The much-awaited verdict on the three cases filed against San Jose, California community leader, Ben Menor, which was to have been handed down on September 18, was moved back to October 9, following an agreement between the District Attorney’s Office and Menor’s counsel, Charles Hendrickson of the Public Defender’s Office, before Santa Clara Superior Court Judge Ray E. Cunningham, that Menor would plead No Contest to one charge, while the two other cases would be dismissed.

The postponement was because the Department of Probation was not prepared to present the necessary documents that would have facilitated the immediate resolution of the cases.

According to Hendrickson, in a briefing to media after the proceedings, the dismissal of two of the three cases against Menor had earlier been offered by the DA’s office on condition of payment of restitution of $46,862 and of Menor pleading No Contest to the charge of making a false statement on a financial report.

At the September 18 court appearance, Menor’s counsel informed Judge Cunningham that a payment of $51,000 had already been made to Santa Clara County by Menor, thus satisfying the first condition. Other fees and charges account for the excess payment.

Hendrickson further explained to the media that the No Contest plea would result in the charge being reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor, with no jail term, and in its being immediately expunged. Based on the provisions of Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code, that would amount to a dismissal of the case.

“In effect,” said Hendrickson, “it would be as if the case were just being initiated and the defendant were to enter a plea of not guilty.”

The cases against Menor were filed by the City of San Jose based on allegations that Menor, as President and CEO of the Filipino-American Senior Opportunities Development Council and Executive Director of the Jacinto Tony Siquig Northside Community Center, had used funds and facilities of the City and of the center for unauthorized and illegal purposes, and that he had submitted false financial reports concerning payment of services rendered by the center.

One of the charges was for grand theft, allegedly because Menor had used City and center funds for the August 2002 national conference of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), a national organization of which Menor is a member. The other charge, also for grand theft, alleged that Menor had arranged for services that benefited his parents at the expense of the center.

Based on the evidence at hand, the District Attorney’s office offered to have the two grand theft cases dismissed, provided that Menor paid restitution amounting to around $14,000 for the case involving NaFFAA and around $32,000 for the case involving his parents, or a total of $46,862.

The other condition was for Menor to plead No Contest to the third case, which alleged that Menor had unlawfully over-charged the city for services rendered to the center’s clients. An uncertain reading and interpretation of the rules on charging for services may have been the reason for the agreement to reduce the charges from a felony to a misdemeanor and its immediate expunging from the court records.

The Jacinto Tony Siquig Northside Community Center, on North 6th Street in San Jose, is a 16,500 square ft. facility consisting of the center itself and an apartment for senior housing. It serves all ethnicities, although up to 80 percent of beneficiaries are of Filipino descent.

Menor led the efforts to raise the money - totaling $8 million for the center and $17 million for the senior housing - from grants from the City of San Jose, Santa Clara County, the state of California and other sources, including funds made possible by the Community Reinvestment Act. Construction of the facility began in 2001. It was inaugurated in 2003.

Menor had been connected with the Filipino-American Senior Opportunities Development Council since 1993. He left in 2006 when the charges against him were filed.

-30-

View Lorna Lardizabal Dietz’s profile

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Yesterday, I received an email from an old friend.

Hi Lorna!!

How have you been?? Hope all is well with you and your family. Im writing you from Manila. You must have heard about the soon-to-open new California Academy of Science at the Golden Gate Park featuring the Philippine Coral Reef as its permanent exhibit. Malou Babilonia heads the Filam Focus Group which supports it and Im in the Steering Committee with Tita M, Voltaire Guingab, Susan Po- Rufino, Nenuca Ortigas and others. Would you please help us spread the word about this great Philippine pride by forwarding these articles to your million and one Filam contacts and the movers and shakers from the East Coast to the West? Let me know of your great help so I can update Malou and the Focus group about your valued assistance which will surely make a lot of difference. Will forward you succeeding press releases as well. Can I count on you, my dear Lorna?
Thanks and best regards!! Celia

Celia C. Cuasay

So, Celia, here it is… Let’s start with a press release that you sent me. I can’t wait to see the wonderful photos!

SAN FRANCISCO — The world’s deepest living coral reef exhibit opens at the new California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park on September 27, 2008. The Philippine Coral Reef Exhibit, in a 212,000-gallon aquarium tank, will be home to a variety of soft and hard corals, black-tipped reef sharks, rays, and more than 4,000 reef fishes that are native to the Philippines. Visitors will be able to view the reef and its inhabitants from the surface as well as from five different underwater windows.

The Academy chose to feature a Philippine coral reef because the reef systems in the Philippines are among the most diverse in the world. Despite their global importance, most people on the planet have never seen a living reef. With the opening of the new Academy building, over a million visitors a year will be able to experience the splendor of a living Philippine coral reef and learn what they can do to help save coral reefs around the world.

With a 40-year history of research in the Philippines, resulting in the discovery of dozens of new animal species and publication of a comprehensive guidebook to Indo-Pacific invertebrates, the Academy is partnering with local education and conservation groups, such as Pusod, a non-governmental organization based in the Philippines and Berkeley, whose mission is to preserve and enhance the ecosystems of the Philippines and show their significance to the world.

