MY GARDEN AND THE INMATES IN JAIL

THE METAMORPHOSIS (5/18/13)

By

ERNIE  D. DELFIN

MY  GARDEN AND THE INMATES IN JAIL

“What does a garden and the in inmates in jail

 need most?  A caretaker or a shepperd!”

                                                                                       This author-columnist

         As a semi-retired businessman and a part-time apostolic worker,  doing almost “nothing” business-wise has become a luxury that is both life-giving and sustaining,  especially a day  when I can spend as many hours as I desire to be   in my garden.   Life is good when when one can enjoy nature with intermittent visits to the refrigerator or occasional recess to  one’s  home office where the computer is always ready  or one has a ready  access to an IPad to be   connected with one’s Face Book friends atthe click of a finger.

          Today’s weather is quite conducive to do nothing again.    With a  very pleasant Spring weather,  my morning  started with my Healthy Coffee*  and a bowl of cereal inthe garden,  followed by  leisurely work,  tending the many  different plants in my  garden.  Even without any Home and Garden recommended plans,  garden work becomes quite natural with lots of  common sense management. Unlike the back-breaking farm work under the boiling sun in the Philippines, my gardening work in America is totally fun and enjoyable that makes the hours of the day run much faster.

         In late afternoon,  I was in another environment that is totally different than my garden.  I was in County Jail for several hours,  not as an inmate, but  as a volunteer with my fellow church Prison Detention ministers  doing our weekly  volunteer work.   These two environments ---- my garden and the jail ---  are quite distinct and different  YET quite parallel in so many ways, both in human  and spiritual terms.  Both places need a caretaker or a shepherd. Let me expound.

            All  live things in the garden, from the earthworms to the bees and the plants are  passive by nature, with different  shapes, form and color, so are the inmates in jail. Theplants never move without human hands, so are the inmates  who cannot roam  around without the guards or deputies.  Without the gardener’s  love, the plants will wither and eventually  die  for lack of water and fertilizer,  so are the inmates will become emaciated and may face death without any  food  and health provisions that are mandated by law.  With total neglect,  the good plants can  be overtaken by weeds, without the guards that provide protective custody, some inmates will be overpowered and killed by those who hate them.   Insects and bugs surround the garden and must be controlled by the gardeners’ instinct and life-sustaining care.  Within the prison walls, many evil or illegal things, including drug or human trafficking,  continue to proliferate and planned even inside the prison system, and from time to time these  illegal or evil acts are implemented by the  inmates’ effective network outside  the prison walls.  

            For more productive yield and to enhance their natural beauty, the plants in any garden are grouped in accordance with their natural characteristics,   so are the inmates are grouped  according to the nature of their crimes or their propensity for violence,  for their safety and protection from each other.  Plants need plenty of sunlight and water,  so are the incarcerated in jails or in prisons,  including those in solitary confinements also need sunlight and water to live  so as not to suffer from cruel punishment or even death. 

        The garden needs regular visits from  the gardener for the plants to yield their  maximum potential, so are the inmates must  have some degree of rehabilitating or caring (not just punishment focused) programs like the regular visits from social workers, health professionals, or faith based or religious ministers like us.  Some plants attract more bees than others, so are some inmates having some  visitors or ministers visiting them.  

        Surprisingly, many inmates  do not have any guests  or relatives visiting them at all.  Many plants need to be uprooted and transplanted,  many inmates are also transported daily from one area to another: to the courts,  to safeway houses, to hospitals or to state or federal prison if found guilty or set free after their  trials.  Many plants simply are re-generated by their seeds.  It was a shocking revelation for me to learn that  many inmates or prisoners  come from dysfunctional families where grandparents,  parents, siblings or even their children have been locked in the prison system in the past or sometimes incarcerated  at  the same  time. With pun intended, they say “it’s  more fun to be with your ‘Mafia’ family at taxpayers’ expense”.  How sad, but it’s  a reality in our society today.

         I  learned also  that some inmates, especially the indigent and those whose family doesn’t care for them anymore deliberately commit  crime just to be back in jail as they  prefer to be incarcerated simply because their  basic needs for food, bed, (prison) clothing and even dental or hospital care are all provided for, courtesy of us taxpayers,   in exchange for  giving up their civil rights and  freedom, that  normal citizens  would rather have to enjoy life.    

        My love affair with my garden was somewhat nostalgic probably to  re-live my unpolluted carefree life while growing up in a farming village in the Philippines. The only difference was,  then,  it was a necessity,   working like a slave  under the heat of thetropical sun, but now my  garden work in America is absolutely optional,  done with leisure and pleasure.  It is an inexpensive but effective therapy to de-stress and remove the toxins acquired from some unhealthy activities of our urban daily living.  

         My introduction and subsequent experiences in the county jail, on the other hand, happened by accident (although I was told by a Franciscan priest that there are really no accidents in God’s dictionary)  as if scripted by an Invisible Hand.  To work as a  prison detention minister  never ever entered into  my mind nor included  in my vocabulary until about a few  years ago, when a series of events  unfolded before my very  eyes that led me to it mysteriously.

          For five years, my Bible Study classmates in our church have incessantly invited me to join them to the Orange County Jails  to conduct bible study or Communion Services for the inmates.  I never did until almost two years ago, when a fellow Rotarian unexpectedly contacted me and sought my help  to pray and if possible to visit her incarcerated daughter who was   accused of murdering her husband in an Orange county jail.

        To lend some moral and spiritual support and to show compassion in her family’s pain,  I eventually did volunteer, and weeks thereafter I went through the strict process  to become  a certified  prison minister by the Diocese of Orange and  the County Sheriff that issue the  annual pass badge   to enter the county jails anytime.  Ministering to inmates now for the second year, I surprised not only my family and friends but also myself to realize  that  I am enjoying this weekly experience while also learning from this rare volunteer activity.

       I also  felt that it has also made me a  better Christian and a more compassionate human being.   Tending to the “lost sheep” in our society  has become a  very fulfilling, a true  service above self  as it fills a “hole in the soul” simply by our presence rendering a non-judgmental  face-to-face religious or spiritual services  to the inmates in jail.

                                                                      * * * *

POSTSCRIPT. Reflecting tonight, it  occurred to me that  since biblical times, prison or jail has  some profound redemptive value for many people that has converted many Christian believers even closer to their own God  and  Creator. The Good Book narrates the imprisonment of many persons, like Moses, Joseph, the son of Jacob inthe Old Testament or  St. John the Baptist and St. Paul in the New Testament.  Their imprisonment even made them more committed to their missions, ideals or causes and fortified them to even face death without fear.  Prison for these great biblical characters and leaders  served as a fertilizer that grew their faith, instead  of breaking them to denounce or reject  their own God or Redeemer.

