Notebook

By: Elsie Sy-Niebar

 

*Feisty Philippine Sen. Leila de Lima, arrested and jailed!

*PIWC 2017 chaired by Lourdes Livas is gearing up for the 119th Philippine Independence Day celebration in June; meet the Beauty Queens…

*Asian Americans must take pride in celebrating ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH 2017; Pakistan is Chicago’s 2017 Host; Community Fair on May 22-26; invites participation from Asian restaurants, gift shops, at the five-day Fair at Daley Plaza

*On his First 50th Day at the White House, Pres. Trump included dissolution of ObamaCare as an important agenda in addition to travel ban

*Umdocumented Immigrants having problems must seek help from the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC)

*Help from Mayor Emanuel side: Call Mayor’s Sanctuary office to get help. Chicago Cardinal Blasé Cupich issued order not to allow ICE on church ground without warrant of arrest to his parishioners

The month of May, since October 23, 1992, is celebrated in the United States as National Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, proclaimed by then, President George H. W. Bush. It was the result of Public Law 102-450, approved on that historical date which designated May of each year as National Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

The US government’s recognition and approval of this celebration was the fruit of the hard work of Asian Americans led by those in government. For many years, their appeal to America to celebrate ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC HERITAGE MONTH had walked through long and rugged roads in the American Congress before it got approved in 1992. History explained that the name “Asian American and Pacific Islander” encompasses many ethnic groups with diverse backgrounds, histories, languages, and cultures. The term attempts to give expression to cultural, linguistic, and ethnic diversity while recognizing common historical experiences in American history. Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebrates the collective accomplishments of these communities. It took long years until in June 1977, when Representatives Frank Horton of New York and Norman Y. Mineta of California introduced a House resolution that called upon the President to proclaim the first 10 days of May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Week The resolution was made concrete when President Jimmy Carter signed a joint resolution declaring May 4-10, 1979, as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. President George H.W. Bush signed the Proclamation into a law on October 23, 1992, almost two decades since President Carter signed the resolution in 1979. Therefore, let us not take for granted this celebration which our Earlier Asian American forefathers had worked hard for it to honor our presence America. Take a clue from the Irish celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and the Mexicans the Cinco de Mayo.

This year, the celebration of ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC HERITAGE MONTH 2017 in Chicago is hosted by the Pakistan Community, chaired by Saddrudin Noorani, a popular trailblazer in the Pakistani Community. Noorani said: “ The one-week festival and Community Fair will be held at the Daley Plaza starting on Monday, May 22 to Friday, May 26 2017. To showcase our Asian culture, we are invitng community business and cultural participation specially Food, ethnic Arts and Crafts; ethnic outfit vendors, Food Trucks, Asian American restaurants which could run without the use of electricity; packaged ready-to-eat snacks, and pastries or foods which do not require on-site cooking. For further information, please contact me tel. 312) 550-5456 or via email at SadruddinNoorani@aol.com. Thank you so much for your participation in celebrating our Asian American Heritage in America. And thank you to my friend, Elsie Sy-Niebar of Via Times, for reaching out to me for this information.” ***

Celebrating our 119th PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY! As of press time, so far only two groups – PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE WEEK COMMITTEE (PIWC) and the PHILIPPINE AMERICA CULTURAL FOUNDATION (PACF) are working hard on their respective celebrations in June. No word from the FILIPPINO AMERICAN COUNCIL OF CHICAGO (FACC), especially at this time when the new Executive Director Elaine Lehman, who seems to have been given by the FACC president Dr. Rufino Crisostomo a “Blanket Authority” to run the show — the way the “Governance New Lingo, of the Crisostomo administration — after kicking out vice president Thelma Bascos who has been taking care 24/7 her ailing husband, Al, former “Godfather”.

The FACC, I heard, is closed to the public, unless approved by this new executive director that nobody knew from before. As one officer commented, she came from out of the woods. I was told that Lehman refused entry to the daughters of Atty. Al Bascos who were there to pick up some of their very sick Dad’s personal belongings, following an “eviction email” he received from Lehman.

This is just one of the hundred-and-one “abrupt changes” going on at the FACC today, which can let the dead Filipino “Manongs and Manangs, Patriotic Pioneer Filipino Americans who purchased the Rizal Center Building, turn in their graves. Oh, well, let’s see who really “owns” the FACC today. If any readers have a question, please call the current FACC president.

Back to our Philippine Independence Day celebration: Of the two Philippine Independence Day groups, I always receive updates from PIWC (as the other one, PWC, allegedly seems to be dying of slow death), thanks to the professionalism of this couple: Edwin and Nerissa Pineda. Edwin, a Certified Public Accountant, and a magna cum laude when he graduated at a university in Chicago. Of course, nothing is perfect, but they are indeed, doing their volunteer job well, with Executive Chair, Lourdes Livas.