Both organizations are committed to scientific, educational, and outreach efforts regarding the coral reefs of the Philippines. These efforts will be targeted toward the Filipino community in the Bay Area and abroad, fostering their appreciation for and personal connection to one of the world’s critical biodiversity hotspots.

According to Dr. Terry Gosliner, Senior Curator at the Academy, “Our goal to reach a broad and diverse audience is the reason we have this wonderful evolution of interaction with Pusod and the Filipino community.”

The Academy and Pusod have organized a group of San Francisco Bay Area Filipino Americans to generate interest and excitement about the exhibit, and to get the Filipino community involved. The group, Reaching out through Environmental Education to Filipinos (REEF), has a marketing team that has been aggressively promoting the exhibit to different sectors of the Filipino community. Recently, it participated in the Pistahan parade in San Francisco with a marine-themed float.

Dr. Meg Burke, the Academy’s Director of Education, comments that it is wonderful how the Filipino community has been so cooperative and excited about the Philippine Coral Reef Exhibit. She says she is overwhelmed by how much support the Academy has received from the Filipino community in making the exhibit a spectacular possibility.

“Because the Philippines has more marine biodiversity than anywhere else in the world,” says Malou Babilonia, Pusod Founder and Trustee, “the Filipino community needs to take action in any way to protect, preserve and enhance our marine environments. It is so important that Filipinos everywhere immerse themselves in the Philippine Coral Reef Exhibit at the Academy.”

For information: www.pusod.org/reef
Send inquiries to: reef.project@yahoo.com

July 25, 2008

Introduction:

I have kept quiet for so long because I believe that the “sacred scales of justice” will allow truth to prevail in the cases against Ben Menor and the Filipino American Senior Opportunities Development Council Inc.’s Board of Directors (a.k.a. FilAmSODC).

As a former staff member and consultant of FilAmSODC, Inc./JTS Northside Community Center, I was there when the storm (that eventually resulted in the Ben Menor and FilAmSODC legal cases) started actively brewing and I was there when the Friends of JTS Northside Community Center, led by Mohinder Mann and Annie Dandavati, supported the fight to retain its deserving Filipino management in 2005-2006. Since FilAmSODC had been serving Filipino and Indo-American communities — with plans to serve other ethnic groups in San Jose — the multi-ethnic coalition (that I love and support) headed by these Friends was a constant inspiration to the senior citizens, the youth, and other stakeholders served by the center. Recently, I came across the myspace.com website of the Mabuhay Cultural Club of Independence High School, wherein the young members honor Ben Menor as one of their heroes. Rodel Rodis wrote about these Filipino CRABS in 2004 (who started it all!) — which, of course, the latter used to spin and brand themselves “The Silicon Valley CRABS.”

What I am writing here today is a continuation of my PERSONAL INSIGHTS AND THOUGHTS which started with the Flames of Consciousness and A Perspective on Filipino Consciousness at the NaFFAA Y2K2 Empowerment Conference in 2002. I had also celebrated my employment with a story in my column at Manila Bulletin USA in August of 2003, “Filipino Consciousness at Work.”

The Stimulant:

Yesterday, I checked in by phone with Ben Menor since I wanted to know what happened to his “sentencing” date in court on July 24, 2008. The judge gave him an extension of 30 days to come up with the balance of the required restitution. Ben told me that he had raised over 50% of the required restitution. That was good news.

Later on last night, I found out that Joseph Lariosa, a supposedly credible Filipino American journalist based in Chicago, had written an article about Ben Menor’s day in court. Ben shared with me that Joseph had indeed asked him for his comments or Ben’s lawyers’ comments BUT before the lawyers could respond, Joseph e-mailed him with his published news story and wrote Ben, “Please let me know if you have problem accessing it. Please let me know also if there is any correction to be made.”

The Response:

Duh, what would my fellow media practitioners say about this?

Here’s what I’m thinking. “Really, Mr. Lariosa! How interesting it is that you couldn’t wait for any corrections (or fact checking) BEFORE sending your supposed credible article for publication. You are just as bad as Bobby Reyes of MabuhayRadio.com, who I do not support and who I have publicly denounced as a NON-journalist.”

Joseph Lariosa’s article about Ben Menor’s case today is INCORRECT, MISLEADING, AND DECEIVING.

Have you ever heard about a complete sentence being chopped up so that only 1/2 of the truth is being written? This is what I believe happened.

Since I’m not a lawyer, I can only write what I feel is MY truth about this case — which I have truly devoted a lot of due diligence and homework to.

Let’s deal with some facts first (and my analysis, of course).

1. This beautiful community center that was built by Filipino leadership led by FilAmSODC’s board of directors and its President and CEO, Ben Menor, has been given several building design awards.

2. On June 21, 2005, I sent out an e-mail blast to my network, in preparation for the audit hearing that June 23. This will give us some perspective.

