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SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2013
Judge Makes Darna Admit No ‘Laude’ Honors
►By the PWD Investigative Team
LOS ANGELES - It took a series of PinoyWatchDog.com Exposes in the summer of 2012, some serious journalist investigation, a defamation lawsuit, and an order from Los Angeles Superior
Court Judge for disgraced event impresario Darna Umayam to finally admit under oath that she had been lying to the Fil-Am community for the last 15 years that she attained a cum laude degree from University of Santo Tomas.
Umayam had been circulating her resume and bragging that she graduated cum laude from UST, one of the top four universities in the Philippines. As the Umayan scandal was unfolding PinoyWatchDog.com Senior Column-
ist Joel Bander interviewed her personally with her husband, Ely Umayam. Both Umayams assured Bander proof of the cum laude was
forthcoming. “I knew she could not be cum laude”, Bander recalled, “based on the poor quality of her emails. No cum laude would write that
Darna Umayam
Continued on Page 2
Nabil’s Quest For A Rightful Birthright Claim Goes Pffft
By ROBERTO CLEMENTE JOLO, Sulu - Nabil always had a dream - a house for his wife and two daughters, a land of their own to plant crops and enough money to buy the basic necessities for his family. Just weeks ago, he thought he was closer to that dream. The Sultan had called a
meeting, he told them it is time to claim their birthright, to finally establish foothold on the land that was rightfully theirs. Sabah. Under the cover of darkness, he sailed from Sulu, together with hundreds of his kinsmen and landed at the village of Lahad Datu. The group quickly seized control Continued on Page 3
FINAL SALUTE TO A DECORATED BATAAN WAR HERO
LOS ANGELES, CA- Lt. Colonel Edwin Price Ramsey, passed away in Los Angeles on March 8. In a Memorial Service at the St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Westwood, Lt. Col. Ramsey was honored by his closest friends, family and the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society’s members of the Lt. Alexander Nininger Chapter who were in regalia from the period Lt. Col. Ramsey spent as a defender of the Philippines Ramsey against the invading Japanese Imperial Army. Philippine Consul General Hellen Barber De La In January 1942 on Bataan, Vega giving her condolences to Dr. Raquel Ramsey Lt. Col. Ramsey led the “Last Continued on Page 2 at Lt. Col. Edwin Ramsey’s wake. By GIL MISLANG BATTLING BASTARDS OF BATAAN “We’re the battling bastards of Bataan; No mama, no papa, no Uncle Sam; No aunts, no uncles, no cousins, no nieces; No pills, no planes, no artillery pieces. ... And nobody gives a damn.”
HOME FROM ROME. Archbishop of Manila Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle gestures as he answers questions during a news conference upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila March 21, 2013. Tagle returned on Thursday from the Vatican where he participated in the election of the new pontiff. Tagle assures Pope of Filipinos’ support. (Story on Page 3)
Filipino expats to play crucial role in 2016 polls
►By DAVID CASUCO
MANILA – With a functional technology infrastructure in place Philippine elections as Filipinos know it may be a thing of the past in three years. That is because the winners in the 2016 presidential elections will most likely be decided by the over 12 million politically-empowered overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the very people who drive the
Philippine economy with 20 billion annual take. Also expected to go extinct are the abominable trapos (traditional politicians), dreadful political dynasties, the sicko epal syndrome, the appalling vote-buying practice and everything ugly and pathetic in Philippine politics. Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Continued on Page 7
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Saturday, March 23, 2013
PinoyWatchDog.Com
FINAL SALUTE TO A DECORATED BATAAN WAR HERO ... From Page 1
Horse Cavalry Charge” against an advance Japanese Army contingent which he and his Filipino cavalry troopers scattered and had running in disarray. For leading this heroic action, he received the Silver Star. As an American officer of the Filipino manned US Army’s 26th Cavalry of the Philippine Scouts, Edwin Ramsey escaped Japanese Army capture to mobilize and later lead as many as 40,000 guerrilla fighters in central Luzon. In June 1945, Gen. Douglas MacArthur awarded Lt. Col. Ramsey the Distinguished Service Cross. After World War II, Edwin Ramsey attended the University of Oklahoma Law School, represented the Hughes Aircraft Co. in Japan and later formed his own companies in Taiwan. While in the Philippines, he met and married his second wife, Raquel Ramirez, Upon retirement, Lt. Col. Ramsey moved to Los Angeles and began a career as a public
Philippine Scouts giving Lt. Colonel Ramsey their final respect before he heads to the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC. where he will be interred with full militay honors and the attendance of East Coast based members of the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society and the Philippine Ambassador to the United States, Honorable Jose L. Cuisia Jr.