           In  contemporary times,  prison also has transformed some  people to become fearless and non-violent leaders.  The example of Nelson Mandela who was imprisoned for 27 years in South Africa for fighting the Apartheid practice of the white rulers of his country comes to mind.  Instead of becoming  bitter against those who caused his imprisonment for  almost 3 decades,  he offered  an olive branch  to them and vowed to work for peace and reconciliation.  His non- violence style of leadership won him the Nobel Peace Prize and resulted to his becoming president of his country in 1994.

          Equally noteworthy was the exemplary life of Mohammad Gandhi who worked fearlessly to unshackle the repressive rule of the British over his native India. Although he did not suffer imprisonment like Mandela, who still alive and now sickly,  Gandhi lived  not only under the daily threats of being imprisoned but also under the threat of being assassinated by his many enemies. His leadership utilizing non-violent approach eventually toppled the British  who ruled India by force and intimidation.  Both Mandela and  Gandhi  are  revered and honored as great leaders of peace and non-violence not only in their native countries but throughout  the world.

            Another person who metamorphosed  while in prison was Charles Colson, known as the Watergate “hatchet man” during the Nixon presidency. During his incarceration, he became a born-again Christian and an  author. After his release from prison, he founded the Prison Fellowship  Ministry in 1976  and his legacy  is still  ongoing even after his death last year.

           The colorful biographies of these three men in three different countries, in different generations, under different circumstances  can give us  great examples  what a life with a deep purpose can do to transform anyone  to become what he truly desires to become,  despite the threats of prison or even death. In my book,  these three men lived a very  rich life, without necessarily leaving this earth as  rich men. Without any doubt, they  are my kind of a hero.   

          At this stage of my life, to be a small instrument in the metamorphosis of any  inmate as a prison detention minister in the County Jail  is both a privilege and a precious gift from God to my fellowmen. I pray that I will have the mental and physical health to do it much longer.    

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THE METAMORPHOSIS’ FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

                      “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, and naked and clothed me, ill and cared for me, in prison   and you visited me.”        

                                                                           --- Matthew  25:35-36

                    

Email this writer:  ernie.delfin@gmail.com  and drbannatiran@yahoo.com

THE METAMORPHOSIS (8/20/13)

by

ERNIE D. DELFIN

THE FEDERATION OF FILIPINO ROSARY GROUPS - ORANGE COUNTY CELEBRATES 20^TH  YEAR ANNIVERSARY

“For where your treasure is,  there also will your heart be.”

                                                                              Luke 12:34

           It’s  been said that any American,  or  any non-Filipino for that matter, can easily  understand or educate himself about the Filipino people (and in turn, be loved and trusted by the latter) if he learns and accepts what ingredients that make up his  DNA as a Filipino.   In my almost almost 40 years in America,  I have concocted the Five F’s that make the Filipino-American a “true” Filipino:   Family, Friends, Fiesta, Food and Faith.  The first four are very  tangible that are quite evident in all  Filipino gatherings,  from baptismal parties to funeral services. Culturally, families and friends  always gather and food is always in the center table served in a fiesta-like environment  as part of  their tradition and religion  generally speaking, as Catholics. About 85% of Filipinos are Christians and the vast majority of them are Catholics.  The last one, Faith (religion) is neither as visible nor palatable as the others, and is the topic of today’s  column.

          With that as a background,   it’s not surprising that the over 30,000 Filipino-Americans, in Orange County’s  34  cities, have banded together to practice their “Filipinoness” to be able to practice their culture and their Catholic faith. With a close-knit community and word-of-mouth marketing, these first generation families  have successfully grown to a sizable group of 6 county-wide chapters with 27 geographical areas that eventually became what is now known as the Federation of Filipino Rosary Groups of Orange County (FFRG-OC) that was established as a non-profit religious organization twenty years ago.  The 52 families that make up one area commit to host the statue Blessed Virgin Mary at least one week a year and  the family promises to pray the rosary  before her daily. At  the end of that 7 day period ,  the host family prepares  a simple dinner (sometimes elaborate one to celebrate an event in thehost family)  for all the  area member-participants  to enjoy that   weekly prayer and ritual of transferring  the Blessed Virgin Mary statue  to another family.

           A flashback of FFRG-OC history:  In 1991, the initial group of devotees of theBlessed Virgin Mary numbers just a couple  dozen families and became the first  Orange County Chapter of the Federation of Filipino Rosary Groups-Los Angeles, under the directorship of Irene Alzate, who continues to be an active leader of theFederation to this date.  In 1993,  in just three short years,  the chapter grew to about 19 areas, and the leaders have successfully   convinced  the “mother” federation in LA that Orange County  can also become a viable,  independent  federation.  This resulted into  having its own legal corporate non-profit entity as F.F.R.G.-Orange County in April 1993.  As the influx of Filipino immigrant and Catholic families into Orange County experienced dramatic growth,  this social and religious group that honors  the Blessed Virgin Mary in its  center stage continued to grow in the last few decades that now consists over  1,300 families across Orange County. After Irene Alzate,  FFRG has been guided by its unselfish volunteers and indefatigable presidents  coming from different cities of Orange County, to wit:  Art Diaz, Mel Gallardo, Joe Arevalo, Jorge Fuentes,  Zita Sevilla,  Elizer Ruiz, and Lino Aldana.  

          This year,  FFRG celebrates its two decades of existence with a county wide celebration and yes, another “fiesta-atmosphere” aka   weekend dinner-dance  on Saturday, August 24, 2013 at the Crown Plaza Hotel and Resort in Garden Grove, California, just south of the “happiest place on earth”, known as Disneyland!   The event is filled with some speeches or testimonials and  especial presentations like the“cotillion”  where the participant FFRG members have invested many precious hours just practicing their dance numbers for the audience to enjoy and remember.   Furthermore, to raise funds to support some of their religious programs like their Annual Retreat, Rosary Rally or the Fiesta ni Maria   and the Simbang Gabi during Christmas time, there will also be a  silent auction of valuable donated  items that any one can bid during the event.  As this is the only major event of the Federation this year,  the officers expect about 700 guests will join this  20^th Anniversary celebration.

