MY CHRISTMAS REFLECTIONS & 2011 YEAR-END SOLILOQUY

THE METAMORPHOSIS
By Ernie Delfin
MY CHRISTMAS REFLECTIONS & 2011 YEAR-END SOLILOQUY
The year 2011 in a few days will be a part of history. Most likely it can be considered a year as “the worst and the best of times” as many historic world events occurred in highly unpredictable ways. The unusual civil upheavals, now known as Arab Spring, that happened and still happening in Egypt, Libya, Syria and the continuing peace turmoils in Iraq, Afghanistan and Nigeria continue to dominate world news through Christmas day. Although these political and civil unrests may be disturbing or tragic, they are also providing needed catalyst for a new and better socio political landscape giving more freedom hopefully for the citizens of these countries.
The world witnessed many unforeseen changes as if all the “fears and hopes of the world” just converged during this Christmas season. Even, the USA that used to be the model and magnet of many countries continues to suffer its worst economic recession since the depression of the 1930’s. Highlighted by the Occupy Movement (of the 99% vs. the 1%) and fanned by the record profits of Wall Street at a time of massive unemployment and economic inequality is now taking center stage in the 2012 presidential campaign. Reading all these man-made problems often makes me wonder how people, like me, still can manage to be sane in our tupsy turvy world .
It’s good we have Christmas, when we Christians reflect on our own lives and still manage to see some silver linings in the horizon, sprinkling ounces of optimism for a better future amidst our own fears or insecurities. The life of Jesus, the Savior of those who believe in Him, and the teachings He left us still resonate to this day. His life and His pronouncements given to us Christians through his disciples force us to ponder on the meaning of our life here on earth. If you have crossed the midpoint of your life’s candle especially if you have become aware that you may be in your “pre-departure” area, you cannot help but be grateful everyday that you can still open your eyes when you wake up, hear the chirping of the birds, witness the growth of the seeds in your garden, walk, and play with your children’s children. Every day becomes a bonus especially if you remember that you have relatives, friends, associates who have departed into the life beyond in the recent past.
It is a sobering thought to accept that all men no matter how powerful and wealthy they are now, will not last forever. We came from dust and unto dust we shall return. My favorite passages of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 succinctly describes “that there is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens, a time to be born and, a time to die. . . . a time to love, and a time to hate, a time of war, and a time peace.” Nothing in this world is permanent.
With that global and personal perspectives, please allow me to share some random thoughts, my own Christmas reflections and year-end review and soliloquy, centering on the purpose and meaning of my own life, with the hope that some readers can be motivated to ponder or write their own review, based on their own set of values and experiences:
* MANY THINGS IN LIFE ARE STILL FREE. Having lived for over six decades ----from the years of material deprivations when the words: luxury, leisure or disposable income, did not even exist in my dictionary while in the Philippines into a relatively comfortable life of material “excesses” in America now -----makes me grateful and lucky to have undergone such a wonderful life’s metamorphosis. At this stage of my life, it is humbling and wise to also realize that many things on earth can still contribute to one’s enjoyment and positive outlook in life are still free. After man’s basic needs are met, another house or another expensive car or designer clothes may not be necessary to be real happy and fulfilled. Many simple things around us, all blessings from Above, can still make us happy, joyful or contented at no costs at all. For instance, a hundred times I have biked along the Santa Ana River bike trail to Newport Beach, walked leisurely with bare feet on the soft sand along the Pacific Ocean where nobody ever bothers you. The many visits I have made to the Wetland preservations, nature’s wilderness and the Big Bear Mountains and the grandiose Yosemite National Park and beautiful Lake Tahoe, where self-supporting birds and wild animals still live in peace, were rejuvenating to both body and spirit. Like sunshine, all of nature’s gifts are still there for everyone to enjoy.
* APOsTOLIC WORK. We also had our first “apo” (grandchild) named Olivia who gives us much happiness and make us do more physical activities this year. We realize that once you become a grandparent, another phase of your life commences as you are naturally sucked into doing that inevitable “APOstolic” work of taking care and playing with your “apo” Indeed, you inevitably witness many things that you might not have observed with your own children simply because you have now more time to savor and the patience (and wisdom?) to observe many childish and childlike deportment of a growing toddler, enjoying each minute of her innocent years when inhibitions, prejudices, hatred and taboos are still non existent. What a mysterious and wonderful lessons, we as adults can learn from babies!
* HOME SWEET HOME. The year 2011, despite all the “bad” news we read, was also very good for us, as we made some tough choices that enriched my family’s life. While we are healthy to walk and see, despite the great expense, my wife and I decided to travel to four European countries and experienced first hand what we just read in books or saw in the movies. Meeting old and new friends who hosted us in Europe made us realize the priceless value of human relationships, that reaffirmed that indeed we homo sapiens have more common thread that bind us than things that divide us. Those miles of walking in Vienna, Rome, London and Paris were quite tiresome but our eyes feasted on many historic sites centuries old landmarks. The totality of our 3-week experiences in the Old World made us more appreciative and grateful for many things we often take for granted in the United States. My wife summed it this way: “I missed our home, especially my bed and everything that surrounds us in California! “
* THE VALUE OF FAMILY. When everything in your world seems wrong, especially when you become sick and really need someone to keep you alive because you become incapacitated to do even the simple acts of daily living, then you realize the extreme value of your own family and real close relatives or friends. This year, I experienced a week of disability when I cannot even walk due to severe gout attack, unable to even cook or get my own food or water from the kitchen. Being sick is never fun but it is probably another life’s mystery that visits us to make us realize that you are not invincible after all. Indeed, you appreciate your family much more after nursing you back to your normal health, with their kindness and unconditional love.
* HUMANITARIAN WORK THROUGH NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION AND CHURCH MINISTRIES. A line in the Jaycee Creeds says “Service to Humanity is the best work of life” and I find that very true. For many years now, I have been contributing some of my talents, time and treasure to a non-profit organizations, like the Rotary International, and volunteering in several ministries of my church, like the Pastoral Council, Social Justice Ministry and our Diocese Restorative Justice and Prison Ministry. Founding the Global Kalinga e-Rotary Club, a borderless Rotary Club, that is substantially internet based, has been lot of work with untold challenges. However, as its charter president, I find it quite fulfilling to see its gradual development into a viable NGO that can do some humanitarian works for the less fortunate in our society. Living out my faith through volunteerism completes my week and makes my life worth living. Can you ever imagine what kind of world we have now or can you quantify the number of really needy people without all the churches and NGO’s with millions of their membership silently rendering true Service Above Self, without expecting any reward or compensation?
* HAVING “LESS” CAN ALSO BE A BLESSING-IN-DISGUISE. Amidst all the socio-economic turmoils that many families in America are still confronted with, we can still make pallets of many good choices for our lives. With less disposable income in many family’s budgets (for us who belong to the 99%) we become more discriminating in our lifestyles, including our spending habits. Many family members have opted to live together to save money, rather than paying an extra mortgage or rent, thereby making them closer as one family --- helping one another to weather this prolonged economic tsunami. People go to the doctors for increased anxiety and depression but it is also said that more people also are going to churches and pray. People during this economic and financial downturn have become more practical , discriminating and choosy what are the true essentials in their family life. In many instances, I believe that these critical conscious choices will not only good for our body’s health but also for our mind, soul and spirit. .
* BOOKS, LIBRARY, ARTS AND MOVIES. I have not been a sports fanatic which is very economical for me as the costs of watching any “live” NBA basketball, or Super Bowl, including the parking and unhealthy popcorns are really prohibitive for the average person. Much less expensive hobbies, however, are to go to the bookstores or library, arts museum and going to the movies. The latter activities are even more entertaining and definitely more educational than any Lakers or Clippers game in Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles, or the Angels baseball game in their Angel’s Stadium, or a Hockey game in the Honda Center in Anaheim. Futhermore, driving to these sport centers may also give you headaches fighting the crazy traffic just going or leaving the area.
* PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH FRIENDS AND LOVERS. It is said that without healthy human interaction in our society, it will be extremely difficult for any person to reach his full potential. People need people to be happy. Even big businesses and the major banks now have created a job classification, called Relationship Marketing Officers, to help enhance their bottom line. The social media has grown exponentially due to this “cyberspace relationships” as evidenced by the popularity of FaceBook and Twitter. New words and phrases have been added to the 21st century dictionary to describe many of these “relationships” such as BFF for BestFriendForever and many more. The personal relationship or fellowship we develop and nurture with others has a direct correlation with our success and can add more meaning to our lives.
*LEAVING A LEGACY . Every human being craves to leave a legacy. Steven R. Covey, a best selling author describes Active Verbs in the 4TH Quadrants of live to have a fulfilling and balanced life: Live (Physical quadrant) Learn (Mental Quadrantl) Love (Mental Quadrant) and Leave a Legacy (Spiritual Quadrant) . The many books/authors in the library speak volumes of the legacies people have left for the world to learn and enjoy. Thomas Alva Edison, Mother Teresa, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Jose Rizal, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi are just a few names that have left priceless legacy for the betterment of our society. The kinds of legacy that these great people left behind will last forever vs. the material things left by people who have no “spiritual quadrant” Even the mega-achievers and super wealthy people like Steve Jobs has a lasting legacy for what he has done and for what he wants to be remembered. Bill Gates, Bill Clinton, the Rockefellers the Fords, and many successful people in business and politics have their Foundations to pursue and perpetuate their good works even after their physical life, to leave their lasting legacy to the world.
To end this last column of 2011, let me share a Metamorphosis’ “Food for Thought” taken from a poster in my library:
“One hundred years from now,
It won't matter what car I drove,
What kind of house I lived in,
How much I had in my bank account,
Nor what my clothes looked like,
But, the world may be a little better
Because I was important in the life of a child.”
* * * **
A GREAT, PROSPEROUS AND MEANINGFUL
NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU!
--------------------------------------
Email: ernie.delfin@gmail.com or drbannatiran@yahoo.com

MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING: HIS HEROIC JOURNEY

THE METAMORPHOSIS
By
ERNIE D. DELFIN



MAN’S SEARCH FOR MEANNG: HIS HEROIC JOURNEY

Every person who has some knowledge of the Bible would know the bitter-sweet story of the prodigal son (Luke l5:11-32) Each human being, including this columnist, most likely will have his own “heroic journey” , like the prodigal son, who “left home” for whatever personal reasons that compelled him to do so, then lived in another place where he experienced many things, both good and bad, that eventually “changed” him as a person. Then for another set of reasons, he decided to “return home” and coming home a completely a “changed man!” In some journalistic parlance, each one of us, human beings, may also have experienced or undergone such a “heroic journey.” I think I have also undergone such “mid-life crises” (for a lack of a better word) phenomenon that I still do not fully understand but has accepted it as a part and parcel of life on earth.

This cycle of human life from infancy to adulthood (biblically, from conception to resurrection or from dust to dust) is as certain as the sunrise in the east and sunset in the west. Man’s journey is his alone to traverse, to enjoy or to suffer. His life’s journey can be bad or good, depending on how he does with it. It can be beautiful despite all the obstacles and thorns that may come his way, as long as he discovers his own “treasure” and finds the meaning of his life along the way to his final destination.

In his classic book, Man’s Search for Meaning, Dr. Victor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor wrote: “ The WILL TO MEANING is the basic striving of man to find and fulfill meaning and purpose in life. Man is reaching out for the world - a world, which is replete with other beings to encounter and meanings to fulfill…. The purpose is to give meaning to life...the individual...wants to create values...the human being has a primary or native orientation in the directions of creating and of values.”

A man therefore must take minute vacations to ponder and evaluate his own life, to always re-define what a “good life” means to him. Socrates once wrote: “An unexamined life is not worth living for.” When I was one and twenty, I never understood that short admonition from this great philosopher. Four decades later, now that I am a grandpa, I have a clearer understanding of Socrates’ advice, that has helped me chart what my “good life” should be.

Such evaluation or definition of a good life is quite personal and unique. Society’s definition is quite different from philosophers’ definition simply because society often measures a good life or success with a different yard stick that is normally associated with the pursuit of happiness by the acquisition of earthly power and fame. Many people of my generation have now passed the high noon mark in the clock of their earthly life. Some are now gazing at the sunset of their lives in the horizon. An honest reflection of one’s life evokes an inexplicable emotion that creates a mixed feeling of morbid thoughts and a feeling of an orgasmic release that could also bring some degree of tranquility and peace deep within.

I have read and now believe that there is a real “heaven on earth” when a person is at peace within himself and is aligned to that Almighty Power who created all things, Who found all of His Creations, including you and me, very good. There seems to be an invisible magnet available for all of us to follow that path towards Heaven or “Enlightenment” as some philosophers call it. Whatever and wherever that path to our (heroic) journey lies, you have to find it, and then own it. Each man must seek answers to his own questions as no one else can answer that for him.

My life’s values and priorities will not be identical to any one, like my finger prints are quite different even to my own brothers’ and sisters’ although we came from the same parents. So, are my spouse and my two adult children. Surrendering that I will never fully understand all these human drama unfolding before me, from the time of my birth to the last day of my life is empowering as it blows away the toxins of anxiety . It also serves as the oxygen tank that allows me to breathe fully and freely. It’s a life mystery that I’ve learned to accept.

This act of humility of accepting my own limitations, vulnerability and mortality has helped me re-define what is the true meaning and purpose of my own life. What is a “good life” (or heaven) for me?

What the heart yearns, what the soul aspires and what the mind’s predominant thoughts are, will serve as the true north compass that guides man’s direction. The Good Book says: “for where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” . The focus of the mind, heart and spirit then becomes the shuttle of one’s desires and ultimately defines what his “good life” is. As it is inherently personalized, no one can fathom its own meaning but the man himself. The common thread, however, is that very decade or so, the answer changes with age and maturity. When we were young, to finish college was the most important goal. After college, to have a good job and excellent salary or have a good business to provide our material needs was paramount. Then, to start a family and live happily ever after. What a myth!

Once you have a family, another set of challenges arrives: the young kids’ health and welfare, then schooling, then coping up with the concomitant problems or challenges of teenage children. Then, their own expensive college years that parents normally support. And the cycle of life continues and is repeated in every generation.

When you are lucky to pass the mid-century mark or reach a fully ripe age of 80’s or longer, like many healthy seniors now, life can be good if you have gradually fine-tuned your life’s priorities and values in alignment to a higher calling beyond just existing, eating and watching TV, like sharing your life with the least of your brethren and rendering true service above self without counting the costs.

A retired friend of mine describes it beautifully: “When I was young, what I have accomplished and accumulated served as my trophy which defined me. Now, that I can no longer drive any of my cars, I have given them away which was a great relief by letting go. Sharing a part of what I have, my experience and time with others was quite liberating and makes my life worth living for. When I wake up in the morning and still can smell the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and still can read the morning paper, and walking in the garden and picking up some fruits and feeding the birds are simple joys that I used to take for granted. In my youth, working in he field was like working in prison, now working in my garden is like walking in paradise.”

AMEN to that, my dear friend! Indeed, our life is a mystery to be lived, and not a problem to be solved. Life’s purpose is to live, to learn, to love and to leave a legacy!

-----30----

The Metamorphosis’ Food for Thought this month:

“ A man is born, goes to school, finishes college, has a good job, marries, buys a house, have children, then, retires with good retirement income and eventually dies! Is this all there is to our life?”
An entry in my diary

“Your life is God’s gift to you, what you do with your life is your gift to God!”
Anonymous

“ Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you!”