speaker following the success of his 1991 war memoir. Lt. Col. Ramsey lobbied Congress to fulfill the wartime promise of benefits for Filipinos who fought for the U.S. in WWII. He was made an honorary Green Beret, among many honors. During his last few years in Los Angeles, Lt. Col. Ramsey became a mentor and adviser to the Los Angeles Chapter of the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society, the Lt. Alex-
ander Nininger Chapter. It was named for one of three World War II Medal of Honor awardees from the Philippine Scouts, the other two being MOH awardees Captain Willibald Bianchi and Sgt. Joe Calugas Sr. Lt. Col. Ramsey made it a point to attend re-enacting events and other events within the Filipino-American community that gave honor and recognition to those in the military service and in support of the Los Angeles
Judge Makes Darna U Admit ‘No Laude’...
From Page 1
poorly.” After PinoyWatchDog. com ran the ‘No Cum Laude’ expose Umayam went on an anti-Semitic and defamatory tirade against Bander, stating he had been convicted of rape in the Philippines and stole millions of dollars from his former law clients. This caused ABS-CBN’s Bantay Bata to pull the endorsement of her awards dinner, and ABS-CBN anchor Tina Palma would not attend the event. Bander filed a defamation lawsuit against Umayam. In the lawsuit Bander
asked whether Umayam was in reality Cum Laude. Umayam refused to answer the question. Bander brought a motion to make her answer the question. Judge Treu ruled that Umayam had to finally reveal whether she was cum laude as it could demonstrate a reason why she sent the defamatory emails. Faced with a court order, Umayam finally relented, admitting she had been lying to the community all these years. Judge Rolf Treu rules Umayam took the Fifth Amendment During the summer of
2012, PinoyWatchDog.com accused, and later wrote, that Umayam was stealing large quantities of PinoyWatchDog.com newspapers with the unflattering stories about her. PWD even uncovered an email where she was directing her supporters at the Philippine Press Photographers Association to steal the newspapers. In the defamation case Bander also asked if Umayam stole the newspapers. Her attorney, Michael Lancaster, objected, stating Umayam asserted her rights under the federal and state constitutions to ‘remain silent’. Bander’s attorney, Brad Axelrod, argued that the objection was vague as it failed to specify Umayam was ‘remaining silent as per her right against self incrimination’ the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. On that point Judge Treu ruled that Umayam’s objection was good enough. Famed trial attorney Dennis Turn to Page 3
based Nininger Chapter. He also often talked about Polo with chapter members as he was an avid player prior to World War II. Philippine Consul General Maria Hellen BarberDe La Vega, Deputy Consul General Daniel Espiritu and other members of the Philippine Consulate General Los Angeles were on hand to lay a beautiful wreath to honor Lt. Col Ramsey at his memorial services in Los Angeles. Both Consul Gen-
eral De La Vega and Deputy Consul Espiritu have been involved with Philippine Scouts Heritage Society activities and events and have personally met and had discussions with Lt. Colonel Ramsey and members of the Nininger Chapter. The Nininger Chapter was honored to be Lt. Col. Ramsey’s casket detail during his Memorial Services. Chapter members in attendance were Feliciano Mislang, Louis Cogut, Ray
Ortega, Jeff Beauregard, Gil Mislang, Joe Lopez, Archerie Calunod, Joveno De La Vega, Frank Lopez. Other members of the Chapter will be present in his internment in Washington, D.C. In another sad day for the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society, we lost Captain Felipe Fernandez who faded away two days after his longtime friend and Commander, Lt. Colonel Turn to Page 9