OP-ED

Dear friends: Fil-AmSODC, Inc. & its President/CEO Ben Menor have been bombarded by “armchair critics” from the media. There are people like myself who were really there at JTS Northside during those challenging times. I believe that NO ONE ELSE could have achieved what FilAmSODC, Inc. has done in the past 10 years, “making promises and dreams come true” for its constituencies and stakeholders, including:

(a) Ben Menor convincing two mayors of San Jose to shell out (appropriate) the rest of the 60% funding ($8 million) to build JTS Northside Community Center;
(b) managing three centers’ nutrition programs before the move to the new center;
(c) training the staff on capacity-building for the new community center and cost-effectively finding new experts, networks, and resources to help them out (that’s what managing the 2002 NaFFAA conference did);
(d) moving into a new center (that Ben Menor helped supervise);
(e) continuing and refining its programs according to its new scope of services (which included the intergeneration/intercultural- focused Neighborhood Facility Management and its event management & catering group services);
(f) following the guidance of its monitoring agency, Parks Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) — and doing its reports as directed;
(g) launching fundraising programs to augment the restricted funds FilAmSODC, Inc. was receiving;
(h) looking for short-term sources of funds when reimbursements didn’t arrive on time for FilAmSODC, Inc. to meet its Accounts Payable obligations;
(i) and maintaining its silence during the audit process because they believed that influencing the outcome of the audit is the wrong thing to do (and many of us suspect that the CRABS lobbied hard to influence the auditors, city officials, and others — as seen from the e-mails we’ve received and the phone calls they’ve been making to many people).

In all the years Ben Menor has been a stalwart figure in Santa Clara County’s Filipino American and multi-ethnic/cultural landscape, it is hard to imagine a FUTURE without him right in the scene of growth and change in building a stronger community at JTS Northside. Whoever thinks that Ben would go somewhere else is just another rumormonger who wants to undermine the greatness of the Filipino people.

The CRABS came about because of the rapid evolution that JTS Northside had to go through. The strength and resilience of FilAmSODC, Inc. were tested. Just like any family feud gone wrong, it started out as personal and professional jealousy directed toward the President & CEO (from the ugliest CRAB of them all who was the one in charge of reporting FilAmSODC, Inc.’s achievements to PRNS). One of the other CRABS was not patient enough with the process of instilling operational changes — and decided to join the ugliest CRAB. She told me that she was out to prove that “Ben Menor is a crook.”

People forget that we all make mistakes, just as FilAmSODC, Inc. and Ben Menor did – but their actions weren’t done maliciously. They believed that they were doing their best to steer a ship’s course with one rudder through uncharted waters, benefiting the people they promised to serve.

FilAmSODC, Inc. and its President & CEO, Ben Menor, are not your stereotypical Filipinos. They have earned the right to sit at the table AND learn from this audit experience. For people within the Filipino American community to chime in and ask him to resign is unconscionable.

FilAmSODC, Inc. now needs to get behind all this and with the City of San Jose’s support, start the process of “wielding change and building capacity” so that two years from now, all the improvements that the City of San Jose wants done are manifested.

The future is bright. It will be brighter if we acknowledge that it’s no one’s fault that the community center — that the City of San Jose and FilAmSODC, Inc.’s leaders and supporters built — is going through serious growing pains. And yes, it is also Ben Menor’s leadership that is on the line. He will know who his true friends really are. I hope I’m one of them. I believe I know the truth. Through Ben’s mentorship, my truth propelled me to devote time to publicize and be involved in the Filipino community’s celebrations and challenges, locally and globally.

To the armchair critics who are so determined to tarnish FilAmSODC, Inc.’s board of directors and Ben Menor’s reputation, remember what Winston Churchill once said, “The price of greatness is responsibility.”

3. Here are current facts Ben Menor explained to me.

(a) The criminal case is still pending.
(b) The sentencing will be done on September 18, 2008 (orignally scheduled on July 24).
(c) Ben’s attorneys have asked him not to discuss the underlying facts of the case while it remains pending. Per the plea settlement agreement with the court, the charge will be reduced to a misdemeanor on September 18 if the balance of the “substantial restitution” is paid (which includes the court fees).
(d) When complete restitution is paid, the court will entertain a motion to expunge the charge, which means the court will dismiss the case in its entirety.

4. Let’s analyze some of the “facts” that Joseph Lariosa wrote about Ben Menor. This is where I turned to my gmail archives and did some google searches.

(a) I found an OP-ED Joseph Lariosa wrote in THE FILIPINO EXPRESS ONLINE, May 12-May 18, 2008, as a columnist. (To those uninitiated by media practices, columnists write OPINIONS, and are responsible for the veracity of their facts.)

In “Reinventing Crab Mentality,” Mr. Lariosa wrote:

It all started when Mr. Cortez had a falling out from his brother-in-law, Mr. Ben Menor, who is a Filipino American, after Mr. Cortez’s sister divorced Mr. Menor. Mr. Cortez once told me that the moment his sister divorced Mr. Menor, he also ceased to become an “in-law” of Mr. Menor (Lorna’s note: Ben was divorced in 1990).

