the message of hope through media.” Listeners can now access their Manila-based flagship station, CMN, by calling 712.432.7150. CMN’s top program CMN Pilipinas covers news and public affairs issues of national importance while CMN Sagipbuhay aims educate listeners on public health issues. Spirit FM network — another Catholic Media Network brand — broadcasts in English and Tagalog from San Jose, Antique. To listen to programs such as CMN News, Mega Morning, and Kulitan Calls, listeners should call712.432.7197.