Saturday, March 23, 2013
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Nabil’s Quest goes...From Page 1
of the area. There the Sultan’s brother announced to the world that they had come to press their historic claim to the land. Two weeks and a few skirmishes later, Nabil lay on a muddy patch in the Sabah jungle; he and his group were on the run. The Malaysians came down hard on them with tanks, heavy artillery and fighter planes. Malaysian troops poured in and systematically begun to scour the surroundings for any sign of their troops. In Taguig, Metro Manila meanwhile, Abraham Idjirani, the sultan’s spokesman, claimed eight people were hired to kill Kiram and his followers. The hit squad allegedly includes 5 foreigners led by a colonel serving in the military forces “of an Asian country.” In a separate press conference, Indjirani named the hit squad group’s alleged leader as a certain “Col. Sunny Ng” of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Idjirani said the 5 assassins arrived Tuesday in the country. He said the information was relayed by a former lawyer of Saycon, who is also a friend of a consultant of a foreign company that is allegedly behind the plot. Security at the Kiram’s house has been tightened because of the alleged kill plot. Idjirani, meanwhile, protested the comparison made by President Aquino on the Sabah crisis and the Jabidah operation under then strongman Ferdinand Marcos. He said the Sultanate of Sulu has histor-
ical right and claim to Sabah, and Malaysia up to now pays rent to them. The Palace, meanwhile, dismissed the alleged slay plot. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda on Wednesday dubbed the claim as a “tall tale”.
Darna.... From Page 2
Wilson, scheduled to represent Bander at trial in August, told PWD that “in a criminal case no one can comment when the Fifth Amendment self incrimination privilege is raised. But in a defamation case, a civil case, I can tell the jury Umayam took the Fifth Amendment about stealing PinoyWatchDog.com newspapers, and they can presume if they want that she stole the papers. It just the court cannot make her say she stole.” Umayam’s Attorney wants to Quit Micheal Lancaster, representing Umayam in the trial court, has filed a motion requesting the judge get him off the case. Lancaster says Umayam is not paying her legal bills. That motion is scheduled for mid April 2013. Lancaster is also defending Balita Media against a defamation lawsuit, and Attorneys James Beirne and Paul Allen because they falsely advertised, Beirne using an actress claiming she was a happy client, and Allen claiming he had ten years experience even though he was a new admittee. Allen also made a false claim of a special relationship with the federal government.
Source British Embassy
Tagle assures Pope of Filipinos’ support MANILA Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle urged the faithful to thank God for his gift, Pope Francis, elected to the highest position in the Roman Catholic Church Thursday. “Let us join the whole Church and the world in thanking God for His special gift in the extraordinary person of Pope Francis,” he said in a statement. With this, he expressed gratitude to all those who prayed for the 115 cardinals that elected Pope Francis. Tagle added that he was able to talk with the new Pontiff and assured the latter of the support of the Filipinos. “When I approached Pope Francis to assure him of the closeness and collaboration of the Filipinos, he said, ‘I have high hopes for the Philippines. May your faith prosper, as well as your devotion to Our Lady and mission to the poor,’” he said. Meanwhile, Vice President Jejomar C. Binay invited Pope Francis to visit the Philippines during the 51st International Eucharistic Congress which will be held in 2016.