Mr. Lariosa, it was AFTER Ben Menor’s divorce that Mr. Cortez became a program consultant and later, the Executive Vice President of FilAmSODC (1997). Technically, he ceased to be an “in-law” which was a good thing because there was no nepotism in the leadership hierarchy. However, Mr. Cortez was in charge of COMPLIANCE reports to PRNS. Did Mr. Cortez set up Ben Menor for failure since the latter has the command responsibility for all the successes and failures of FilAmSODC’s management? I don’t know. Maybe you would like to investigate this.

(b) In an article Asian Journal published on February 5, 2007, Mr. Lariosa wrote:

Mr. Menor, nephew of his namesake, Hawaii State Chief Justice Ben Menor, has been a rising star among the Filipino American community in San Jose until his former brother-in-law, Tito Cortez, formed a pressure group called “CRABS” (Citizens Rebelling Against Bogus Spending), and supplied authorities initial evidence that led to the filing of the separate civil and criminal cases against Mr. Menor.

Mr. Lariosa, what is the logic behind connecting the late Hawaii State Chief Justice Ben Menor with Ben Menor? How do you even know that Ben Menor from San Jose is the namesake?

(c) Here we go again! In the May 5-May 11, 2008 edition of Filipino Express Online, Mr. Lariosa wrote:

Menor, said to be a native of Hawaii of Filipino ancestry, was the executive director of the Filipino American Senior Opportunities Development Council (Fil-Am SODC), a nonprofit group that operates a 92- unit senior housing and community center in San Jose. The same center is being used by Filipinos, Sikhs and Indo-Americans and was considered a model of multicultural cooperation and partnership when it was inaugurated in 2003.

When he was arraigned on Nov. 16, 2006, Menor pleaded not guilty on an indictment returned by the Santa Clara County Grand Jury. The indictment charges Ben Menor of 3056 Knights Bridge Rd., San Jose with one felony count of California Corporations Code Section 6812 (False Statement of Operations) and two felony counts of California Penal Code Section 487 (Grand Theft/Embezzlement). Menor self-surrendered on November 15, 2006 and was released on $30,000 bail.

My questions and comments:

- This is not the first time that you mentioned that Ben Menor is “said to be a native of Hawaii of Filipino ancestry.” Where did you get this conclusion? If you did your homework (fact checking again!), you would have found out that Ben Menor was born in the Philippines. In fact, I believe he was the one who created the term “Generation 1-1/2″ to represent the Filipino Americans who were born in the Philippines but who immigrated to the US before the age of 12.

- I don’t know how many journalists practise giving out the full addresses of defendants. Why couldn’t you just have said “Ben Menor of San Jose, California?” OK, if you’re being careful to make sure you are writing about the one and only Ben Menor, you could at least have written your news story under his given name, “Benny Menor.” But then again, since Benny’s nickname is Ben, people wouldn’t recognize Benny, right?

- Let’s look at the THREE charges. Here is what Rodel Rodis wrote some of us to explain what had happened (in his May 8, 2008 email).

Hi folks,

It’s important to note that after going through 30,000 pages of documents, the only case the D.A. had which Ben pled to was a violation of California Corporations Code Section 6812(a) which states that “Every director or officer of any corporation is guilty of a crime if such director or officer knowingly concurs in making or publishing, either generally or privately, to members or other persons (1) any materially false report or statement as to the financial condition of the corporation, or (2) any willfully or fraudulently exaggerated report, account or statement of operations or financial condition, intended to induce and having a tendency to induce, contributions or donations to the corporation by members or other persons.”

More than 99% of Wall Street corporation boards would be guilty of this offense if 30,000 pages of their corporation records were examined by law authorities.

- Let’s get some facts straight again!

Ben Menor is NOT on probation. (He is not “buying his way out of jail,” which appears to be the thesis of your latest article.)

I don’t get it. You never mentioned that the settlement was offered by the District Attorney. Or did I miss this statement somewhere in your article? If Ben Menor truly committed these crimes, shouldn’t he be prosecuted? Why did the District Attorney offer a settlement instead? Probably because there was no evidence OR there is insufficient evidence to convict him.

The way I understand this situation is that the “plea bargain” offered by the District Attorney requires RESTITUTION, which also means that the court fees are included here and whatever purposes restitution is for. When Ben Menor pays the required restitution per the terms of the settlement, the charge will be dismissed. Technically, this means that there will be a misdemeanor, after which it will be expunged immediately.

The two other counts (the serious ones regarding grand theft and embezzlement), once the terms of the settlement offer are met, will also be dismissed during the sentencing (according to court documents). Did you not ask the District Attorney the specified requirements from the court records on the District Attorney’s settlement agreement?

The amount that you stated, $48,000, is incorrect. Ben Menor has to raise over $50,000.

In today’s article, Mr. Lariosa, you wrote:

Count two of the indictment alleges that Menor embezzled thousands of dollars from the center between May 16, 2003 and June 25, 2004 when he paid a center employee with center funds to provide full time in-home elder care to his own parents who were living in Menor’s home.