* ** *

        A COMMENTARY AS A MEMBER OF FFRG:    As a resident of Orange County for over 30 years myself,  I have witnessed the metamorphosis of this  religious group led by first generation Filipino Americans who are “gracefully” aging (like wine?) and have  started new careers as  “APOstolic” workers as they have become grandparents themselves.  As a member in our own   OC NorthWest area of FFRG,  and active volunteer  in my own parish Peace and  Justice Ministry as well as the Diocesan Prison Detention Ministry,  I personally commend the efforts, the energy and time of all theFFRG leaders and volunteers.  These volunteers have unselfishly given their time and talents that contributed greatly to the enhancement  of the spiritual life-quadrant of thousands of  Filipino families. Due to the active affiliation of the different FFRG areas in their respective parishes,  the presence of Filipino American Catholics has been  felt and acknowledged by no less than the Orange County Bishop Tod Brown, especially when the federation has successfully raised funds of over $10,000 that was donated tothe OC Diocese in conjunction with the historic purchase of the  Crystal Cathedral that is now named as the future Christ Cathedral in the City of Garden Grove.  Thepresence and significance of Fil-Am Catholics will continue to be recognized throughout the diocese  because of the active participation of FFRG members in their local parishes in the  practice of their faith.

             However,  FFRG’s  continued life as a religious group  is now faced with a perennial challenge how to involve or inspire  the second or third generation of Filipinos Americans to be more involved and committed to participate actively. The  vast majority of FFRG  members  are now in their 60’s or even older and in 20 years or so,  the1300 plus families who are committed doing the weekly Rosary Prayer groups will most likely decrease dramatically, and eventually the Federation may become distinct like the dinosaur, unless some miracles may happen soon.   Sharing ideas with some FFRG leaders,  I have learned that there are various  factors why this  predicament is happening and unfortunately there is no one practical solution to this problem to makethe young Filipino Americans more involved.  

             As a parent myself to two American born children (and now with two very young granddaughters)  I understand that the world of the second or third generation is now much different than our world as first degree immigrants.  Their priorities and values (somewhat) are no longer the same.  That being said, FFRG leadership must ask their children how FFRG can also contribute to their family life or spiritual life, if there is any,  through formal or informal survey and from there,  a more meaningful  and  relevant program can be created to match what they desire (if any).  I still have great hope and faith  that there will always be a residual, like the fine sand left in the river bed, that remains in the life of our children, values  that were internalized in their formative  lives since they were born and cradled in our own homes until they flew from the parental nests.   The question, however, is:  Can the first generation parents leave something to their children that they do not have in the first place?   Only God and the person concerned would know the real answer!

         Lastly,  I must say that FFRG-OC is trying its best to accomplish its mission and objectives in the 4^th quadrant of a good  life according to the America’s  guru,  Steven R. Covey, in his  best selling book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, “to live a full and balanced life,  we must consciously touch until it becomes a habit  all thenecessary QUADRANTS  of good life:  PHYSICAL (to live),  MENTAL (to learn) SOCIAL (to love) and SPIRITUAL (to leave a legacy).

           With that,  MABUHAY “ FFRG-ORANGE COUNTY!

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Email columnist:  ernie.d

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS ON JFK's 50TH DEATH ANNIVERSARY

THE METAMORPHOSIS (Nov 2013 column)

By

Ernie D. Delfin

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS   ON  JFK’s   50^th  DEATH ANNIVERSARY  

(With random thoughts on Post SuperTyphoon Yolanda’s Events this Thanksgiving Week)

“Ask not what your country can do for you, rather  ask what you can do for your country!” 

                                                                                           --- Pres. Kennedy

              I  was a  teenager and a   high school student at the Holy Rosary Academy in my hometown of Manaoag, Pangasinan in the Philippines  50 years ago today, when the USA and the world commemorate the   50^th death anniversary of Pres. John Fitzgerald Kennedy.   On a gloomy rainy day at home, today   I can’t help but reminisce and ponder how that historic and horrific  day has affected the  whole  United States,  if not the entire world.   Because of his untimely death, Lyndon B. Johnson became president, the Vietnam war escalated and many more occurrences may or may not happened  because of Kennedy’s  influence to the world ended abruptly. 

            After  JFK’s assassination,  U.S. History and  U.S. Government   as a part of our junior and senior  class subjects  became more interesting and we learned  a lot how USA was governed as it was the model of the Philippine government structure .  Even then, we  knew the key  leaders of the three branches of the U.S. government, as we knew their counterparts in the Philippines.    In the 1960’s,  the U.S.A. was looked upon as the Big Brother and the Philippines was considered as her little “brown brother”,  which was  said  as a word of affection but sometimes with derision.  In those years of Camelot,  we were conditioned  that all that came from  America  were   perfect and superior,  (made in China products were not commonplace at that time).  Even the subject of  American Civil War was a very popular elective subject.  I still remember memorizing and delivering in speech  contests that short but profound Gettysburg address by President Lincoln,   as well as reading many  U.S. presidents’ inaugural speeches, including of course the one by the  hero of my youth,  JFK.  I still remember some of his historic accomplishments or pronouncements of his shortened presidency, such as the establishment of the Peace Corps,  the bold Cuban blockade and his vision for man to land on the moon that happened on July 20, 1969, less than 7 years after his death.

           The many images JFK, the  35^th president of the USA, and  first Catholic president and his lovely wife Jacqueline on that fateful day in Dallas 50 years ago  as well as the picture of their two children, Caroline and John-John saluting during their Dad’s funeral still seem so fresh  as if those events happened yesterday,  because they   were stored in my  memory bank forever.

          Although his presidency was cut short by an assassin’s bullets, its impact on me as a young boy was incredibly lasting   that has kept refueling my sense of idealism to this day.  I feel to this day that I  I am a part of his  modern day “Peace Corps”  who listened and followed his patriotic   admonition to his fellow Americans “Ask not what your country can do for you, rather ask what you can do for your country”.   That advice is much needed now as the country seems to be very much polarized due to politics and ideologies between the liberals and the conservatives, how to lead the American people. President Barack H. Obama, although also a Democrat,  is no John F. Kennedy.

            On this day,  that we commemorate the 50^th anniversary death of  JFK, the hero of my youth, I also hope and pray    that the nation  must heed  JFK’s  patriotic message  so that the country can be united in  the pursuit of the COMMON GOOD,  and not just to advance party ideologies or insure  politicians’ survival in both the Republican and Democratic parties.  The reputation of our Washington D.C. political leaders from the White House to Congress is an all time low.  I feel the American  people, especially the working class who do not savor nor enjoy any government largesse are getting more and more impatient that will soon cause of a tsunami of new faces to replace those traditional politicians in  Washington within the next few elections.