The Vice President invited the pontiff during a meeting after the latter’s installation and inaugural mass on Tuesday evening. ”I invited Pope Francis to visit the Philippines for the International Eucharistic Congress in 2016,” he said. Former Pope Benedict XVI announced in the 2012 Eucharistic Congress that the next congress will be held in Cebu, which is acknowledged as the country’s “cradle of faith.” The congress is held every four years. The Philippines last hosted the congress in 1937, with re-evangelization as the central program. The Vice President added that he also conveyed the well-wishes of the Filipino people during the meeting. I extended the greetings of the Philippines to Pope Francis,” said Binay. Binay was asked by President Aquino to represent him and the country in the installation. He also carried the President’s letter congratulating the new Bishop of Rome.
Filipino Expats To Play Crucial... one of the prime movers in amending the “outdated” 2003 Overseas Absentee Voter Act (OAV), said that with the technology infrastructure in place “the participation of OFWs in the 2016 national elections would be as easy as going online to register or cast their votes in the Internet.” Pimentel, who is chairman of the committee on electoral reforms and suffrage, sponsored the Senate Bill 3312, which the Senate approved earlier last month. The amended OAV Act now awaits the signature of President Aquino. Once the proposed OAV amendments is enacted into law, the old OAV provision requiring Filipino expatriates to issue an affidavit declaring an intention to return to the Philippines will be struck down. The removal of this contentious provision was one of the high point in the OAV amendment work. Also, under the proposed amendment, Pimentel recommended the creation of a Resident Election Registration Board (RERB) to be posted abroad. The RERB will have power to approve, disapprove, deactivate, reactivate and or cancel registration records. The affidavit requirement and the prospect of taking off from work to go to embassies or consulates to cast their votes are the cause of the very low registration and voter turnout. “This affidavit requirement for overseas Filipinos to come back within three years or face deletion from the Comelec registry is a serious obstacle to our citizens’ right to vote,” said Pimentel. “This affidavit, which is a government document, shall not only be binding on the potential registrant but also on the future of their families as well.” Pimentel pointed out that under
From Page 1 the amended OAV Act, overseas Filipinos can register and vote through postal or electronic mails and other secure online systems. “When Filipinos come together as one nation to decide on the next administration, one of the biggest legacies to (Filipino) voters around the world is an OAV law that facilitates voting flexibility in terms of new technologies,” Pimentel said, adding that “having 10 million expat voters online is possible in the 2016 presidential elections. Right now, Comelec statistics shows that there are 915,000 OAV applicants, a marked improvement compared to 589,830 registrants in 2010, when only 25% actually voted. The Comelec and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) expect to surpass the one-million mark they set for this year’s senatorial and local polls. Commissioner Lucenito N. Tagle, who is the new Chairman of the Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting (COAV) expressed optimism on the future of OAV saying, “with the help of the various stakeholders, we keep a positive view that absentee voting will continue to flourish as we hope to reach the one million target of registered absentee voters for the 2013 mid-term elections.” He said. “ Furthermore, we continue to espouse the modernization of the absentee voting procedure for a faster and more accessible mode of voting of overseas Filipinos.”