Steve Jobs in his commencement speech
in 2005 at Stanford University


Email columnist at: ernie.delfin@gmail.com or
drbannatiran@yahoo.com

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

A VOICE FROM AMERICA
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 2004, 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 continue the 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 two 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, an effective but inexpensive therapy for businessman’s stressful 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, the Lenten 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. The worldly acclaimed Mel Gibson movie, The Passion of the Christ, which opened on the first day of Lent on Ash Wednesday in the United States indeed has not only fueled some heated controversy but also prompted many people to examine or meditate what is truly important in their lives. Christians who have 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 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 heated political campaigns and the pessimistic news that we continue to read in the papers or see on TV. To augment some pounds of optimism for my STAR readers this Easter Week, let me share some good news and developments emanating from America:
* As the U.S. economy continues to contract, and some jobs are lost due to globalization (outsourced abroad like in India, China, Malaysia and Singapore and also Philippines) families are adjusting by living together to share expenses. Due to spiraling costs of living especially in housing in California, 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,l00 dollars before other expenses like utilities, food and transportation. The upside of this dramatic increase in housing costs is that families are again beginning live closer as a family, probably living happier and hopefully longer too.
* More children of many Filipino American families now, compared a generation 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 continued growth and vibrancy of our Catholic Covenant Community City on the Hill (COH), an affiliate of Ligaya ng Panginoon and Couples for Christ in the Philippines, is attributed to the Singles Group of Young Adults whose Music Ministry has added much needed energy to the entire COH community. Christian songs in Tagalog are often sung more often now. Furthermore, the popular singing group from the Philippines, Bukas Palad, is arriving to perform in a concert here in Southern California on May lst because of our COH Single Group. This promises to be a special treat to many Filipinos in Southern California.
• In the media, especially in broadcast journalism, the beauty and talent several Filipino women are also being noticed. For instance, in the Los Angeles area, two beautiful ladies appear almost daily in prime time TV. They are Denise Dador of ABC Channel 7, whose parents are from Cebu, and Maria Quiban who was born in Hawaii of Ilocano parents (like the former Miss Universe the former Miss Baraquio) who is a regular at Fox Channel Eleven. The Asian American Journalists Association (www.aaja.org) also had a National President several years ago, Ms. Camia, and the LA local chapter has two members of the board, namely: Richard Fruto, a Philippine born who has a journalism degree before becoming a lawyer, is the treasurer and my own daughter, Donna Karen Delfin, is now the secretary. The National Executive Director, Rene Astudillo, is also a Filipino. And there are more Filipino American personalities in other cities and states.
• 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 the nurses! Thousands are also working as private caretakers of many elderly or disabled Americans. Even the celebrity, Christopher Reeves is reported to have some Filipino nurses in his employ. These private caregivers who go to the American homes are the fastest growing but seemingly invisible occupation of many Filipinos 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 are my tax and real estate clients, made over $100,000 last year just being caregivers!
• In U.S. politics, although the Filipinos are still way behind the other Asian groups like the Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese, we are slowly adding some names to the roster of elected officials. In Carson, California, after the shameful exit of Mayor Pete Fajardo and Councilman Manny Ontal (both Filipino Americans) l due to corrupt practices, another Filipino, Elito Santarina, a teacher who hails from Nueva Ecija, won a Council seat last year. He tried to run for Mayor this year but he did not make during his first try, but I predict that as his name becomes more recognized, he will be the next Filipino American mayor. In the City of Walnut, the mayor is also a Filipino by the name of Antonio Cartagena. In the City of Milpitas, CA the mayor is a certain Mr. Esteves (originally from Pangasinan) who succeeded another Filipino American mayor, Henry Manayan, who unfortunately did not win the March 2nd primary to have been the first Filipino American member of the California State Assembly. In the City of Daly City, Mr. Guingona is also the mayor. A lawyer-friend David Valderrama, (a fluent orator in both English and Tagalog from Laguna) is the first and only Filipino American elected delegate to the Maryland Assembly. And in the Cerritos ABC Unified School District, 3 of the 7 members of the Board of Education are Filipinos: Cecy Groom, Mark Pulido and Armin Reyes. The City Finance Manager is also a Filipina CPA-friend of mine who is a fellow Rotarian, Becky Lingad. With an estimated 3,000,000 Filipinos in America, of course, there should be more in politics and government… but slowly and gradually, our numbers will also increase with time.
• In Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, among the Asians or foreign-born entertainers, the Filipinos are most likely the most popular group… Martin Nievera had a long-standing show at the New Orleans Hotel & Casino and just recently Regine Velasquez also had a successful show.. The Society of Seven has also appeared there many times in the past. The popular American Idol show had two Filipina contestants who are now among the semi finalists…. Coincidentally, our visiting Rotarian guests from Japan acknowledged, during our welcome dinner last night upon learning that I was originally from the Philippines when I was introduced as the President Elect of our Cerritos Rotary Club, that there are many entertainers in hotels are working in Tokyo and in Osaka where we will be going next on May 22 for the Rotary International Convention. Indeed the talents and popularity of the Filipinos in the entertainment field is now a worldwide phenomenon !
• The brotherhood of men is also evident in our Rotary Clubs worldwide. Through our Rotary Avenue of International Service, our Rotary Club of Cerritos and our sister club in Gifu, Japan are donating a couple thousand dollars to the Loyola Heights Rotary Club, Quezon City to help them in their Loving Village affordable housing project for the poor in joint project with the Couples for Christ. During this forthcoming 2004-2005 Rotary Centennial Year, we have also committed to help our sister club of Makati Bel Air Rotary Club in their Gawad Kalinga Poverty alleviation program project. We plan to hand them a few thousand dollar check when we visit them in June this year.
• It is also very heartwarming to learn that many overseas Filipinos also are getting more involved in lending a hand to many Filipinos in the Philippines even in a small but positive way. For almost a year now, dozens of overseas Filipinos especially from the United States have formed a ProgressiveTimes Action Group (visit www.ptag.org website) and without much fun fare or publicity are now involved in sending some dozen Sagip Bata scholars in different schools coordinated by our Filipino PTAG volunteers. We have also sent some needed books to some places like the Tahanang Walang Hagdanan in Cainta, Rizal, and in San Pablo City in Laguna and to Pangasinan and also in Bacolod. Dozens are also volunteering to assist with the Namfrel volunteers in monitoring a clean and honest election.
As the founder of this PTAG, I am very pleased of the response of many volunteers and the growing benefactors of PTAG. We have now some presence in San Pablo City because of Gigi Fellizar and MeAnn Pineda-Gonzales, in Cainta and Taytay because of Austri Basinillo and Faith Malazarte and Mario Firme, in Hagonoy Bulacan, because of Paddy Padilla, in Marbel-Koronadal City because of Jing Ureta and also in Pangasinan because of Loreto Quevedo Dimaandal and yours truly. And soon we will have the Payatas Resettlement Project in Palawan because of Fred Antonio and Celia Ruiz Tomlinson and their recruited volunteers.
This coming school year, we believe that we will have more beneficiaries as we have more volunteers and benefactors. Our vision and our ultimate dream is to have a PTAG chapter in every barangay in the Philippines to serve as a an effective and graft-free conduit between pre-selected beneficiaries in the Philippines and the Overseas Filipinos and their friends who are able and willing to assist improve the quality of life of many economically challenged Filipinos by motivating and teaching them the how-to-fish mentality and not just through dole-outs which many Overseas Filipino dependents have been accustomed to.
With such an ambitious programs of PTAG --- in addition to hundreds of other organizations doing parallel work for the Philippines ---- there is great hope that the Philippines will change for the better! But we still need more people to lend a hand to make this social and charitable work expand larger, faster and wider. Any one interested, please email this writer or simply join us at: ProgressiveTimesAction-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and visit our website at: www.ptag.org.