                 As a small businessman and an  American voter for over three decades now,  I  have seen the weakening of America’s  fiber  as  more and more people exhibit that minimalist attitude, particularly  the younger generation  ---- that has adopted their YOLO (YouOnlyLiveOnce) philosophy contrasted to our generation’s  “Save For the Rainy Day” mantra. -----   to render or invest the minimum  amount of energy but desiring  to  reap the maximum benefit.   This is partly due to the  expansion of countless  federal and state social programs of entitlements, creating an environment that government knows best in  solving  our individual, family  and community problems  but in reality are  better left to the individuals to take care and solve.  The strength of America was her work ethic, self determination and self respect that collectively made America  the way it is now.  Most of the  great inventions, discoveries   and technological advances that we enjoy today were the products of entrepreneurs in their individual  endeavors, and not in government offices but  in individual garages and/or laboratories.   The stories  how 21^st  century companies like  Microsoft, Apple, Google and Facebook as in previous centuries’  inventions and discoveries  are great examples how  progress can be achieved without much guidance or dictatorship from the government.  

             That old-age philosophy of pursuing  individual pursuit  of liberty and happiness coupled with that early Americans’ indomitable entrepreneurial spirit  pervaded  since the industrial revolution when cumulative individuals’  actions   were the catalysts for  change and progress.   It behooves our political leaders in Washington and in every state capital to remember that politics  is neither the end nor the ultimate solver of citizens’ problems. Rather, the role of government  is merely to become the  provider or the enabler for its citizens to pursue their  private enterprises to survive and succeed in a fair and conducive  environment, where industry and innovation are  rewarded.  I used to believe at a tender  age that government’s primary role is to provide the mechanism to have  peace and order,  reasonable  programs for  public health, education and  welfare for those citizens truly unable to fend for themselves (that does not include able bodied, healthy citizens who live on dole-outs and food stamps and free health care!)

               However, the United States of America, despite all its faults and human frailties, still remain a beacon of light that continues to attract millions of people to come and live here in the pursuit of freedom and happiness.   The people wanting to come to this country still far exceed those who want to leave.   As a grandparent now,  I pray this week as we prepare for another Thanksgiving Holiday that we,  the living,  learn from the past,  live in the present but work vigilantly for the future.  Actions that we do now, nor actions that we fail to do today  will affect the future of our grandchildren’s future.  Will their  future be a better world or worse than we the baby boomer generation (1946 – 1964) enjoyed?  That is the big question, that only time can answer!

                                                                                              * * **

POSTSCRIPT:   

            2013 is memorably historic ( not only for JFK’s  50^th assassination  anniversary or  the 50^th  anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream Speech”) as well as very tragic year  due to the strongest and  worst Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) that devastated Central Visayas particularly the provinces of Leyte, Samar and Cebu.  Thousands of lives perished and billions of pesos worth  of properties were lost or damaged that will require years to rebuild and rehabilitate.  The damages  that were  inflicted upon these islands in the Philippines by Yolanda were far worse than those caused by the  deadly Hurricanes Katrina,  or Sandy or Andrew that also devastated  many U.S. cities in the recent past.

             Amidst these terrible tragedies, however,   some beautiful silver linings  keep on appearing in many places and events where millions of people everywhere,  regardless of their nationality, color, religion or upbringing,  are coming forward  out of their normal paths to pitch in to assist, in anyway they can.  Not only foreign governments and international organizations have mobilized to help, but small groups of people  banding together to help out by raising money or  collecting much needed food, medicines and life-and-death supplies or physically volunteering to go to those devastated places to cure, to feed and to rehabilitate the victims.  The common thread is to alleviate the pains and sufferings of millions of people that were victimized by this natural calamity. .

             America   has again shown to the world that she is still a great  compassionate leader nation of the world  and proved that she is still a  beloved   Big Brother to her Filipino “little brothers”  as evidencedby her U.S.  deployment of her military asset and provision to  help and assist the hundreds of thousands of victims in those  devastated islands in the Visayan region.   The presence of so many countries led by the United States in lending a hand and providing emergency resources, including food, shelter and clothing and  machinery and manpower to restore and repair countless of structures  is heartwarming.   Amidst this catastrophic tragedy,  a beautiful  rainbow of hope re-appeared.  A tragedy of this magnitude brought  back the innate character of  human beings that we are just one  people residing in ONE  planet,  just a one particle  of this one ocean of humanity.   The pains and sufferings of one nation  are also felt in all nations.  People everywhere  are commiserating and wanting to help out, in any way they can.

            On a personal level, I have been touched and emotionally moved by such unexpected responses from complete strangers here in Orange County, where we reside the last 40 years. For instance, after speaking before the Buena Park Rotary Club a week ago,  two American waitresses who were serving us, just came forward  to offer me all the cash money that she had (apparently all  their tips as of lunch time) and I could not help but really shed tears uncontrollably.  I could not remember any other time in my life that I have experienced  that feeling!     

            Meeting some business friends and fellow Rotarians the last couple of weeks also resulted in several checks that totaled over  $1,000 as of now,   which we will soon remit to our District 3780 Mother Club’s  Calamity Fund in Quezon City.  This is very small amount compared to the $60,000 goal of Orange County Rotary District 5320 Benefit Concert for the Philippine Typhoon Relief that was held last Monday night,  November 25, 2013, where over $32,000 was raised that night!  I have no doubt that in a few more weeks when all the contributions are received, that the goal is met or even exceeded. You may visit www.rotary5320.org  or www.rotaryeclubGlobalKalingaD3780.org for more details.   

            May God bless all these compassionate people, all over the world!  May God bless the Philippines and   May God bless the entire world!   Mabuhay ang Pilipinas (Long live the Philippines!)  

           HAVE GREAT THANKSGIVING WEEKEND, EVERY ONE!