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PinoyWatchDog.Com
Editorial
Saturday, March 23, 2013
EDITORIAL
Mailing address at 4880 Valley Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90032 (213) 261-7467 editor@pinoywatchdog.com
Melissa Salvador, CEO & President Bernie Cortes-Kimmerle, Entertainment & Arts Editor; Gil Mislang, Business Manager & Staff Photographer; Rene Villaroman, Co-Founder David Casuco, Editor-in-Chief; Joel Bander, Senior Columnist; Francis Johann Verdote, Staff Writer; Vics Magsaysay, Atty Liberati Mangali, Atty Joel Nunez, Atty Alma Reyes, Contributing Writers; Oliver Carnay, Entertainment Writer; RJ Barbasa, Manila Entertainment; Archie Calunod, Advertising Executive; John Sacramento & Ed Leviste, Staff Photographers Web & SEO Strategist | Graphic Designer Lay-out and Graphics
Great Expectations From The Papacy
IT IS AN auspicious time for the Catholic Church. Reform is sorely needed and many challenges face the new pope, Pope Francis I. Church attendance is dropping in America and Europe stemmed only by a growing Catholic community in Latin America and Africa. In the United States, the years of neglect and lack of action over cases of sexual abuse of the clergy have left deep wounds among the faithful. In the Philippines, the controversy over the Reproductive Health Law and what some see as Church inference in
the affairs of the State have also led to divisive arguments between the Bishops and the Aquino administration. Catholicism is at a crossroads and expectations are high from the new pope. His work with the poor and the marginalized as Archbishop of Buenos Aires have given hopes for many. Already, the pope’s call for a “poor church” and his recent acts of humility are viewed by most as concrete steps for change. Inter-faith dialogue with the Eastern Orthodox churches, the Protestant Christian community, and the
Islamic and Jewish faiths, is underway and is sorely needed to foster mutual understanding and respect among the different religions. The Catholic faithful want a Church that will lead them in the 21st century that is not restricted by medieval mores and standards that have nothing to do with Christianity. The Church must take up the challenge to become a foundation for the revitalization of faith and belief among men and a shining light against the darkness of ignorance and despair.
‘I Am The Resurrection And The Life’
►By DAVID CASUCO FOR THIS special time of Lent, let us reflect on what the Lord told Martha minutes before he called out Lazarus to rise from the dead: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall have life. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die…” Do you believe this? We hem and haw when confronted by this question. We say, “Yes…but, well,
I am not much into that religious stuff. And then we dodge the bullet and seek the escape route with a defying statement, “besides, spirituality is a personal matter.” We are lukewarm if we do that, and God’s word says He will “spit us out.” We just have to be hot or cold when dealing with God. Back up again to John 11:25. The Lord was asking Martha, “Do you believe this?” Unlike a lot of us, Martha was hot.
She answered, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world (John 11:27).” What happened? The world witnessed one of the greatest miracles ever – the raising of Lazarus of Bethany from the dead. The Church leaders during that time were threatened; the Roman rulers were shaken. They killed our Lord. But, on the third day, as the Scriptures had it, Jesus the Continued on Page 9
Teachings From Manuel L. Quezon (Philippine President 1935-44) (Second of a Series)
Hello again. In continuing my article on Manuel L. Quezon, whom I feel is the great mentor of my parents and my generation, I reflect back to the traits I have seen exhibited by my parents and the many other Filipinos that were of the same generation which I feel have been injected into me and makes me have the same foundation in my character. From my initial article I presented a number of odes of Ethics that Manuel Quezon promulgated in his nine years as President of the Philippines. Manuel Quezon was often quoted and very sincere of them even if they were not popular in America. Here are some of the more famous of his quotes and my thoughts on them; “My loyalty to my party ends where my loyalty to my country begins.” This thought of Loyalty should strike home to most Filipinos. One trait that Filipinos have been noticed for is there loyalty especially loyalty to their heritage, culture and family are strong but in many ways some Filipinos just don’t employ Quezon’s thoughts about “the end of party loyalty and the beginning of country (meaning kapwa Filipino) loyalty. Sometimes Filipino loy-