Here’s something that I would like to emphasize and inform whoever reads my opinions.

In January of 2004, just before I resigned from FilAmSODC, I wrote the analysis of the Intergenerational Assisted Living Program case study/pilot program (wherein Ben’s parents were the subjects). Let’s check the facts again.

This pilot program that Ben Menor spearheaded was approved by the FilAmSODC Board of Directors.

When I wrote the report of the pilot program’s results and the initial draft of the proposal to bring this unique intergenerational assisted living paradigm system-wide within the center, the PRNS (from my conversations with Ben Menor, after he finalized my draft) wholeheartedly approved of the proposal and was ready to work on its launching. I was very proud of my contributions to the “white paper” of this proposal because I had devoted a lot of hours studying and analyzing how it could be efficiently and productively implemented. Well, never say never. I’m optimistic. When Ben Menor gets back on track, I’m positive this is one project that he will follow through (not necessarily in the City of San Jose, right?)…

Mr. Lariosa, you also wrote today about:

He pleaded no contest to the charge that he overstated by 24,000 hours the amount of time he and his agency worked under contract with the city to run the Northside Community Center, a senior housing and community center on North Sixth Street in San Jose. A no contest plea has the same legal effect as a guilty plea, Lowney explained.

Mr. Lariosa, I’m sure you were able to read FilAmSODC’s Response to The Audit Report in 2005. Let me jiggle your memory a bit. The contentious 24,000 hours would be something that Ben Menor would have to plead “no contest” to because this was part of the settlement offer and this was a question regarding the process of reporting the hours to the City of San Jose which the PRNS had a handle on, meaning, they directly supervised the reporting of the hours (the City Auditors found the PRNS to be 60% of the problem with the JTS Northside Community Center). It’s a very long story. As an employee, I remember how I had to write my reports according to the services rendered, the number of people we served, and the hours served. The 24,000 hours may not be the correct overstated amount since it was never verified or confirmed by the District Attorney. One thing is very clear: When restitution is paid, this charge will be reduced to a misdemeanor and the settlement allows the misdemeanor to be expunged.

Conclusion:

You gave me a gift, Mr. Lariosa. The gift of “standing up for MY truth.” The next time you write an article that can have truly damaging implications for our strong Filipino American community, check your facts first, then write your article.

To the CRABS who started this all: Remember that we used to be ONE happy family at Northside. Everything that we had talked about (before there were CRABS) was taken up with Ben — yes, all those complaints you had about him and the Board of Directors. We all grew up these past five years. I hope that you will move forward and use your energies wisely and fruitfully to enrich the lives of people who could benefit from your talents and skills. YOU have the capacity to heal. Let it be so.

To Ben Menor’s friends and supporters: This is IT! Just one more hurdle this September!

I believe that we will truly gain from Ben Menor being back in the forefront, training our future leaders and providing community development leadership. Whatever you can do to help will be appreciated!

Here is a poem that I sent out to my internet universe on June 21, 2005 that I believe helped shift the energy that some media practitioners created — the mob mentality of “He’s guilty!” — to a more balanced perspective of “A person is innocent until proven guilty.”

“Turn to the Courage Within You”

by Douglas Pagels

“It takes a strong person to deal with tough times and difficult choices. But you are a strong person. It takes courage. But you possess the inner courage to see you through. It takes being an active participant in your life. But you are in the driver’s seat, and you can determine the direction you want tomorrow to go in.

Hang in there… and take care to see that you don’t lose sight of the one thing that is constant, beautiful, and true: Everything will be fine — and it will turn out that way because of the special kind of person you are.

So… beginning today and lasting a lifetime through — hang in there, and don’t be afraid to feel like the morning sun is shining… just for you.”

And so it is.

P.S. We will always lovingly remember the late Betty Getubig, the “mommy” we ran to at FilAmSODC. She was the one who talked to me in early April of 2005 and asked me to take the Caltrain to San Jose so I could help out because FilAmSODC’s HNVF funding was in danger of being reduced. We miss you, Manang Betty!

My Diabetes Life Notes blog, which is my personal adversaria on “Living and Eating Well with Diabetes Type 2,” has some new postings. You might want to check out my progress as I include more vegetarian and vegan food choices in my lifestyle.

Calling all Crustacean dining aficionados! I received an e-mail from Chito Desuasido about ALIMANGO Restaurant, that just had its soft opening on Easter Sunday. Here’s my posting about Alimango Restaurant. Let’s check it out.

Get your FREE Chill! Berry frozen yogurt coupon here, courtesy of Manuel Ramirez of Lollicup Tea Zone in San Jose, CA. Good until October 2008.

FilipinaImages.com — an advocacy blog and news portal that I co-founded together with my sister, Noemi Dado, and our friend, Dine Racoma — helped out with the Women’s History Month’s “Filipina Stories” writing contest. wikiPilipinas.org is the primary organizer. The winning entries have been released so check them out here. We invite everyone to join us in this worthy campaign of “Reshaping the Filipina Image Online.”