Briefly, please meet PIWC’s Beauty Queens 2017 who will be crowned at the Gala Night on June 17 (Saturday), at the Marriott Hotel, Higgins Road, Chicago. Their lovely pictures were featured on Via Times’ February 2017 edition: Geraldine Gaden, “ Mrs. PHILIPPINES 2017,” married to Wayne Steven Gaden, blessed with two adult children. A nurse by profession, a business woman and Clinical Supervisor at Rainbow Health Care Services; JOI RUFINA HUNTER, “MISS PHILIPPINES PIWC 2017”: a sophomore student at the Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois; her parents are Andre and Sally Hunter; KIMBERLY AGUS, “ MISS PIWC 2017”: 19, a sophomore at the University of Ilinois, in Urbana, Champaign, wants to be a Neonatal Nurse; DOREEN MAGBANUA,“MRS. ILLINOIS PIWC 2017, a singlemother of three grown-up children; currently, works at PACY in Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago. Loves dancing; MELENCIA TOLLEDO, “MRS CHICAGO PIWC 2017”: MHEL, an operating room nurse at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago; recipient of prestigious “Daisy Award,” ”Award for Excellence” from the Philippine Nurses Association of Illinois; NAOMI POLINTAN, “LITTLE MISS PHILIPPINES PIWC 2017,” a sweet and lovable eight-year-old third-grader at Stevenson School in Des Plaines; daughter of Cherie Sajul and Allan Polintan; ALPHA JULIANNE RAMOS, “LITTLE PRINCESS PHILIPPINES 2017”: “AJ” is a “Miracle Baby” of Joseph and Chantal Ramos; granddaughter of Lydia and Rev. Pascual Tayco.

Let’s give them a round of applause! If you are a friend, relative, don’t miss calling them and extend your support for dinner tickets for their Gala Coronation; raffle tickets with cash prizes; or your complimentary Greetings in the souvenir program book. Proceeds will go to various PIWC chosen projects in the Philippines. MABUHAY TAYONG LAHAT, Kababayans! To God be the Glory! ***

An Appeal to all Filipino Americans and all ASIAN AMERICANS residing at Libertyville Township on behalf of the re-election of Mayor Terry Weppler: My good friend Richard Diesterheft, publisher of the Town Planner Advertising Calendars, appeals to all Filipino Americans and Asian Americans in Libertyville to please re-elect their (two-termer) current Village Mayor TERRY WEPPLER this coming April 4 election. Formerly a Village Trustee, Mayor Weppler, in 2009, defeated then-, incumbent Mayor Jeffrey Harger, his current opponent.

Rich said: “Under the leadership of Mayor Weppler, We, the People of Libertyville, have seen several ‘success stories’ like the cutting of sales tax revenues this recession time, and the coming of new businesses downtown. The future of our Village is great and will be greater with Mayor Terry at the helm. Let us keep him as our Mayor and work with him.” (Mayor Weppler is also endorsed by the Libertyville Daily Herald.

Some of the issues and actions taken by President Donald Trump on his First 50 Days in office:

*PUTTING PATIENT HEALTHCARE FIRST: After years of “false promises, rising costs,” President Trump acted on his first day in office to instruct Federal agencies to minimize the burden of Obamacare on Americans. President Trump has supported efforts by Republicans in Congress to repeal the worst parts of Obamacare and replace them with the American Health Care Act. *PRIORITIZING AMERICAN NATIONAL SECURITY: President Trump has taken action to ensure the safety and security of the United States homeland, its borders, and its people.

*DELIVERING ON IMMIGRATION REFORM: President Trump has made — enforcing the Nation’s immigration laws a priority of his Administration. He signed an Executive Order to start work on a southern border wall; signed an Executive Order to enhance the public safety of Americans through enforcement of immigration laws; signed an Executive Order to halt funding to jurisdictions in the United States that do not comply with Federal immigration rules. signed an Executive Order to begin the removal of illegal immigrants who have committed certain crimes. Following through on President Trump’s direction, the Department of Homeland Security will hire 10,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and agents and 5,000 border patrol agents.

Excerpts from his speech on “First 50 Days in Office as President”:“My fellow Americans, In March, we celebrate Women’s History Month, honoring the countless contributions that women leaders, scientists, and entrepreneurs have made throughout American history.We honor them and we recommit ourselves to a better future for every woman in America today.On my 50th day in office, I want to talk about an issue of paramount importance to families across our nation – healthcare. Seven years ago this month, Obamacare was signed into law over the profound objections of American people. Our citizens were told they would have to pass Obamacare to find out what it was and how bad it was.Now we know that the hundreds of pages were full of broken promises… more innocent Americans will be hurt…American workers, families, and small businesses, who right now are being crushed by Obamacare. ***

Mayor Emanuel stands firm in keeping Chicago as a “Sanctuary City,” regardless of losing millions of Federal dollars City Supportive Resources: True to his words last November, Mayor Rahm Emanuel reaffirmed Chicago’s status as a Sanctuary City, assuring everyone (undocumented immigrants) the support of the city “to provide a home to hardworking, honest individuals, regardless of their place of birth.” FBI crime data shows that sanctuary policies increase public safety by allowing local law enforcement to focus on keeping neighborhoods safe and encouraging immigrant communities to cooperate with law enforcement.