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Email columnist:  ernie.delfin@gmail.com or ernie.gkerc@gmail.com

SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE, EVENTS AND EXPERIENCES IN 2013 THAT MADE AN IMPACT TO THE WORLD AND TO MY LIFE

THE METAMORPHOSIS (Dec 2013 column)

By

ERNIE D. DELIFN

SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE, EVENTS AND EXPERIENCES

IN 2013 THAT MADE AN IMPACT TO THE WORLD AND TO MY OWN LIFE

 “ An unexamined life is not worth living for.” ... Socrates

 It ‘s again another Christmas season, when the believers and followers of Christ take time to

celebrate His birthday, which is the real reason for the season, and to take inventory of what we have

spiritually and materially. With material trappings of Christmas perpetuated by the malls and

other places of commerce the spiritual aspect of Christmas has been subdued or overshadowed by

the Christmas activities and parties everywhere. Amidst all the bright lights, food and festivities

that engulf us, however, it is unthinkable to have joy and happiness without the presence of family

and friends who love and care for one another and manifest their affection with gifts that has

become a family tradition for many. Mysteriously, this season brings back many memories that not

only make many people very happy but also make some people very lonely and even suicidal.

 This Christmas, as in years past, I try not to get carried away with so many things or activities

around me that often add more unnecessary stress to life. I have learned and accepted long ago

that Christmastime or not, one can be generous with his time and resources to others. To be

genuinely happy is not just to receive or give a lot of toys and gifts, but to be grateful for what we

have: our life, family, home and health that we enjoy.

 As the year is about to end, it is but natural and apropos to acknowledge or remember

people, events or experiences that made a positive impact to our lives. Good news or even

tragedies that visit us can be life-giving or at least make us better human beings. As this my

last column for 2013, I want to wish and greet all my readers a very MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A

PROSPEROUS PEACEFUL NEW YEAR.

 Also, I want to share some significant people, events , places and experiences that made the

year flew very fast, as well as adding more colors , drama and stories to my Book of Life. Of no

particular order of importance or chronology, here are my personal choices that hopefully match

yours or at least trigger your mind to come up with your own list of significant events last year:

 * The selection of Pope Francis I as the “Person of the Year” by TIME Magazine. Since the

time that Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina, the first Jesuit and the first one from the

Americas was elected pope a year ago, and immediately choosing Pope Francis I, as his papal name,

and reading more and more personal anecdotes about him, I am forever awed by his humility,

compassion and energy in following the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi and living out Christ’s

teachings especially on Peace and Justice issues. His example of cooking his own meals, taking public

transportation, meeting and visiting homeless people, living in a Vatican guesthouse rather than the

luxurious Papal residence mesmerized me since then and made me quite happy as one practicing

Catholic. Like many writers, I have also devoted one column about a few months after his election

as the successor of Pope Benedict XVI I truly believe that God has given us the right kind of pope

to address the many serious issues and challenges of our times. I join millions of people around the

world in praying that God blesses him with a long and healthy life to be able to institute much

needed reforms through his revolutionary and Servant Leadership style like the ways of Christ and St.

 * SuperTyphoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) in the Philippines. It took the worst

typhoon named Yolanda (aka Haiyan its international name) that devastated Central Visayas,

especially the provinces of Samar and Leyte, to realize that after all peoples around the world do

care and empathize with the pains and sufferings of the Filipino people. It’s amazing that nations

and governments all over the world and people everywhere regardless of color, creed, nationality

or ideology are doing something to help, monetary or in kind material contributions, to be sent to

the areas that were severely affected. It was a heartwarming to witness the outpouring of love and

compassion from so many people with golden hearts. As the song says “We are the people, we are

the world, let us start believing” is indeed true after all

 * Death of Nelson Mandela. An incredible man who rose to become the first black president

of South Africa after decades of White Minority rule, after his long years in prison. His example not

only shone in his country but throughout the world. He became a bigger man than his predecessors

by forgiving those who have caused his incarceration and not holding any grudge against them.

Like Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa, he advocated love and compassion to everyone. He

left a lasting legacy by the way he lived his life and his extraordinary leadership as a Servant Leader

unifying the South African people after a very divisive history of Apartheid

 * The Waking up of the Filipino people against corrupt politicians, including senators and

political dynasties who think they own the country. I hope and pray that with the thousands of

shenanigans and graft and corruptions happening in all the three branches of government in the

Philippines that are now being uncovered and exposed by the present administration and filing legal

cases against those accused of graft and corruption, including senators and former cabinet officials.

Hopefully these actions will lead to a moral and ethical governance, so that the government is truly a

government of the people, by the people and for the people. With the resolve of the present regime

in the Philippines, and the guidance of God, I pray that 2014 will be the beginning of true justice

with just punishment of the guilty and the renaissance of a better government for the country.

Martin Luther King’s “I HAVE A DREAM” speech in Washington D.C. (?) These two icons of American

 anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s Assassination and also 50th

history changed America for the better despite that there lives were cut short by assassins’ bullets.

JFK’s vision to put a man in the moon, the establishment of the Peace Corps and his “Ask not what

your country can do for you” admonition to this fellow Americans still reverberate to his day, half

a century later. MLK, on the other hand, his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement through his

fearless advocacy that all men, regardless of color and creed, are created equal and have inalienable

rights to live in peace and justice. Had these two leaders not assassinated and instead lived a full life

like President Reagan or Carter, America’s social fiber would have been stronger now. Social injustice

would probably been lessened and probably the Vietnam War would probably not have happened or

 * The Affordable Care Act or popularly known as Obamacare. This historic law that was

passed during President’s Obama’s term has caused a lot of tension or division among so many

Americans, between the liberals and conservatives since the height of the Vietnam War. While

the Democrats have supported to cater to their constituencies, the Republicans want to defund or

abolish Obamacare. This is a form of socialized health care, which has many advantages as well

as disadvantages. Americans already pay more for their health care yet they are afforded less

care because of costs compared to all the countries in the industrialized world. The conservative

Republicans and the liberal Democrats must reach a prudent, reasonable compromise and

equilibrium by simply forgetting their party’s myopic ideology by embracing the philosophy that

their loyalty to their political party must end when their loyalty to the American people and love for

their country begins. Charity and compassion to the deserving is commendable, but taking advantage

of government entitlement or social benefits by able bodied people who can also earn a living is plain

 * The George Zimmerman and the Jodi Arias court trials. These two recent trials of murder in the

United States have opened a wide array of debilitating cancer in the U.S. society today. In so many

aspects, the courtroom drama magnified, that race, dispensation of justice and lengthy and costly

trials are still a part and parcel of the justice system. The daily papers as well as the TV news have

provided incessant entertainment courtesy of the American taxpayers. Having witnessed some

of these media coverage of these legal dramas, I feel nauseated and angered just observing, that

apparently, the perpetrators of their alleged crimes were more prominent and important than the

victims themselves. Although it was a tragedy in many respects, I hope and pray that there will also

be good that can germinate from such a tragic and real life court drama among the parties that still

continues o this day. There should be some kind of reforms to cure this malady as the “welfare of the

people should be the supreme law.”