With that, I wish all you, my STAR readers, A HAPPY AND BLESSED EASTER WEEK!
----- 30 ----
E-mail writer at: erdelusa@hotmail.com or drbannatiran@yahoo.com
Visit: www.katipunan-usa.org and www.ptag.org
A VOICE FROM AMERICA
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 2004, 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 continue the 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 two 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, an effective but inexpensive therapy for businessman’s stressful 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, the Lenten 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. The worldly acclaimed Mel Gibson movie, The Passion of the Christ, which opened on the first day of Lent on Ash Wednesday in the United States indeed has not only fueled some heated controversy but also prompted many people to examine or meditate what is truly important in their lives. Christians who have 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 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 heated political campaigns and the pessimistic news that we continue to read in the papers or see on TV. To augment some pounds of optimism for my STAR readers this Easter Week, let me share some good news and developments emanating from America:
* As the U.S. economy continues to contract, and some jobs are lost due to globalization (outsourced abroad like in India, China, Malaysia and Singapore and also Philippines) families are adjusting by living together to share expenses. Due to spiraling costs of living especially in housing in California, 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,l00 dollars before other expenses like utilities, food and transportation. The upside of this dramatic increase in housing costs is that families are again beginning live closer as a family, probably living happier and hopefully longer too.
* More children of many Filipino American families now, compared a generation 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 continued growth and vibrancy of our Catholic Covenant Community City on the Hill (COH), an affiliate of Ligaya ng Panginoon and Couples for Christ in the Philippines, is attributed to the Singles Group of Young Adults whose Music Ministry has added much needed energy to the entire COH community. Christian songs in Tagalog are often sung more often now. Furthermore, the popular singing group from the Philippines, Bukas Palad, is arriving to perform in a concert here in Southern California on May lst because of our COH Single Group. This promises to be a special treat to many Filipinos in Southern California.
• In the media, especially in broadcast journalism, the beauty and talent several Filipino women are also being noticed. For instance, in the Los Angeles area, two beautiful ladies appear almost daily in prime time TV. They are Denise Dador of ABC Channel 7, whose parents are from Cebu, and Maria Quiban who was born in Hawaii of Ilocano parents (like the former Miss Universe the former Miss Baraquio) who is a regular at Fox Channel Eleven. The Asian American Journalists Association (www.aaja.org) also had a National President several years ago, Ms. Camia, and the LA local chapter has two members of the board, namely: Richard Fruto, a Philippine born who has a journalism degree before becoming a lawyer, is the treasurer and my own daughter, Donna Karen Delfin, is now the secretary. The National Executive Director, Rene Astudillo, is also a Filipino. And there are more Filipino American personalities in other cities and states.
• 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 the nurses! Thousands are also working as private caretakers of many elderly or disabled Americans. Even the celebrity, Christopher Reeves is reported to have some Filipino nurses in his employ. These private caregivers who go to the American homes are the fastest growing but seemingly invisible occupation of many Filipinos 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 are my tax and real estate clients, made over $100,000 last year just being caregivers!
• In U.S. politics, although the Filipinos are still way behind the other Asian groups like the Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese, we are slowly adding some names to the roster of elected officials. In Carson, California, after the shameful exit of Mayor Pete Fajardo and Councilman Manny Ontal (both Filipino Americans) l due to corrupt practices, another Filipino, Elito Santarina, a teacher who hails from Nueva Ecija, won a Council seat last year. He tried to run for Mayor this year but he did not make during his first try, but I predict that as his name becomes more recognized, he will be the next Filipino American mayor. In the City of Walnut, the mayor is also a Filipino by the name of Antonio Cartagena. In the City of Milpitas, CA the mayor is a certain Mr. Esteves (originally from Pangasinan) who succeeded another Filipino American mayor, Henry Manayan, who unfortunately did not win the March 2nd primary to have been the first Filipino American member of the California State Assembly. In the City of Daly City, Mr. Guingona is also the mayor. A lawyer-friend David Valderrama, (a fluent orator in both English and Tagalog from Laguna) is the first and only Filipino American elected delegate to the Maryland Assembly. And in the Cerritos ABC Unified School District, 3 of the 7 members of the Board of Education are Filipinos: Cecy Groom, Mark Pulido and Armin Reyes. The City Finance Manager is also a Filipina CPA-friend of mine who is a fellow Rotarian, Becky Lingad. With an estimated 3,000,000 Filipinos in America, of course, there should be more in politics and government… but slowly and gradually, our numbers will also increase with time.
• In Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, among the Asians or foreign-born entertainers, the Filipinos are most likely the most popular group… Martin Nievera had a long-standing show at the New Orleans Hotel & Casino and just recently Regine Velasquez also had a successful show.. The Society of Seven has also appeared there many times in the past. The popular American Idol show had two Filipina contestants who are now among the semi finalists…. Coincidentally, our visiting Rotarian guests from Japan acknowledged, during our welcome dinner last night upon learning that I was originally from the Philippines when I was introduced as the President Elect of our Cerritos Rotary Club, that there are many entertainers in hotels are working in Tokyo and in Osaka where we will be going next on May 22 for the Rotary International Convention. Indeed the talents and popularity of the Filipinos in the entertainment field is now a worldwide phenomenon !
• The brotherhood of men is also evident in our Rotary Clubs worldwide. Through our Rotary Avenue of International Service, our Rotary Club of Cerritos and our sister club in Gifu, Japan are donating a couple thousand dollars to the Loyola Heights Rotary Club, Quezon City to help them in their Loving Village affordable housing project for the poor in joint project with the Couples for Christ. During this forthcoming 2004-2005 Rotary Centennial Year, we have also committed to help our sister club of Makati Bel Air Rotary Club in their Gawad Kalinga Poverty alleviation program project. We plan to hand them a few thousand dollar check when we visit them in June this year.
• It is also very heartwarming to learn that many overseas Filipinos also are getting more involved in lending a hand to many Filipinos in the Philippines even in a small but positive way. For almost a year now, dozens of overseas Filipinos especially from the United States have formed a ProgressiveTimes Action Group (visit www.ptag.org website) and without much fun fare or publicity are now involved in sending some dozen Sagip Bata scholars in different schools coordinated by our Filipino PTAG volunteers. We have also sent some needed books to some places like the Tahanang Walang Hagdanan in Cainta, Rizal, and in San Pablo City in Laguna and to Pangasinan and also in Bacolod. Dozens are also volunteering to assist with the Namfrel volunteers in monitoring a clean and honest election.
As the founder of this PTAG, I am very pleased of the response of many volunteers and the growing benefactors of PTAG. We have now some presence in San Pablo City because of Gigi Fellizar and MeAnn Pineda-Gonzales, in Cainta and Taytay because of Austri Basinillo and Faith Malazarte and Mario Firme, in Hagonoy Bulacan, because of Paddy Padilla, in Marbel-Koronadal City because of Jing Ureta and also in Pangasinan because of Loreto Quevedo Dimaandal and yours truly. And soon we will have the Payatas Resettlement Project in Palawan because of Fred Antonio and Celia Ruiz Tomlinson and their recruited volunteers.
This coming school year, we believe that we will have more beneficiaries as we have more volunteers and benefactors. Our vision and our ultimate dream is to have a PTAG chapter in every barangay in the Philippines to serve as a an effective and graft-free conduit between pre-selected beneficiaries in the Philippines and the Overseas Filipinos and their friends who are able and willing to assist improve the quality of life of many economically challenged Filipinos by motivating and teaching them the how-to-fish mentality and not just through dole-outs which many Overseas Filipino dependents have been accustomed to.
With such an ambitious programs of PTAG --- in addition to hundreds of other organizations doing parallel work for the Philippines ---- there is great hope that the Philippines will change for the better! But we still need more people to lend a hand to make this social and charitable work expand larger, faster and wider. Any one interested, please email this writer or simply join us at: ProgressiveTimesAction-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and visit our website at: www.ptag.org.
With that, I wish all you, my STAR readers, A HAPPY AND BLESSED EASTER WEEK!