alty to one’s party never stops for either right or wrong reasons. “Social Justice is far more beneficial when applied as a matter of sentiment, and not of law.” This is certainly one of his quotes where he shows his benevolence towards issues and where he shows the he is noble and shows nobility. “I would rather have a country run like hell by Filipinos than a country run like heaven by the Americans, because however bad a Filipino government might be, we can always change it.” When Quezon came to America leaving the Philippines to be overrun by the Japanese Imperial Army, he was actually angry at America because he had felt that Gen. Douglas MacArthur kidnapped him and sent him to American for his protection. “Pray for me so that I can return to the Philippines. I feel so weak that I’m afraid I cannot make it”. Quezon in his later days wanted to go back to the Philippines but he was real sick and eventually succumbed to his illness. While in exile in America, he was extremely sad for the plight of the Filipinos and Americans under the Japanese Imperial Army. The rigors of travel
and his poor health during those times may have made him lose all hope of returning to the Philippines, something he desperately wanted to do. “I’d rather be called “Quezón the Letranite” than “Quezón the President”.” This quote kind of shows his extreme humility about having the most powerful position in the Philippines. If there were only more like him today in the Philippine Government, maybe our political outlook will seem better off than they are now. Manuel Quezon was well regarded by both Filipinos and Americans. In many ways Filipinos were highly regarded as a great people by many American who went to the Philippines as US Government officials or as American Military personnel. One classic story often told by many West Point graduates prior to World War II was the race,upon the closure of the graduation ritual, to the sign-up sheet for their initial tour of duty. Many of the new graduates put down their desire to be sent to the Philippines. According to several of the West Point Officer’s I have met, they often expressed their happiness of going to the Philippines prior to the Japanese Army invasion and enjoying the hospitality of the Filipino people, the beauty of the Country and Manila and the resemblance of life in Manila often comparing it to living somewhere in Hawaii. According to one American officer,
he felt it was much better than going to Hawaii or the Caribbean. Since the arrival of the Americans, the Philippines was governed much as part of the Western United States and when Manuel Quezon became the President of the Republic of the Philippines, the country was on the verge becoming much like the Western world. President Quezon instilled the American way of life and was prominent in encouraging Filipinos to have nobility, honor, pride and be hardworking in their everyday lives in all things. I saw all these virtues in all the Filipinos I met in my childhood days growing up in Southern California and I saw more of these virtues with the many first generation Filipinos I met while in college in the Philippines in the early seventies. Today, there are many changes seen in the way things were done in the 1930’s, 40’s and even up to the 50’s, some good and some not so good in my view. But we have to learn the good virtues taught by great men like Manuel L. Quezon and keep using them and teaching them to our next generations. In this and in future articles, I wish to instill to all generations these fine teachings from a great President and Filipino. Bye for now and keep your eyes and ears open for more articles like this from the PinoyWatchDog team.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
The Siege On The Vatican
When Pope Benedict XVI announced that he was going to resign on February 28, 2013, it sent shock waves around the world. Being the first Pope to leave the papal throne – alive -- in 600 years, two billion followers of the Roman Catholic Church are in a state of disbelief. Although Pope Benedict had become the lighting rod of criticism against members of the clergy for “crimes against children,” he had steadily weathered the maelstrom of controversy that engulfed Catholicism’s seat of power, the Vatican. Indeed, as soon as Pope Benedict announced his resignation, the enemies of the Catholic Church laid siege on the Vatican. Yes, it was time to strike while the iron was hot. And strike they did, hitting the Pope when he was vulnerable! An obscure organization called International Tribunal into Crimes of Church and State (ITCCS) issued a media release on its website, saying that Pope Benedict resigned because he found out that an unnamed European government was going to issue an “arrest warrant” against him once he had vacated the papacy. He would then be charged of crimes against humanity and criminal conspiracy. The person behind the ITCCS attack on the Pope is a certain Rev. Kevin D. Annett, a priest of the United Church of Canada, who is identified as ITCCS’s Secretary. Power struggle? But the siege on the Vatican might be overshadowed by a developing story that attributes the Pope’s resignation to a power struggle within the Vatican. A source said that Pope Benedict’s decision was “brought on by his declining health in the context of a major power struggle within the Holy See.” The source also said that Pope Benedict recently made two major appointments including the installation of the new head of the Vatican Bank. The source also said that four cardinals, including