 What follows are personal experiences that the world does not have to know but they have

significantly made a positive impact to this writer on a personal level:

• Catholic Prison Minister Experience in Orange County Jail. The last two years joining my

fellow Prison Ministers (formally known as Restorative Justice and Detention Ministers)

I found out quite mysteriously that I have enjoyed and learned much from this service of

interacting, leading the inmates in County Jail in Bible Studies and Catholic Services. Beyond

my wildest imaginations, I have come face to face with some convicted murderers, drug

addicts and people of many backgrounds, color or creed. The only link between us, ministers

and the inmates or prisoners is our humanity and the core belief that there is a Higher Being

called God or whatever name He is called. The inmates attend our services voluntarily and

their one hour attendance every week, I heard from a few, is the highlight of their week. For

some of them, it is a re-birth of their own “lost faith” and for many inmates these bible study

and spirituality classes are the first ones they have ever attended in their lives! After over 6

years of active involvement of my local Catholic Church of Holy Spirit in Fountain Valley such

as in our weekly Bible Study, Eucharistic Ministry, and a member of the Pastoral Council, this

Prison Ministry is living out of my faith as well as following Jesus commandment of loving

your neighbor when He said “that when you I was hungry, you gave me food to eat, when I

was naked, you clothed me and when I am in Prison, you visited me” .

• Our Global Kalinga e-Rotary Club’s (that I founded) outreach program to a “third” world

country, Mexico. For two years, now, upon the initiative of our Club’s International Director,

Chuck Cota, with a Mexican ancestry, we have been going to an Orphanage (Hogar de la

Gracia Home) in Rosarito-Tijuana border, less than an hour from San Diego, California. We

have given many gifts, baby strollers and cash that we have collected in Orange County to

share. Although it is not very much, these donations have made dozens of children’s faces

light up and made their Christmas season a little bit brighter, just knowing that there are

people, who they never knew from Adam do care. Going there on a hectic week two weeks

ago, when there are several invitations to Christmas parties, was all worth what we personally

witnessed and felt deep inside our souls.

• Lastly but not the least, our APOstolic work (In Filipino, APO means grandchild in English)

It’s a common belief that taking care of your own apos is more fulfilling than your own

kids simply because “you can spoil them freely because no one spanks GrandPa.” During

the years when our children were very young (Donna, now 36 and EJ, now 26) we have not

taken care of them during weekdays due to work and business. Now, with the concomitant

blessings of being retarded..... errr retired seniors, we seem to compensate that lost

opportunity by seeing and taking care of Donna’s daughters: Olivia, almost 4 and Sofie,

almost 2 years old , almost every day that we desire. Unless you are a grandparent, you may

never know nor feel that priceless enjoyment that just being with your apos can bring you.

In return, we the lolos and lolas can even give up our life for them simply because they are

the future of our families and our world, while we are already in the sunset of our earthly

 MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

 ------ 3 0 ------

Email columnist at: ernie.delfin@gmail.com visit: www.rotaryeclubGlobalKalingaD3780.org

SERENDIPITY: A DREAM, A RETREAT AND ROTARY

THE METAMORPHOSIS  (January 25 2014 column)

By

ERNIE D. DELFIN

SERENDIPITY: A DREAM, A RETREAT AND ROTARY

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

 Matthew 6:21

 Soquel, Northern Calif. Being away for almost a week, accentuated by a

revitalizing 3 days Retreat in this Poor St. Clare’s Retreat situated inside a forest

in the Santa Cruz mountains was indeed another week that my wife and I truly

enjoyed like the many annual retreats we have done. Hopefully, we continue

to do the same at least annually, the rest of our lives. Psychologically, perhaps,

many toxins of life are removed and blown into the wilderness that made our

spirits energized and made the body seemed lighter as the accumulated life’s

baggage or stress are tossed away. A short vacation like this, without much

concern to earn more money to be comfortable, is a great luxury as it is priceless

for me. Surrounded by centuries old pine trees and their natural beauty, one can

be drowned by the majesty of the forest environment where there are no TV,

nor internet or WIFI connections nor cell phone signals for us retreatants. It was a

weird feeling for a while but one can adjust to the environment fast enough, to

recognize that that’s how life used to be in the not so distant past. It was a great

investment of time and money just to have relaxing days that nourished the body,

 It’s circumstances, places and times like these when we meet Miss

“Serendipity” to discover learn, to enjoy, recognizing the beauty of simplicity

lost imprisoned in God’s natural environment and being grateful for what we

are blessed with. In a unique vacation like this, I was able to do what my heart

desires, between the few conferences and scheduled dining for us retreatants. I

was inspired to write more things in my journal and also read a couple of books

that I have been wanting to read since last Thanksgiving. “Heaven is for Real”

by Todd Burro and “The Biology of Beliefs” by Bruce H. Lipton, PH D are a good

read and are highly recommended. This week, I just added another book in my

“ Bucket List” to buy: a new book that I browsed in the Retreat Center about

Pope Francis, our new Pope, a true Servant Leader showing the way by action

how the church must treat and care for the poor and the unwanted in our

society, thus giving the world renewed hope for a better world.

* * * *

 As our Retreat priest, Rev. Bruce Lamb, OFM eloquently discussed in one

of the lively talks, our life on this earth is indeed a journey. But to live a life with

meaning, it has to have a purpose, and must be anchored into something that is

solid as a rock, that is eternal, which does not change with the economy nor

the climate. Many of us call that anchor as God, Lord, Saviour or the Great Spirit.

Embracing that philosophy, one is subliminally forced to look into the mirror and

reflect what is truly important, as whispered by that feeble but powerful voice

within each of us, that we Catholics call the Holy Spirit. It can be called by any

other name like your conscience, or the Supreme Being or whatever name one

 After many hours of reflection, it dawned on me that I am still alive with

the Grace of God to become His instrument to do what He wants me to do while

on this earth. Indeed, it is serendipity to be in places like this and having met so

many people discussing and sharing our respective dreams or projects that we

would like to accomplish before we die. The more I ponder about these dreams,

the more I am convinced that they can be a reality through the convergence

of forces or alliances between businesses, people and institutions that believe

in the same dreams. To make it easier we already have a 108 year old Rotary

International that has already a proven network of over 1.25 million people in

over 200 countries who are committed to contributing their talents, treasures

time to make this world a better place, and that’s where our Global Kalinga e-
Rotary Club (“kalinga” in Filipino meaning “to give tender care”) can be the portal

or bridge to make it happen.