----- 30 ----
E-mail writer at: erdelusa@hotmail.com or drbannatiran@yahoo.com
Visit: www.katipunan-usa.org and www.ptag.org
A VOICE FROM AMERICA
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 2004, 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 continue the 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 two 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, an effective but inexpensive therapy for businessman’s stressful 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, the Lenten 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. The worldly acclaimed Mel Gibson movie, The Passion of the Christ, which opened on the first day of Lent on Ash Wednesday in the United States indeed has not only fueled some heated controversy but also prompted many people to examine or meditate what is truly important in their lives. Christians who have 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 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 heated political campaigns and the pessimistic news that we continue to read in the papers or see on TV. To augment some pounds of optimism for my STAR readers this Easter Week, let me share some good news and developments emanating from America:
* As the U.S. economy continues to contract, and some jobs are lost due to globalization (outsourced abroad like in India, China, Malaysia and Singapore and also Philippines) families are adjusting by living together to share expenses. Due to spiraling costs of living especially in housing in California, 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,l00 dollars before other expenses like utilities, food and transportation. The upside of this dramatic increase in housing costs is that families are again beginning live closer as a family, probably living happier and hopefully longer too.
* More children of many Filipino American families now, compared a generation 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 continued growth and vibrancy of our Catholic Covenant Community City on the Hill (COH), an affiliate of Ligaya ng Panginoon and Couples for Christ in the Philippines, is attributed to the Singles Group of Young Adults whose Music Ministry has added much needed energy to the entire COH community. Christian songs in Tagalog are often sung more often now. Furthermore, the popular singing group from the Philippines, Bukas Palad, is arriving to perform in a concert here in Southern California on May lst because of our COH Single Group. This promises to be a special treat to many Filipinos in Southern California.
• In the media, especially in broadcast journalism, the beauty and talent several Filipino women are also being noticed. For instance, in the Los Angeles area, two beautiful ladies appear almost daily in prime time TV. They are Denise Dador of ABC Channel 7, whose parents are from Cebu, and Maria Quiban who was born in Hawaii of Ilocano parents (like the former Miss Universe the former Miss Baraquio) who is a regular at Fox Channel Eleven. The Asian American Journalists Association (www.aaja.org) also had a National President several years ago, Ms. Camia, and the LA local chapter has two members of the board, namely: Richard Fruto, a Philippine born who has a journalism degree before becoming a lawyer, is the treasurer and my own daughter, Donna Karen Delfin, is now the secretary. The National Executive Director, Rene Astudillo, is also a Filipino. And there are more Filipino American personalities in other cities and states.
• 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 the nurses! Thousands are also working as private caretakers of many elderly or disabled Americans. Even the celebrity, Christopher Reeves is reported to have some Filipino nurses in his employ. These private caregivers who go to the American homes are the fastest growing but seemingly invisible occupation of many Filipinos 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 are my tax and real estate clients, made over $100,000 last year just being caregivers!
• In U.S. politics, although the Filipinos are still way behind the other Asian groups like the Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese, we are slowly adding some names to the roster of elected officials. In Carson, California, after the shameful exit of Mayor Pete Fajardo and Councilman Manny Ontal (both Filipino Americans) l due to corrupt practices, another Filipino, Elito Santarina, a teacher who hails from Nueva Ecija, won a Council seat last year. He tried to run for Mayor this year but he did not make during his first try, but I predict that as his name becomes more recognized, he will be the next Filipino American mayor. In the City of Walnut, the mayor is also a Filipino by the name of Antonio Cartagena. In the City of Milpitas, CA the mayor is a certain Mr. Esteves (originally from Pangasinan) who succeeded another Filipino American mayor, Henry Manayan, who unfortunately did not win the March 2nd primary to have been the first Filipino American member of the California State Assembly. In the City of Daly City, Mr. Guingona is also the mayor. A lawyer-friend David Valderrama, (a fluent orator in both English and Tagalog from Laguna) is the first and only Filipino American elected delegate to the Maryland Assembly. And in the Cerritos ABC Unified School District, 3 of the 7 members of the Board of Education are Filipinos: Cecy Groom, Mark Pulido and Armin Reyes. The City Finance Manager is also a Filipina CPA-friend of mine who is a fellow Rotarian, Becky Lingad. With an estimated 3,000,000 Filipinos in America, of course, there should be more in politics and government… but slowly and gradually, our numbers will also increase with time.
• In Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, among the Asians or foreign-born entertainers, the Filipinos are most likely the most popular group… Martin Nievera had a long-standing show at the New Orleans Hotel & Casino and just recently Regine Velasquez also had a successful show.. The Society of Seven has also appeared there many times in the past. The popular American Idol show had two Filipina contestants who are now among the semi finalists…. Coincidentally, our visiting Rotarian guests from Japan acknowledged, during our welcome dinner last night upon learning that I was originally from the Philippines when I was introduced as the President Elect of our Cerritos Rotary Club, that there are many entertainers in hotels are working in Tokyo and in Osaka where we will be going next on May 22 for the Rotary International Convention. Indeed the talents and popularity of the Filipinos in the entertainment field is now a worldwide phenomenon !
• The brotherhood of men is also evident in our Rotary Clubs worldwide. Through our Rotary Avenue of International Service, our Rotary Club of Cerritos and our sister club in Gifu, Japan are donating a couple thousand dollars to the Loyola Heights Rotary Club, Quezon City to help them in their Loving Village affordable housing project for the poor in joint project with the Couples for Christ. During this forthcoming 2004-2005 Rotary Centennial Year, we have also committed to help our sister club of Makati Bel Air Rotary Club in their Gawad Kalinga Poverty alleviation program project. We plan to hand them a few thousand dollar check when we visit them in June this year.
• It is also very heartwarming to learn that many overseas Filipinos also are getting more involved in lending a hand to many Filipinos in the Philippines even in a small but positive way. For almost a year now, dozens of overseas Filipinos especially from the United States have formed a ProgressiveTimes Action Group (visit www.ptag.org website) and without much fun fare or publicity are now involved in sending some dozen Sagip Bata scholars in different schools coordinated by our Filipino PTAG volunteers. We have also sent some needed books to some places like the Tahanang Walang Hagdanan in Cainta, Rizal, and in San Pablo City in Laguna and to Pangasinan and also in Bacolod. Dozens are also volunteering to assist with the Namfrel volunteers in monitoring a clean and honest election.
As the founder of this PTAG, I am very pleased of the response of many volunteers and the growing benefactors of PTAG. We have now some presence in San Pablo City because of Gigi Fellizar and MeAnn Pineda-Gonzales, in Cainta and Taytay because of Austri Basinillo and Faith Malazarte and Mario Firme, in Hagonoy Bulacan, because of Paddy Padilla, in Marbel-Koronadal City because of Jing Ureta and also in Pangasinan because of Loreto Quevedo Dimaandal and yours truly. And soon we will have the Payatas Resettlement Project in Palawan because of Fred Antonio and Celia Ruiz Tomlinson and their recruited volunteers.
This coming school year, we believe that we will have more beneficiaries as we have more volunteers and benefactors. Our vision and our ultimate dream is to have a PTAG chapter in every barangay in the Philippines to serve as a an effective and graft-free conduit between pre-selected beneficiaries in the Philippines and the Overseas Filipinos and their friends who are able and willing to assist improve the quality of life of many economically challenged Filipinos by motivating and teaching them the how-to-fish mentality and not just through dole-outs which many Overseas Filipino dependents have been accustomed to.
With such an ambitious programs of PTAG --- in addition to hundreds of other organizations doing parallel work for the Philippines ---- there is great hope that the Philippines will change for the better! But we still need more people to lend a hand to make this social and charitable work expand larger, faster and wider. Any one interested, please email this writer or simply join us at: ProgressiveTimesAction-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and visit our website at: www.ptag.org.
With that, I wish all you, my STAR readers, A HAPPY AND BLESSED EASTER WEEK!
----- 30 ----