The Filipino and Filipino-Fusion Dining Guide: You can send me your food reviews and recommendations. Gratis et amore!

KabariNews.com is growing in leaps and bounds as THE leading Indonesian-owned print and digital publication (in Bahasa and English) — with a goal of strengthening the connections among Indonesians in America with Indonesian-based Indonesians. If you want to reach out to these Indonesians, please contact me at LornaDietz@gmail.com.

The 15th Annual Pistahan Festival & Parade at Yerba Buena Gardens in downtown San Francisco is coming up on August 9-10, 2008. This two-day celebration features artists and various cultural activities such as “Sine Sine” (the film festival) and a community parade. Also featured are booths exhibiting authentic Filipino food and delicacies, artwork, games, music and dance.

Nona Andaya-Castillo is very busy bringing people and organizations together to organize the Second Synchronized Breastfeeding Worldwide Event, scheduled on October 11, 2008, as well as its launching during the World Breastfeeding Week on August 1 to 7, 2008. She is looking for public service, corporate, non-profit agency, and community-based partners. If this sounds like something you would like to do, contact:

Nona D. Andaya-Castillo, IBCLC
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
The Breastfeeding Clinic: Your Partner from Pregnancy to Parenting
Telephone: 632-444-4716 632-271-0954
Children_For_Breastfeeding@yahoo.com
+63-919-839-5555 and nurturers2005@yahoo.com.ph
Founder:
Nurturers of the Earth
A support group for vegetarians and vegetarians-in-progress
Children for Breastfeeding
Mobilizing children to promote earth-friendly parenting

The 8th NaFFAA Empowerment Conference is on Sept. 26 to 28, 2008 at the Westin Hotel in Seattle, Washington state. Contact me if you are interested in corporate sponsorships and I will direct you to the right person. Click here for conference details and registration.

Mark your calendars for the 2008 Filipinas Magazine Achievement Awards: Thursday, October 2, 2008 at the South San Francisco Conference Center. Let me know if your company is interested in being a corporate sponsor or reception sponsor and email me at L.Dietz@FilipinasMag.com. This is an annual awards event that honors Filipino achievers in their respective fields of endeavor. Details follow soon.

Mark your calendars for the Veloso Clan Reunion, organized by the Veloso Foundation of the Philippines, on Saturday, December 13, 2008 in Tacloban City, Philippines. Updates coming soon. If you are from the United States and you would like to avail of the cheapest internet airfares for this reunion, go to Book Your Travel Online at RadiantView.com. Follow the instructions! Otherwise, email me at RadiantView@gmail.com.

Mark your calendars for the 2009 University of the Philippines in America (UPAAA) Grand Reunion and Convention, “Building Bridges to the Future. Uniting Alumni for Excellence & Service,” on Sept. 4 to Sept. 6, 2009 Washington DC, venue to be announced. Get your updates at the UPAA website. For more information about corporate sponsorships and exhibitors, contact Dr. Francis S. Sy, UPAA President, at SYF@mail.nih.gov. Jubilarians are urged to register early and contact the Jubilarian Committee for special instructions. Please contact Emmy Ceguerra at Ceguerra@comcast.net /Terri Magdongon at tmagdongon@aol.com.

Let’s keep the UP Spirit alive! Join us in this grand reunion organized every two years. Meet fellow alumni from all UP campuses and colleges. Enjoy three days of camaraderie, fun, and sharing interdisciplinary perspectives on various important topics. Dr. Emerlinda Roman, UP President, will be the keynote speaker.

Jubilarians to be honored: Graduates of 1984-1985 (Silver), 1979-1980 (Pearl), 1974-1975 (Coral), 1969-1970 (Ruby), 1964-1965 (Sapphire), 1959-1960 (Gold), 1954-1955 (Emerald), 1949-1950 and earlier classes (Diamond).

“Make sure the emcees are respectful to these young men, Elton! It takes a lot of guts for them to be there on the stage,” I reminded him. “I understand that community service involvement is one of your criteria for these contestants. How will you make sure that the interview portion of the pageant will be handled sensitively?”

“Because you’re going to host the interview portion of the program,” Elton declared.

“Moi? I write profiles, Elton,” I protested.

“But you interview people, right? What’s the difference?” Elton asked, determined not to get a “No!” for an answer.

“OK, this is my personal support for you, Elton, as a Filipina who wants to end violence against women and girls,” I agreed, not sure why he thought I was an ideal pageant interviewer.

If you’re in the Los Angeles area on Sunday, July 20, 2008, please come and celebrate with us as Filipino men “break stereotypes” at the 6th Annual Ginoong Pilipinas-USA [Mister Philippines USA] competition.