 For instance, during the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday weekend, last January

, our two-year-old Global Kalinga e-Rotary Club (that has now a diverse

membership like the United Nations) hosted a special dinner reception for our

District Governor-Elect from Quezon City, Samuel P. Pagdilao, Jr. (who is also

a member of the Philippine House of Representatives) after the conclusion of

their mandatory DGE training in the Rotary International Assembly in San Diego,

who eloquently shared with us Rotarians that included his DGE Classmates Elsa

Gillham (LA District 5280) and Jim Paddock (OC District 5320) and PP Rene

Fruto and PE Tita de Guzman (Riverside-Las Vegas District 5300) “State of the

Philippines and Rotary Districts” especially after the devastation caused by this

most cruel woman (Typhoon) Yolanda. He shared many inspiring stories how

thousands of people are sharing and working hard to help out, in their individual

capacities, or through their companies, organizations or foreign governments.

He also posed a challenge for us to keep on sharing a part of our time, talents and

treasure to help rebuild the many destroyed infrastructures, especially school

buildings and livelihood industries. DGE Sammy also shared a Confucian story

that the incoming RI president Gary Hwang from Taiwan told the 537 incoming

District Governors from about 200 countries around the world that “If we want

to be happy for an hour, take a nap; if we want to be happy for a day, go fishing;

if we want to be happy for a year, inherit a good fortune (if you are that lucky!),

but if we want to be happy forever, share and do service to others!” That is the

Rotary way, empowering people and changing them forever.

 In my brief presidential remarks about the history of our young GK e-
Rotary Club that I founded almost 3 years ago and its projects, I shared what we

have started going back to the basics: A B C (cube) : Alliances with Businesses,

Community leaders, Churches and Colleges for the Common Good. We have

now concrete examples of businesspeople, like Rick Aguiluz of Healthy Coffee

USA and Eddie Ferrer of EC Ferrer Customs Brokers, Inc., financially supporting

our noble causes like the building of Gawad Kalinga houses in GK villages around

the Philippines, providing a decent housing for the homeless to regain their

human dignity (to be followed by livelihood, nutrition and education projects

to empower them). As we are also part and parcel of our churches, our friends

there are also supportive of some of our projects, like adopting an orphanage in

Tijuana-Rosarito Mexico and contributing money and necessary school supplies

 As far as the involvement of Colleges, we are now in the process of forming

the OC-LA River Community Rotary Club and I have “charged” two energetic

new members of our E-Rotary Club to co-chair, Cassandra Hepburn (a Hollywood

actress) and Lino Caringal Jr. (a PMA alumnus and a community leader in Orange

County). This Rotaract Club composed of 18-30 year old young adults will support

our advocacies while training them to becoming leaders to continue what

Rotarians do in our local and international communities. I have no doubt that

these New Generation Rotaractors will significantly contribute and make our

GK e-Rotary Club LIGHT UP ROTARY!

 Last but not the least, I also shared that I have a dream of utilizing the vast

pool of knowledge, business expertise, talents and real life experiences of the

hundreds of thousands of Filipino American seniors (and their friends in America),

out of 3,000,000 Fil-Ams to go back to the Philippines and share their acquired

expertise and talents that they have accumulated during their working years. My

dream is to be able to have a “Secretariat” an NGO that is being registered to

accumulate thousands of resumes of people who would like to be a part of this

Philippine Justice & Peace Corps (PJPC) to be matched with the real needs of a

Philippine school, university or strategically linked with an appropriate business

or institution to share these volunteers’ talents or expertise from America to the

home country (Philippines) This is patterned after President John F. Kennedy’s

Peace Corps, composed of young Americans to “do something for their country

and the world, and not just asking what their country can do for them”. The

only big difference is that JFK’s Peace Corps was made up of mostly passionate

younger people whereas our envisioned volunteers of the PJP Corps are mostly

retired professionals and businesspeople who are able and willing to give back

and contribute something concrete with their countrymen especially the youth,

before they pass away into eternity.

 Like the American SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives, these active

Fil-Ams that will populate this conceived Fil-Am initiated “PEACE CORPS”

need not to be paid their true market value as they will be compensated

with an unquantifiable emotional and spiritual rewards with a public token

of appreciation or recognition and/or probably a minimal stipend from the

government or the institution where they are teaching or mentoring their

students. Ideally, perhaps an act of Congress creating or recognizing the

existence of this Philippine Justice & Peace Corps to make it an institution

that will have its own budget and administration, like the U.S. Peace Corps, to

last beyond the lifetime of us, volunteers. Paging our Rotarian friends in the

Philippines who share in this grand vision for our Filipino youth!

 After this last week’s Spiritual Retreat, I now believe that this dream of

mine can be a reality with the enthusiastic and broad support of many people

who expressed their “LIKES” when I shared this idea in the recent past. With

earnest prayers coupled with the endorsement and support of our Incoming

District 3780 Governor, the Honorable Sammy P. Pagdilao, Jr. and dozens of

Rotary Clubs in the Philippines and in the USA, this dream of another variation

of the Peace Corps and SCORE can be a reality and may be piloted during the RY

2014-15. To walk the talk, I am able and willing to be one of the few dozens

Filipino Americans who will give several weeks or months a year, to pilot this

ambitious project, and to improve it along the way in the years to come.

 Any feedbacks and constructive comments from readers, especially from

my fellow Rotarians are most welcome? Have a great February, the month of

HEARTS and all lovers in the world! Happy Valentines!

 ------- 3 0 -----

Email this Rotarian-dreamer: ernie.gkerc@gmail.com or ernie.delfin@gmail.com

SOME THOUGHTS OF HOPE AND RANDOM GOOD NEWS THIS EASTER AND SPRING SEASON

HE METAMORPHOSIS (4/11/14 column)

By Ernie D. Delfin

SOME  THOUGHTS OF  HOPE  AND  RANDOM GOOD NEWS

THIS EASTER WEEK AND SPRING SEASON

                       “An unexamined life is not worth living for” --  Socrates

            Today is Palm Sunday 2014, a beautiful spring day in Southern California.   I love this Spring season  simply because   many trees and plants  including those in  my “farmyard” that lost their  leaves   last Fall started to show off  their green luscious  leaves again;  various flowers start to bloom  attracting  birds, butterflies and many living creatures that contribute to the cycle of earthly life.   All these wonders of nature unfold their  magnificence as if responding to a magic wand of an Invisible Director before our naked eyes  as they  continuethe healthy balance of life around us.  God’s work is a miracle every day, which  is   unfortunately taken for granted by millions of people especially those in many metropolitan areas.