E-mail writer at: erdelusa@hotmail.com or drbannatiran@yahoo.com
Visit: www.katipunan-usa.org and www.ptag.org
A VOICE FROM AMERICA
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 2004, 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 continue the 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 two 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, an effective but inexpensive therapy for businessman’s stressful 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, the Lenten 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. The worldly acclaimed Mel Gibson movie, The Passion of the Christ, which opened on the first day of Lent on Ash Wednesday in the United States indeed has not only fueled some heated controversy but also prompted many people to examine or meditate what is truly important in their lives. Christians who have 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 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 heated political campaigns and the pessimistic news that we continue to read in the papers or see on TV. To augment some pounds of optimism for my STAR readers this Easter Week, let me share some good news and developments emanating from America:
* As the U.S. economy continues to contract, and some jobs are lost due to globalization (outsourced abroad like in India, China, Malaysia and Singapore and also Philippines) families are adjusting by living together to share expenses. Due to spiraling costs of living especially in housing in California, 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,l00 dollars before other expenses like utilities, food and transportation. The upside of this dramatic increase in housing costs is that families are again beginning live closer as a family, probably living happier and hopefully longer too.
* More children of many Filipino American families now, compared a generation 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 continued growth and vibrancy of our Catholic Covenant Community City on the Hill (COH), an affiliate of Ligaya ng Panginoon and Couples for Christ in the Philippines, is attributed to the Singles Group of Young Adults whose Music Ministry has added much needed energy to the entire COH community. Christian songs in Tagalog are often sung more often now. Furthermore, the popular singing group from the Philippines, Bukas Palad, is arriving to perform in a concert here in Southern California on May lst because of our COH Single Group. This promises to be a special treat to many Filipinos in Southern California.
• In the media, especially in broadcast journalism, the beauty and talent several Filipino women are also being noticed. For instance, in the Los Angeles area, two beautiful ladies appear almost daily in prime time TV. They are Denise Dador of ABC Channel 7, whose parents are from Cebu, and Maria Quiban who was born in Hawaii of Ilocano parents (like the former Miss Universe the former Miss Baraquio) who is a regular at Fox Channel Eleven. The Asian American Journalists Association (www.aaja.org) also had a National President several years ago, Ms. Camia, and the LA local chapter has two members of the board, namely: Richard Fruto, a Philippine born who has a journalism degree before becoming a lawyer, is the treasurer and my own daughter, Donna Karen Delfin, is now the secretary. The National Executive Director, Rene Astudillo, is also a Filipino. And there are more Filipino American personalities in other cities and states.
• 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 the nurses! Thousands are also working as private caretakers of many elderly or disabled Americans. Even the celebrity, Christopher Reeves is reported to have some Filipino nurses in his employ. These private caregivers who go to the American homes are the fastest growing but seemingly invisible occupation of many Filipinos 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 are my tax and real estate clients, made over $100,000 last year just being caregivers!
• In U.S. politics, although the Filipinos are still way behind the other Asian groups like the Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese, we are slowly adding some names to the roster of elected officials. In Carson, California, after the shameful exit of Mayor Pete Fajardo and Councilman Manny Ontal (both Filipino Americans) l due to corrupt practices, another Filipino, Elito Santarina, a teacher who hails from Nueva Ecija, won a Council seat last year. He tried to run for Mayor this year but he did not make during his first try, but I predict that as his name becomes more recognized, he will be the next Filipino American mayor. In the City of Walnut, the mayor is also a Filipino by the name of Antonio Cartagena. In the City of Milpitas, CA the mayor is a certain Mr. Esteves (originally from Pangasinan) who succeeded another Filipino American mayor, Henry Manayan, who unfortunately did not win the March 2nd primary to have been the first Filipino American member of the California State Assembly. In the City of Daly City, Mr. Guingona is also the mayor. A lawyer-friend David Valderrama, (a fluent orator in both English and Tagalog from Laguna) is the first and only Filipino American elected delegate to the Maryland Assembly. And in the Cerritos ABC Unified School District, 3 of the 7 members of the Board of Education are Filipinos: Cecy Groom, Mark Pulido and Armin Reyes. The City Finance Manager is also a Filipina CPA-friend of mine who is a fellow Rotarian, Becky Lingad. With an estimated 3,000,000 Filipinos in America, of course, there should be more in politics and government… but slowly and gradually, our numbers will also increase with time.
• In Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, among the Asians or foreign-born entertainers, the Filipinos are most likely the most popular group… Martin Nievera had a long-standing show at the New Orleans Hotel & Casino and just recently Regine Velasquez also had a successful show.. The Society of Seven has also appeared there many times in the past. The popular American Idol show had two Filipina contestants who are now among the semi finalists…. Coincidentally, our visiting Rotarian guests from Japan acknowledged, during our welcome dinner last night upon learning that I was originally from the Philippines when I was introduced as the President Elect of our Cerritos Rotary Club, that there are many entertainers in hotels are working in Tokyo and in Osaka where we will be going next on May 22 for the Rotary International Convention. Indeed the talents and popularity of the Filipinos in the entertainment field is now a worldwide phenomenon !
• The brotherhood of men is also evident in our Rotary Clubs worldwide. Through our Rotary Avenue of International Service, our Rotary Club of Cerritos and our sister club in Gifu, Japan are donating a couple thousand dollars to the Loyola Heights Rotary Club, Quezon City to help them in their Loving Village affordable housing project for the poor in joint project with the Couples for Christ. During this forthcoming 2004-2005 Rotary Centennial Year, we have also committed to help our sister club of Makati Bel Air Rotary Club in their Gawad Kalinga Poverty alleviation program project. We plan to hand them a few thousand dollar check when we visit them in June this year.
• It is also very heartwarming to learn that many overseas Filipinos also are getting more involved in lending a hand to many Filipinos in the Philippines even in a small but positive way. For almost a year now, dozens of overseas Filipinos especially from the United States have formed a ProgressiveTimes Action Group (visit www.ptag.org website) and without much fun fare or publicity are now involved in sending some dozen Sagip Bata scholars in different schools coordinated by our Filipino PTAG volunteers. We have also sent some needed books to some places like the Tahanang Walang Hagdanan in Cainta, Rizal, and in San Pablo City in Laguna and to Pangasinan and also in Bacolod. Dozens are also volunteering to assist with the Namfrel volunteers in monitoring a clean and honest election.
As the founder of this PTAG, I am very pleased of the response of many volunteers and the growing benefactors of PTAG. We have now some presence in San Pablo City because of Gigi Fellizar and MeAnn Pineda-Gonzales, in Cainta and Taytay because of Austri Basinillo and Faith Malazarte and Mario Firme, in Hagonoy Bulacan, because of Paddy Padilla, in Marbel-Koronadal City because of Jing Ureta and also in Pangasinan because of Loreto Quevedo Dimaandal and yours truly. And soon we will have the Payatas Resettlement Project in Palawan because of Fred Antonio and Celia Ruiz Tomlinson and their recruited volunteers.
This coming school year, we believe that we will have more beneficiaries as we have more volunteers and benefactors. Our vision and our ultimate dream is to have a PTAG chapter in every barangay in the Philippines to serve as a an effective and graft-free conduit between pre-selected beneficiaries in the Philippines and the Overseas Filipinos and their friends who are able and willing to assist improve the quality of life of many economically challenged Filipinos by motivating and teaching them the how-to-fish mentality and not just through dole-outs which many Overseas Filipino dependents have been accustomed to.
With such an ambitious programs of PTAG --- in addition to hundreds of other organizations doing parallel work for the Philippines ---- there is great hope that the Philippines will change for the better! But we still need more people to lend a hand to make this social and charitable work expand larger, faster and wider. Any one interested, please email this writer or simply join us at: ProgressiveTimesAction-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and visit our website at: www.ptag.org.
With that, I wish all you, my STAR readers, A HAPPY AND BLESSED EASTER WEEK!
----- 30 ----
E-mail writer at: erdelusa@hotmail.com or drbannatiran@yahoo.com