6th Ginoong Pilipinas USA

SUNDAY, JULY 20 @ 6 PM

GRAND BALLROOM
Radisson Hotel Los Angeles Midtown at USC
3540 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles CA 90007
Telephone: (213) 748-4141 Fax: (213) 746-3255

Direct from Elton:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
John Baguio (917) 553-4750

- - -

Sharon Leal and Andrew Christian headline 6th Ginoong Pilipinas USA as America’s search for the Best Filipino Male goes to Los Angeles

The now New York-based Ginoong Pilipinas USA is holding its 6th cultural pageant cum fundraiser on Sunday, July 20, 2008 at 6 p.m. at the Grand Ballroom of the Radisson Hotel Los Angeles Midtown at the University of Southern California, located at 3540 South Figueroa St, Los Angeles CA 90007

Known for its humanitarian efforts, Ginoong Pilipinas USA will share portions of the event’s proceeds this year to White Ribbon Campaign, a coalition of Men Working to End Violence Against Women. Calif. Senator Leland Yee will be on-hand to help promote the Campaign.

Los Angeles’ celebrity fashion designer Andrew Christian will co-host the program and Hollywood Fil-Am singer-actress Sharon Leal, (Boston Public, Dreamgirls, Why Did I Get Married) will be the special guest
performer along with Broadway Star Stephanie Reese and American Idol Finalist Jordan Segundo, 2008 American Idol Finalist David Hernandez, and many local performers rendering their time and talents in celebrating Filipino male youth empowerment.

Over 20 contestants from around the nation are competing for the title and this year’s winner will receive $1,000 cash, roundtrip tickets to the Philippines, a custom-made trophy and sash and the rare opportunity of representing the Filipino community in various civic and cultural events around the nation.

This year’s sponsors include San Francisco’s Hotel Luz; LA’s Patron of the Arts, Bong Prada Lim; Wilshire Travel Center; O Bar Restaurant, Gregory’s Tuxedos; Nostalgia, The Barong Tagalog Shoppe; Swimwear by Andrew Christian; Pnoy Apparel; Fashion Designer Lou Razon; and Western Union.

Media partners include Balitang America ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel; GMA Pinoy TV; LA’s Midweek and Weekend Balita; The Philippine News; Manila Mail; Manila Bulletin; Pinoy Today; NY’s Filipino Express; Filipino Insider; AsianWeek; Philippine Fiesta; Philippine Headlines; MyGringos.com; Bisaya Bulletin; Hollywood Flip; NY’s Carousel Pinoy; and PinoyGig.com.

Tickets to the event are at $20 and are available online via BrownPaperTickets.com or by calling Toll Free (800) 868-3006.

For more information, visit ginoousa.net, email ginoousa@gmail.com or call (917) 553-4750 in New York; (415) 424-3998, San Francisco; and (818) 909-2525, Los Angeles.

There are many Filipino and Filipina celebrities out there in Hollywood. Many of them are of mixed-race parentage, thus, they don’t look Asian.

My nephew, Mark de Vera, asked me recently if Vanessa Anne Hudgens (of “High School Musical” fame) would be showing up at this year’s Filipinas Magazine Achievement Awards on October 2, 2008 at the South San Francisco Conference Center. “Wishful thinking, Mark. You’ll never know!” I replied. Then, I thought to myself, “I didn’t even realize Vanessa is a Filipina!” Duh!

Whether these Asian celebrities have decided to claim ownership to their Filipino-and-other-Asian-ancestry family roots or not, it’s nice to know that some of them, such as Cheryl Burke, Sharon Leal, Apl. de Ap. of Black-Eyed Peas, Tia Carrere, Mark Dacoscos, Lou Diamond Phillips, Dante Basco, Enrique Iglesias and his older brother, Julio Iglesias, Jr., and Rob Schneider are doing very well in their careers as performing arts professionals.

Some of our successful celebrities make it their business to showcase Pinoy humor in mainstream America. A Bay Area comic, Rex Navarrete, makes a hilarious representative of Filipino American humor in the United States and overseas. His mom, Gloria “Goya” Navarrete, who is a nuturing friend and amazing gourmet chef, is one of Rex’s favorite subjects for his original comedies.

Here are some of these Pinoy and Pinay Proud Moments for your entertainment.

SEXY HOT! Filipino & Other Asian Celebrities in Hollywood
Click here to go directly to YouTube.com.

Famous Filipino-American Celebrities
Click here to go directly to YouTube.com.

Vanessa Anne Hudgens’ “Say OK” Music Video
Click here to go directly to YouTube.com.

Rex Navarrete from Balitang America
Click here to go directly to YouTube.com.

Our conversation also touched upon some “whistle blowers” regarding Formula Milk made by Wyeth that is supposed to be recalled in the Philippines. I got the impression from my chat with Nona that birth statistics regarding the contaminated milk have not yet been disclosed, especially the inference about the increased percentage of new-born infants who contracted meningitis. This definitely needs more investigative work — so whoever reads this and is interested can certainly contact Nona.

Since I don’t know what all the perspectives are, my googling research is what I’m writing about (and I’m biased because I’m pro-breastfeeding). What I found about the current war between formula milk and mother’s milk in the Philippines (and probably other third world countries) made me reflect on my own role as an advertising and business development professional. I asked myself, “Do I solicit advertising from companies who do not share my values about compassion and sustainability?” and “Do I even care about media’s civic role in advancing the Filipinos’ mindsets and attitudes?”