              I did not realize until about three  decades ago that  I would enjoy nature this much considering  that  I hated farm work  because of the  demanding  physical  work from sunrise to sunset during my growing up years in the farming village in Pangasinan.   Now,  farm work or   gardening   has become  a  priceless  hobby (in addition to my newfound career as an “APOStolic” (aka male nanny),  very effective but inexpensive  therapy for  a businessman’s   life in the city.   Today  is another  awesome weekend that helps me  enjoy the day despite the  chaotic or depressing news in many parts of the world, including the political circus in the Philippines.

      Palm Sunday, a great holiday of our Church,   is the beginning of the Passion of Jesus Christ.   To all  Christians, theLenten Season gives timely reason to pause and reflect on the Passion of Christ to have some personal retreat (from a topsy-turvy world) for reflection  to infuse some meaning to our lives.   It reminds me of that  acclaimed Mel Gibson movie,  ThePassion of the Christ, several years ago that  fueled some heated controversy   but also prompted many people to examine or meditate what    is truly important  in  their lives.     Christians who had seen it, like this writer with his entire family,  are reminded that world is  indeed an imperfect one since the beginning of time as we ardently hope that there is another more peaceful world in the afterlife.   To us  believers and followers of Christ, the promise of our redemption that is fully paid by Christ’s  suffering and death on the cross  is the ultimate reward that all Christians hope for. 

                                                               * * * *

            From my perspective in America,  there are  also many  good things happening in our world despite  the gloom and doom prediction fueled by many tragedies in our world today, like Civil Wars,  the mysterious Malaysian Airline disappearance,  many fatal accidents,  and countless  pessimistic news that we  continue to read in the papers or see on TV.  To augment some  pounds of  optimism to our Asian Journal readers this  Easter Week,   let me share some good news and developments that are unfolding here in America:

           *   As the U.S. economy continues to improve causing the unemployment figures go down.  Housing market is slowly moving upwards too which will also cause a domino effect to  more sales of home related products and services   ---- from insurance to building materials to electricians and plumbers ------  and it is expected that demand for housing increases while interest rates are still historically very low.

                     For  some regions of the United States  like Orange County, California,   where housing prices are beyond reach for many families,  I have observed  that many families are opting to just add a room or two so that  family members can come back for economic reasons. The median price of a house in Orange County now is  almost half a million dollars.     A rent for one bedroom apartment  is already over $1,200 dollars before other expenses like utilities,  food and  transportation.  The upside of this non-affordability of a single family residence for many  families  is that  family members are “forced”  to  live  together  as a family, probably living happier and  hopefully longer too.

*          More children of many Filipino American families now, compared to a couple of  generations ago, are now much more interested to learn about their Filipino culture and even enrolled to learn how to speak the Filipino language.  There is now an increased demand for  Philippine Studies and Culture. I read that even the University of Hawaii has some very unique subject,  Ilocano  Dialect, Culture and Values! 

   *      Another phenomenon   is the emerging power of second generation Filipino Americans in both private sectors (business and entrepreneurships)  and public  sectors.  For instance,  our Filipino American Chamber of Orange County has been presenting annually a popular   “Secrets to Success” forum  featuring local role models in business and government.  This month,   FACCOC featured successful 2^nd Generation Fil-Ams  such as: Gina Lopez Alexander, designer of celebrity bags aand accessories and founder of the Gina Alexander Philantrophy Project,  Emil Soriano, and Dennis Calvero, founders of Crooks and Castle Clothing line, Dr. Ray Mangune, owner of Gerry’s  Grill in Cerritos,  DJ Eman of Power 106 and its  Programing Director LA Power 106.0 Radio Station, and    Cerritos Mayor Mark Pulido.   I believe that all of them are now second generation Filipino Americans, replacing us the Baby Boomer generation that now becoming senior citizens every day.  

·          In  the health care field,  the  presence and importance of Filipino doctors and nurses  are very obvious.    It  is said that no hospital in the US, especially in California, will survive without the Filipino doctors and especially thenurses!  Thousands are also  working as private caretakers of many elderly or disabled Americans.     These private caregivers who go to the American homes  are the fastest growing  but seemingly invisible occupation of many Filipinos in America,  many of them  have college degrees.   Caregiving might be a lowly  and non-glamorous job but  many Filipinos do not mind because the salaries  are very good.   I know a family (both parents and one daughter) as they were my  insurance and real estate clients, made over $100,000 per annum  just  being caregivers!                                 

·           In the field of entertainment, from boxing to singing,  led my Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao, and celebrities like Martin Nievera, Regine Velasquez, Lani Misalucha, Charice Pempengco and many entertainers,  whenever they appear in the USA especially in  in Las Vegas are not only  making names for themselves but for the Philippines where they came from   Indeed the talents and popularity of the Filipinos in the entertainment field is now an accepted  worldwide  phenomenon !

·         Last but not the least,  it is also very heartwarming to know that thousands of Filipinos in America and their American friends are getting more involved in lending a hand to many Filipinos in the Philippines, as evidenced inthe massive outpouring of support to the thousands of victims of the Haiyan or Yolanda Typhoon victims.  It is when tragedies like Yolanda that we are reminded that we are really  connected as brothers and sisters that we do our fair share to alleviate the untold pains and suffering of our p0eople, regardless where we live on  this planet.  

             In our Global Kalinga e-Rotary Club, one of the first internet or electronic based Rotary Club that I founded almost 3 years ago, we are also doing some worthy projects especially education and in the mentoring, training and  empowering athe New Generation (young adults 18-30 year olds) to  become entrepreneurs, as we believe in themaxim that it is a thousand times better to teach people how to fish rather than giving them fish to eat.

                Any reader who is interested to join our GKeRC or in any of our Rotary projects locally and in thePhilippines or Mexico,  please visit our website: www.rotaryeclubGlobalKalingaD3780.org   and  email or  this writer at my emails below.

          With that, I wish all you, my ASIAN JOURNAL readers,  A HAPPY AND BLESSED EASTER WEEK!

                                              -----   30  ----

E-mail writer at:       ernie.delfin@gmail.com  or  ernie.gkerc@gmail.com