VIA Times – September 2014 Issue Vital News, Vibrant VIews for Asian Americans in Chicago & Midwest
By: Lou Maningas Cabalona
My husband, Baron, often jokes around about him marrying me for “papers.” Of course, it doesn’t sound as funny unless you know that he is a US citizen and that early this year, before we went home to the Philippines for our church wedding, he decided to also reclaim his Filipino citizenship. Deciding to be a dual citizen was a no-brainer for us. When he found out it is possible for him and myself to reclaim Filipino citizenship (proudly I say from me), we both already knew that it was something we wanted to do. Yes, of course, we wanted to take advantage of being able to own property in the Philippines. Of course, we wanted to be able to stay back home for as long as we want without needing visas or having to pay “foreigner fees”. We also definitely wanted to visit more countries VISA FREE, such as Brazil, Columbia, Peru, and Vietnam on a Philippine passport that would have otherwise required us to apply for visas on a US passport. With sincerest hopes for our countrymen’s future, we also wanted to be able to exercise our right to vote for and in some way “choose” the right government leaders who might share the same hope for a richer, cleaner, better Philippines. It seems I’m interested in all but two other benefits of dual citizenship that are commonly published in the Philippine Embassy and Consulate websites. They are (1) the ability to work, execute research, or own a business in the Philippines and (2) the ability to extend all these rights to your children. Certainly, both are good to have should we, or our future children, decide to take advantage of it. For myself, however, that most important benefit of being a dual citizen is not something I would find listed as benefits under Republic Act 9225 of the Philippines otherwise known as the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003 (aka the Dual Citizenship Law). Truly, is the inexpressible feeling of satisfaction knowing that I, in all official papers, once again, belong to the country where my beliefs, my culture, my beginnings, my childhood and my family are rooted from. I’d like to believe we now live in a world where one can be Filipino without necessarily losing their American-ness and vice versa. It’s about time our passports show our true blue – and maroon – colors. NEW YORK 14K, ILLNOIS 1300? Despite my belief that a lot of FilAms also share the same wants as me and my husband do, I am surprised to know that over the past 10 years since the Dual Citizenship Law was enacted, we’ve only had anywhere between 500 to 1300 dual citizen applicants per year across the Midwest, the last 3 years plateauing at a little over 1300. This is a stark difference to the New York Consulate’s over 14,894 applicants in 2013 alone. I feel like the small number of applicants is somehow attributed to the fact that, because you can re-acquire you Filipino citizenship anytime for as long as you live, folks tend to wait for the last minute. A friend of mine only became one when he decided to open up a business in the Philippines. Baron himself waited until he was going home to the Philippines before he pursued applying. Of course, there is an implicit time limit if you have USA-born children who also want to also be dual citizens. They only have up to before they turn 18 to be able to tag along in their parents dual citizenship application. That is, if neither parent were Filipino citizens at the time they were born. Otherwise, they are already dual citizens to begin with and they just need to report their birth. I know that was confusing. That, in fact, leads me to my second assumption of why we do not have as much dual citizenship application in the Midwest despite Illinois, the base of our Midwest Philippine Consulate, being the state with the 3rd largest group of Filipinos in the USA. I believe not many FIlAms are informed of this privilege or those who are aware do not have sufficient information to decide to apply. Being a part of the inaugural delegates of the Filipino American Youth Leadership Program of the Philippine Embassy in 2012, I have been advocating for Filipino Americans who wish to reclaim their rights as Filipino to apply for Dual Citizenship. This year with three other delegates sharing the same vision — Julien Baburka (2013), Jan Paul Ferrer (2014) and Abbey Eusebio (2014), we are tag teaming with New York delegates, Rachelle Ocampo and Edward Santos (both 2012) to up our numbers from last year by 10%. This means attaining over 1500 application this year! There are two Dual Citizenship Informational sessions tentatively scheduled on Thursday, Sept 25 and Saturday, Oct 8 at the Philippine Consulate for those who are interested about eligibility requirements, privileges and responsibilities, dual citizenship by birth or those who need assistance in applying for dual citizenship. Also, for the very first time, a symbolic mass oath ceremony will be held on the 4th week of October for all past and prospective Filipino American dual citizens of the Midwest to celebrate and increase awareness on this unique privilege. Please contact Liezel Alcantara at the Consulate at (312) 583-0621 ext 13 or myself, Louella Cabalona at louellarose@gmail.com or (708) 528-6321 for more information about the upcoming events. Are you a dual citizen or thinking of applying? Please fill out the Dual Citizenship Survey by going online at http://bit.ly/1oh85tF You can also find updates about the events at https://www.facebook. com/FYLPro
STREETS OF MANILA IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO IN OCTOBER
Chicago Loop Alliance’s ACTIVATE: Streets Of Manila in Chicago featuring Connection Art Project with the special participation SamaSama Project On October 16th, 2014 from 5-10 pm, The Connection Art Project will host the Streets of Manila, a one-day art and fundraising event as part of the Chicago Loop Alliance ACTIVATE series. The Connection Art Project will transform a downtown alleyway with art performances, installation pieces, dance and live music provided by Folk Fusion band, SamaSama Project. Part spectacle, part party, the event will draw between 500-1,000 guests for the Chicago pop-up event. This ACTIVATE event draws a large crowd for a creative and interactive experience, but it will also serve to help the victims of the Haiyan typhoon tragedy that devastated large parts of the Philippines. For info check out connectionartproject. com or loopchicago.com (search for ACTIVATE)
RILEY AND TILLIE ARE MOVING TO THE MUSIC THANKS TO THE FILIPINO MUSICIANS OF CHICAGO
The “Move to the Music with Tillie and Friends” benefit concert was a rousing success, thanks to the help of local artists and the Filipino Musicians of Chicago, Inc. The event was held on Saturday, September 6th at The Miraj in Niles. 100% of the proceeds benefitted Riley Woznicki (granddaughter of Tillie Moreno), who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of 3. The funds will go towards the purchase of a wheelchair accessible van. Among the performers were One Way Band, April Garcia, Carlo Chapelle, and of course the headliner, Manila’s Queen of Soul, Ms. Tillie Moreno. The big surprise of the evening came in the form of a generous gift from JR Roque and Jet Gruezo of Homeland Healthcare …a motorized wheelchair! It was personally delivered to the venue and presented to Riley. This was truly an amazing outpouring of love and incredible music and talent.
Connection Arts Project and SamaSama Project’s first meeting at the Pilipinas Jam Fundraiser at Empty Bottle. From L to R, designer artist Agustina Diez Sierra, Rex Delson of Bibbak, singer Louella of SamaSama Project, photographer Maggie Rife Ponce and Johann Oro
Some of the FMOC Board Members and Officers present at the Fundraiser. From L to R, Rudolfo Campos, Takashi Matsushima, Roland del Rosario, April Garcia, Al Apacible, Patty Lou Soliman, Rogel Arceo and Expo Taghap.
Baron taking a souvenir pose with his Filipino Citizenship papers and Vice Consul Ricarte Abejuela III who preceded the Oath ceremony last Sept 2013.