My online research, upon Nona’s prodding, took me to the UNICEF Philippines’-produced documentary, FORMULA FOR DISASTER . The marketing copy caught my attention: “This eye-opening documentary reveals how the marketing of powdered milk has caused fewer mothers to breastfeed in the Philippines - including those who can ill afford artificial milk and suffer its harmful consequences. The milk companies’ formula for profits is a formula for disaster.”

Here is the “Formula for Disaster” documentary, courtesy of UNICEF-PHILIPPINES through YouTube.com.

Formula for Disaster (Part 1 of 5)

Formula for Disaster (Part 2 of 5)

Formula for Disaster (Part 3 of 5)

Formula for Disaster (Part 4 of 5)

Formula for Disaster (Part 5 of 5)

During my searches at YouTube, I found this endearing video, A TRIBUTE TO BREASTS. I thought that the 2nd Synchronized Breastfeeding Event deserves a third-party tribute for its noble efforts.

Nona Andaya-Castillo is very busy bringing people and organizations together to organize the Second Synchronized Breastfeeding Worldwide Event, scheduled on October 11, 2008, as well as its launching during the World Breastfeeding Week on August 1 to 7, 2008. She is looking for public service, corporate, non-profit agency, and community-based partners who can sponsor the US central global event to be held in New York City.

COULD THIS BE YOU OR YOUR GROUP?

TO CONTACT NONA D. ANDAYA-CASTILLO:

Nona D. Andaya-Castillo, IBCLC
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
The Breastfeeding Clinic: Your Partner from Pregnancy to Parenting
Telephone: 632-444-4716 632-271-0954
Children_For_Breastfeeding@yahoo.com
+63-919-839-5555 and nurturers2005@yahoo.com.ph

Founder:
Nurturers of the Earth
A support group for vegetarians and vegetarians-in-progress

Children for Breastfeeding
Mobilizing children to promote earth-friendly parenting

This talented Filipina offers insightful analysis based on her technical as well as business knowledge and experience. After all, Noemi has a B.S. Food Technology degree from the University of the Philippines. Some people still remember that she had an exciting career at the Institute for Small Scale Industries . I clearly remember this because she sub-contracted my services to interview some small business owners in diverse industries in Cebu. Thus, I was able to get an innate understanding about how a foundry conducts business or how a fledgling dried mangoes business emerged as a market leader. Even our own family bakeshop’s triumphs and woes became a case study for my sister at a national business publication.

Noemi and I are FOODIES, that is, we share a love of interesting, oftentimes off-the-beaten-path type of cuisine. What Noemi’s blog offers to me is a current review of the trends happening in the Manila dining scene as well as the pop culture favorites of Filipino food consumers. I’ve noticed that her daughter, Lauren Dado, who is now taking her Masters in Creative Writing at the University of the Philippines, is an active contributor to this blog. Butch Dado, Noemi’s “Warrior Lawyer” husband, also loves to cook. Marielle, my other niece, has definite opinions about where and what she eats. She reminds me of her mom (Noemi).

Here are some postings in Noemi’s blog that I found which appealed to me.

Noemi talks about Milk Tea, which is a staple in Asian grocery stores here in the United States. I was first introduced to milk tea by my KabariNews.com’s marketing director, Vonny Oei, a couple of years ago. How wonderful to see it being marketed as a coffee alternative in the Philippines!

Her entry about Ube Wrapped Lumpia reminds me that there are many creative vegetarian dishes that can be included in a calorific, cholesterol-rich Filipino menu.

Although there is a Zagat Guide in the US for restaurant reviews and ratings, Noemi introduces us to the Miele Guide, Asia’s Restaurant Guide.

Even my love for Hot Tsokolate or genuine Filipino hot chocolate doesn’t escape Noemi’s food diary.

Who says you have to make the 8-hour journey to Baguio to experience authentic Cordillera hot chocolate? If you’re craving for Filipino hot chocolate, all you need to do is head over to this cozy little restaurant called Choco-late de Batirol in Serendra, Fort Bonifacio.

Noemi even takes us on a photographic journey with her as she evaluates Appetite Magazine and Greenbelt’s grand launch of The Tasting Room.

Lauren’s whimsical kitchen adventures at the Center for Culinary Arts in Manila keeps Noemi’s Food Blog fresh, energizing, and let’s-face-it! youthful.

I particularly enjoyed Noemi’s account of her visit to The Farm at San Benito when she participated in a Nutrition Camp conducted by Nutrilite Vitamins and Minerals. You can take a peek at some of the tempting food she ate at her Photo Gallery and read her personal blog posting of “Health is Wealth at The Farm and Nutrilite.”

Noemi’s Family Photo Gallery makes it easy for me to keep track of the events she’s been to.

If you want to stay in touch with the culinary delights in Manila, I recommend that you subscribe to Noemi’s RSS feed or via email.

If you don’t know what RSS means, here’s a simple video that explains it all, courtesy of YouTube.com.