Visit: www.katipunan-usa.org and www.ptag.org
A VOICE FROM AMERICA
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 2004, 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 continue the 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 two 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, an effective but inexpensive therapy for businessman’s stressful 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, the Lenten 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. The worldly acclaimed Mel Gibson movie, The Passion of the Christ, which opened on the first day of Lent on Ash Wednesday in the United States indeed has not only fueled some heated controversy but also prompted many people to examine or meditate what is truly important in their lives. Christians who have 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 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 heated political campaigns and the pessimistic news that we continue to read in the papers or see on TV. To augment some pounds of optimism for my STAR readers this Easter Week, let me share some good news and developments emanating from America:
* As the U.S. economy continues to contract, and some jobs are lost due to globalization (outsourced abroad like in India, China, Malaysia and Singapore and also Philippines) families are adjusting by living together to share expenses. Due to spiraling costs of living especially in housing in California, 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,l00 dollars before other expenses like utilities, food and transportation. The upside of this dramatic increase in housing costs is that families are again beginning live closer as a family, probably living happier and hopefully longer too.
* More children of many Filipino American families now, compared a generation 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 continued growth and vibrancy of our Catholic Covenant Community City on the Hill (COH), an affiliate of Ligaya ng Panginoon and Couples for Christ in the Philippines, is attributed to the Singles Group of Young Adults whose Music Ministry has added much needed energy to the entire COH community. Christian songs in Tagalog are often sung more often now. Furthermore, the popular singing group from the Philippines, Bukas Palad, is arriving to perform in a concert here in Southern California on May lst because of our COH Single Group. This promises to be a special treat to many Filipinos in Southern California.
• In the media, especially in broadcast journalism, the beauty and talent several Filipino women are also being noticed. For instance, in the Los Angeles area, two beautiful ladies appear almost daily in prime time TV. They are Denise Dador of ABC Channel 7, whose parents are from Cebu, and Maria Quiban who was born in Hawaii of Ilocano parents (like the former Miss Universe the former Miss Baraquio) who is a regular at Fox Channel Eleven. The Asian American Journalists Association (www.aaja.org) also had a National President several years ago, Ms. Camia, and the LA local chapter has two members of the board, namely: Richard Fruto, a Philippine born who has a journalism degree before becoming a lawyer, is the treasurer and my own daughter, Donna Karen Delfin, is now the secretary. The National Executive Director, Rene Astudillo, is also a Filipino. And there are more Filipino American personalities in other cities and states.
• 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 the nurses! Thousands are also working as private caretakers of many elderly or disabled Americans. Even the celebrity, Christopher Reeves is reported to have some Filipino nurses in his employ. These private caregivers who go to the American homes are the fastest growing but seemingly invisible occupation of many Filipinos 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 are my tax and real estate clients, made over $100,000 last year just being caregivers!
• In U.S. politics, although the Filipinos are still way behind the other Asian groups like the Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese, we are slowly adding some names to the roster of elected officials. In Carson, California, after the shameful exit of Mayor Pete Fajardo and Councilman Manny Ontal (both Filipino Americans) l due to corrupt practices, another Filipino, Elito Santarina, a teacher who hails from Nueva Ecija, won a Council seat last year. He tried to run for Mayor this year but he did not make during his first try, but I predict that as his name becomes more recognized, he will be the next Filipino American mayor. In the City of Walnut, the mayor is also a Filipino by the name of Antonio Cartagena. In the City of Milpitas, CA the mayor is a certain Mr. Esteves (originally from Pangasinan) who succeeded another Filipino American mayor, Henry Manayan, who unfortunately did not win the March 2nd primary to have been the first Filipino American member of the California State Assembly. In the City of Daly City, Mr. Guingona is also the mayor. A lawyer-friend David Valderrama, (a fluent orator in both English and Tagalog from Laguna) is the first and only Filipino American elected delegate to the Maryland Assembly. And in the Cerritos ABC Unified School District, 3 of the 7 members of the Board of Education are Filipinos: Cecy Groom, Mark Pulido and Armin Reyes. The City Finance Manager is also a Filipina CPA-friend of mine who is a fellow Rotarian, Becky Lingad. With an estimated 3,000,000 Filipinos in America, of course, there should be more in politics and government… but slowly and gradually, our numbers will also increase with time.
• In Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, among the Asians or foreign-born entertainers, the Filipinos are most likely the most popular group… Martin Nievera had a long-standing show at the New Orleans Hotel & Casino and just recently Regine Velasquez also had a successful show.. The Society of Seven has also appeared there many times in the past. The popular American Idol show had two Filipina contestants who are now among the semi finalists…. Coincidentally, our visiting Rotarian guests from Japan acknowledged, during our welcome dinner last night upon learning that I was originally from the Philippines when I was introduced as the President Elect of our Cerritos Rotary Club, that there are many entertainers in hotels are working in Tokyo and in Osaka where we will be going next on May 22 for the Rotary International Convention. Indeed the talents and popularity of the Filipinos in the entertainment field is now a worldwide phenomenon !
• The brotherhood of men is also evident in our Rotary Clubs worldwide. Through our Rotary Avenue of International Service, our Rotary Club of Cerritos and our sister club in Gifu, Japan are donating a couple thousand dollars to the Loyola Heights Rotary Club, Quezon City to help them in their Loving Village affordable housing project for the poor in joint project with the Couples for Christ. During this forthcoming 2004-2005 Rotary Centennial Year, we have also committed to help our sister club of Makati Bel Air Rotary Club in their Gawad Kalinga Poverty alleviation program project. We plan to hand them a few thousand dollar check when we visit them in June this year.
• It is also very heartwarming to learn that many overseas Filipinos also are getting more involved in lending a hand to many Filipinos in the Philippines even in a small but positive way. For almost a year now, dozens of overseas Filipinos especially from the United States have formed a ProgressiveTimes Action Group (visit www.ptag.org website) and without much fun fare or publicity are now involved in sending some dozen Sagip Bata scholars in different schools coordinated by our Filipino PTAG volunteers. We have also sent some needed books to some places like the Tahanang Walang Hagdanan in Cainta, Rizal, and in San Pablo City in Laguna and to Pangasinan and also in Bacolod. Dozens are also volunteering to assist with the Namfrel volunteers in monitoring a clean and honest election.
As the founder of this PTAG, I am very pleased of the response of many volunteers and the growing benefactors of PTAG. We have now some presence in San Pablo City because of Gigi Fellizar and MeAnn Pineda-Gonzales, in Cainta and Taytay because of Austri Basinillo and Faith Malazarte and Mario Firme, in Hagonoy Bulacan, because of Paddy Padilla, in Marbel-Koronadal City because of Jing Ureta and also in Pangasinan because of Loreto Quevedo Dimaandal and yours truly. And soon we will have the Payatas Resettlement Project in Palawan because of Fred Antonio and Celia Ruiz Tomlinson and their recruited volunteers.
This coming school year, we believe that we will have more beneficiaries as we have more volunteers and benefactors. Our vision and our ultimate dream is to have a PTAG chapter in every barangay in the Philippines to serve as a an effective and graft-free conduit between pre-selected beneficiaries in the Philippines and the Overseas Filipinos and their friends who are able and willing to assist improve the quality of life of many economically challenged Filipinos by motivating and teaching them the how-to-fish mentality and not just through dole-outs which many Overseas Filipino dependents have been accustomed to.
With such an ambitious programs of PTAG --- in addition to hundreds of other organizations doing parallel work for the Philippines ---- there is great hope that the Philippines will change for the better! But we still need more people to lend a hand to make this social and charitable work expand larger, faster and wider. Any one interested, please email this writer or simply join us at: ProgressiveTimesAction-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and visit our website at: www.ptag.org.
With that, I wish all you, my STAR readers, A HAPPY AND BLESSED EASTER WEEK!
----- 30 ----
E-mail writer at: erdelusa@hotmail.com or drbannatiran@yahoo.com