“As a Sanctuary City, Mayor Emanuel and the Chicago City Council, will abide by the 2012 City Ordinance which “ protects the rights of immigrants, and grants all residents access to city services, regardless of immigration status.”

The Welcoming City Ordinance also codified local policies to help ensure undocumented residents are not prosecuted solely due to their immigration status. As such, the Sanctuary City protection covers Chicagoans of all ages—in school, at work and as they seek city supports and resources. This means that Chicago police officers cannot arrest on the basis of immigration status. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) have also taken extra steps recently to ensure that students have a safe and welcoming learning environment to thrive in, and have reminded staff and students of resources available to them post-election. Parents and families with a child in CPS are encouraged to reach out to their child’s principal or teacher with any concerns or questions they may have.

Any Undocumented Immigrants who have questions related to seeking asylum, information for LGBT; info for Unaccompanied Immigrant children and detained undocumented immigrants or other questions relevant to fear of deportation, please call the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), program of Heartland Alliance, 206 S. LaSalle St., Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60604, tel. 312) 660-1370. Or call the City of Chicago to get connected to the “Sanctuary” office.

Meanwhile, Chicago Cardinal/Archbishop Blasé Cupich told his priests “not to allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on church property without a warrant.” His letters to the priests say in part…”we stand in solidarity with many of our parishioners who are deeply troubled by the recent executive orders related to immigration. If they do not have a warrant and it is not a situation that someone is in imminent danger, tell them politely they cannot come on the premises.”

PHILIPPINE FEISTY LADY SENATOR LEILA DE LIMA IS DETAINED:

The feisty and very articulate Philippine Lady Sen. Leila De Lima is currently detained in Camp Crame, following the warrants of arrest against her and two others, Ronnie Daan and Rafael Ragos, issued by the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204.

Sen. De Lima is facing allegations of involvement in the supposed drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) during her term as the Department of Justice secretary. PNP Chief Director Gen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, according to reports, visited the Senator in her detention cell to assure her of her safety while being detained there.

The PNP Chief told the media that the lady Senator is relaxed in her detainment cell; she even “welcomed him.” Like today’s “Joan of Arc,” Sen. De Lima is one of the staunch critics of the 71-yearold President’s war on drugs campaign. And for that “heroisn,” according to reports, she is a recipient of an International Award for standing up against Pres. Duterte.

Let’s Welcome Spring: “For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. Song of Solomon 2:11-12 ##

(1) The humane side of President Donald Trump, shown here posing with the students of Saint Andrew Catholic School, last March 3, 2017, during a tour of the school in Orlando, Florida. Also shown is U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead); (2) Philippine Senator Leila de Lima delivering a privilege speech.

FRIENDS TOGETHER CELEBRATING the LORD’S FRIENDSHIP SUNDAY, last Feb. 19, at Faith Community Presbyterian Church (FCPC) . Front, from left, are Elsie Sy-Niebar, the “Host” and Guests: Yoly Zoleta; Mila Nano and Ella Basilio, recipients of APPRECIATION PLAQUE from the Dennis Memorial Charitable Fund for their heartfelt services rendered; special performers Evelyn Tolledo and Chaz Patron, with their bouquet of roses presented by Yvette Francisco Vo, Friendship Sunday coordinator. At back are Ben Zoleta, Mar La Pena, Jhun Patron and Ben Paiso.

My belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY greetings to my “Anak”, humble fashion designer Mar Lapena, PIWC 2017 Beauty Queens’ choreographer/designer. Mar’s fashion touch included designing the gowns of Arab Princesses during his 15-year stint in Saudi Arabia. My gown in this picture is, of course, made by Mar. Do I look like a Queen? (Elsie)

(1) Edwin Pineda, PIWC 2016 Treasurer; (2) Former PIWC beauty queen, Neriza Pineda, now coordinator of PIWC 2017 Beauty Queen Committee.

Childhood friends of Carlos Saladino (3rd from left), son of the late Mrs. Paz Saladino, came to comfort his family during the wake and interment of his beloved Mom, Mrs. Paz Saladino, last March 3. In photos from left are Toby Urian, Tito Urian, Carlos, Bill Urian, Rudy Urian and Art Seguban.