Visit: www.katipunan-usa.org and www.ptag.org
A VOICE FROM AMERICA
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 2004, 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 continue the 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 two 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, an effective but inexpensive therapy for businessman’s stressful 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, the Lenten 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. The worldly acclaimed Mel Gibson movie, The Passion of the Christ, which opened on the first day of Lent on Ash Wednesday in the United States indeed has not only fueled some heated controversy but also prompted many people to examine or meditate what is truly important in their lives. Christians who have 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 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 heated political campaigns and the pessimistic news that we continue to read in the papers or see on TV. To augment some pounds of optimism for my STAR readers this Easter Week, let me share some good news and developments emanating from America:
* As the U.S. economy continues to contract, and some jobs are lost due to globalization (outsourced abroad like in India, China, Malaysia and Singapore and also Philippines) families are adjusting by living together to share expenses. Due to spiraling costs of living especially in housing in California, 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,l00 dollars before other expenses like utilities, food and transportation. The upside of this dramatic increase in housing costs is that families are again beginning live closer as a family, probably living happier and hopefully longer too.
* More children of many Filipino American families now, compared a generation 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 continued growth and vibrancy of our Catholic Covenant Community City on the Hill (COH), an affiliate of Ligaya ng Panginoon and Couples for Christ in the Philippines, is attributed to the Singles Group of Young Adults whose Music Ministry has added much needed energy to the entire COH community. Christian songs in Tagalog are often sung more often now. Furthermore, the popular singing group from the Philippines, Bukas Palad, is arriving to perform in a concert here in Southern California on May lst because of our COH Single Group. This promises to be a special treat to many Filipinos in Southern California.
• In the media, especially in broadcast journalism, the beauty and talent several Filipino women are also being noticed. For instance, in the Los Angeles area, two beautiful ladies appear almost daily in prime time TV. They are Denise Dador of ABC Channel 7, whose parents are from Cebu, and Maria Quiban who was born in Hawaii of Ilocano parents (like the former Miss Universe the former Miss Baraquio) who is a regular at Fox Channel Eleven. The Asian American Journalists Association (www.aaja.org) also had a National President several years ago, Ms. Camia, and the LA local chapter has two members of the board, namely: Richard Fruto, a Philippine born who has a journalism degree before becoming a lawyer, is the treasurer and my own daughter, Donna Karen Delfin, is now the secretary. The National Executive Director, Rene Astudillo, is also a Filipino. And there are more Filipino American personalities in other cities and states.
• 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 the nurses! Thousands are also working as private caretakers of many elderly or disabled Americans. Even the celebrity, Christopher Reeves is reported to have some Filipino nurses in his employ. These private caregivers who go to the American homes are the fastest growing but seemingly invisible occupation of many Filipinos 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 are my tax and real estate clients, made over $100,000 last year just being caregivers!
• In U.S. politics, although the Filipinos are still way behind the other Asian groups like the Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese, we are slowly adding some names to the roster of elected officials. In Carson, California, after the shameful exit of Mayor Pete Fajardo and Councilman Manny Ontal (both Filipino Americans) l due to corrupt practices, another Filipino, Elito Santarina, a teacher who hails from Nueva Ecija, won a Council seat last year. He tried to run for Mayor this year but he did not make during his first try, but I predict that as his name becomes more recognized, he will be the next Filipino American mayor. In the City of Walnut, the mayor is also a Filipino by the name of Antonio Cartagena. In the City of Milpitas, CA the mayor is a certain Mr. Esteves (originally from Pangasinan) who succeeded another Filipino American mayor, Henry Manayan, who unfortunately did not win the March 2nd primary to have been the first Filipino American member of the California State Assembly. In the City of Daly City, Mr. Guingona is also the mayor. A lawyer-friend David Valderrama, (a fluent orator in both English and Tagalog from Laguna) is the first and only Filipino American elected delegate to the Maryland Assembly. And in the Cerritos ABC Unified School District, 3 of the 7 members of the Board of Education are Filipinos: Cecy Groom, Mark Pulido and Armin Reyes. The City Finance Manager is also a Filipina CPA-friend of mine who is a fellow Rotarian, Becky Lingad. With an estimated 3,000,000 Filipinos in America, of course, there should be more in politics and government… but slowly and gradually, our numbers will also increase with time.
• In Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, among the Asians or foreign-born entertainers, the Filipinos are most likely the most popular group… Martin Nievera had a long-standing show at the New Orleans Hotel & Casino and just recently Regine Velasquez also had a successful show.. The Society of Seven has also appeared there many times in the past. The popular American Idol show had two Filipina contestants who are now among the semi finalists…. Coincidentally, our visiting Rotarian guests from Japan acknowledged, during our welcome dinner last night upon learning that I was originally from the Philippines when I was introduced as the President Elect of our Cerritos Rotary Club, that there are many entertainers in hotels are working in Tokyo and in Osaka where we will be going next on May 22 for the Rotary International Convention. Indeed the talents and popularity of the Filipinos in the entertainment field is now a worldwide phenomenon !
• The brotherhood of men is also evident in our Rotary Clubs worldwide. Through our Rotary Avenue of International Service, our Rotary Club of Cerritos and our sister club in Gifu, Japan are donating a couple thousand dollars to the Loyola Heights Rotary Club, Quezon City to help them in their Loving Village affordable housing project for the poor in joint project with the Couples for Christ. During this forthcoming 2004-2005 Rotary Centennial Year, we have also committed to help our sister club of Makati Bel Air Rotary Club in their Gawad Kalinga Poverty alleviation program project. We plan to hand them a few thousand dollar check when we visit them in June this year.
• It is also very heartwarming to learn that many overseas Filipinos also are getting more involved in lending a hand to many Filipinos in the Philippines even in a small but positive way. For almost a year now, dozens of overseas Filipinos especially from the United States have formed a ProgressiveTimes Action Group (visit www.ptag.org website) and without much fun fare or publicity are now involved in sending some dozen Sagip Bata scholars in different schools coordinated by our Filipino PTAG volunteers. We have also sent some needed books to some places like the Tahanang Walang Hagdanan in Cainta, Rizal, and in San Pablo City in Laguna and to Pangasinan and also in Bacolod. Dozens are also volunteering to assist with the Namfrel volunteers in monitoring a clean and honest election.
As the founder of this PTAG, I am very pleased of the response of many volunteers and the growing benefactors of PTAG. We have now some presence in San Pablo City because of Gigi Fellizar and MeAnn Pineda-Gonzales, in Cainta and Taytay because of Austri Basinillo and Faith Malazarte and Mario Firme, in Hagonoy Bulacan, because of Paddy Padilla, in Marbel-Koronadal City because of Jing Ureta and also in Pangasinan because of Loreto Quevedo Dimaandal and yours truly. And soon we will have the Payatas Resettlement Project in Palawan because of Fred Antonio and Celia Ruiz Tomlinson and their recruited volunteers.
This coming school year, we believe that we will have more beneficiaries as we have more volunteers and benefactors. Our vision and our ultimate dream is to have a PTAG chapter in every barangay in the Philippines to serve as a an effective and graft-free conduit between pre-selected beneficiaries in the Philippines and the Overseas Filipinos and their friends who are able and willing to assist improve the quality of life of many economically challenged Filipinos by motivating and teaching them the how-to-fish mentality and not just through dole-outs which many Overseas Filipino dependents have been accustomed to.
With such an ambitious programs of PTAG --- in addition to hundreds of other organizations doing parallel work for the Philippines ---- there is great hope that the Philippines will change for the better! But we still need more people to lend a hand to make this social and charitable work expand larger, faster and wider. Any one interested, please email this writer or simply join us at: ProgressiveTimesAction-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and visit our website at: www.ptag.org.
With that, I wish all you, my STAR readers, A HAPPY AND BLESSED EASTER WEEK!
----- 30 ----
E-mail writer at: erdelusa@hotmail.com or drbannatiran@yahoo.com
Visit: www.katipunan-usa.org and www.ptag.org