two from Latin America, are the leading contenders to succeed the Pope. The rumored front-runner is “a cardinal who was close to John Paul II, trusted by Benedict, skilled in Vatican maneuvering, and who has been in the front lines dealing with the rise of radical Islam.” Last February 15, Reuters News reported that Pope Benedict decided to live in the Vatican after he steps down. This would provide him with security and privacy. The Vatican would also provide him with legal protection – and immunity -- from any attempt to prosecute him for any complicity with sexual abuse cases committed by Catholic priests around the world. “His continued presence in the Vatican is necessary, otherwise he might be defenseless. He wouldn’t have his immunity, his prerogatives, his security, if he is anywhere else,” a Vatican official told Reuters. One consideration in deciding that Pope Benedict should live in a convent inside the Vatican after his resignation is his personal safety and privacy, which the Vatican police would be able to guarantee as long as he is within the walls of the Vatican. And the second consideration is his potential exposure to legal claims over the Catholic Church’s sexual abuse scandals. While Pope Benedict is not currently named as a defendant in any case, the Vatican would not rule out the possibility of future lawsuits against him. And if he lives outside the Vatican, it might attract the “crazies” to file lawsuits or he might be arrested and
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brought to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged acts while he was head of state. As a resident and citizen of the sovereign state of Vatican City, Pope Benedict would have the full protection of the state under the provisions of the Lateran Pacts, which guarantee his immunity while he is in the Vatican or even if he travels in Italy as a Vatican citizen. In 1929, Italy and the Holy See signed the Lateran Pacts that established Vatican City as a sovereign state. But Pope Benedict’s resignation is not going to solve the Catholic Church’s problems with all the sexual abuse scandals. And as long as these scandals exist, the likes of Kevin D. Annett and other enemies of the Vatican would cause the next Pope innumerable problems. St. Malachy’s prophecy In 1139, then Archbishop Malachy O’More of Ireland went to Rome to give an account of his diocese to Pope Innocent II. While in Rome, he received the strange vision of the future wherein was unfolded before his mind the long list of illustrious pontiffs who were to rule the Church until the end of time. The last on that list was the 268th Pope. Pope Benedict’s successor will be the 268th Pope. And if St. Malachy’s prophecy were true, then the next Pope would be the last. But that is an easy way to interpret the prophecy. Could there be another interpretation? Yes, there is! The First Ecumenical Council, known as the Council of Nicea, took place in 325 A.D. by the order of the Roman Emperor Caesar Flavius Constantine. Nicea was located in Asia Minor, east of Constantinople. At the Council of Nicea, Emperor Constantine presided over a group of Church bishops and leaders with the purpose of defining the true God for all of Christianity and eliminating all the confusion, controversy, and contention within Christ’s church. The Council of Nicea affirmed the deity of Jesus Christ and established an official definition of the Trinity -- the deity of The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit under one Godhead, in three co-equal and co-eternal Persons. (www.gotquestions.org/council-of-Nicea) Between 325 A.D. and 1563 (Council of Trent), there were a total of 19 ecumenical councils. It took another 307 years before another ecumenical council took place, the First Council of the Vatican in 1870, which defined the Pope’s primacy in church governance and his infallibility. The Second Council of the Vatican took place in 1962-1965, which addressed pastoral and disciplinary issues dealing with the Church and its relation to the modern world, including liturgy and ecumenism. Quo vadis, Vatican? Perhaps it’s time for the Third Council of the Vatican to take place. There is a clamor for change from a small liberal faction of the Church. The conservatives have the numerical strength but the liberals are more aggressive and vocal. The next Pope would be faced with certain issues that could turn Vatican III into a battle for supremacy that could crack the “Rock” of Christendom. A slew of issues -- such as celibacy, ordination of female priests, same-sex marriage, stem cell research, and family planning -- could create an atmosphere for schism to grow. There is only one way to prevent this from happening – reform. The next Pope could indeed be the “Last Pope” as we know him. But he could also be the “First Pope” after the Catholic Church’s reformation to bring it to the realities of the 21st century and conform to the norms of society today. (PerryDiaz@gmail.com)
The Great Wall Of Compromise By FRANCIS JOHANN VERDOTE Similar to the “Pacquiao-Marquez” fights, the immigration reform debate has no end in sight because none of the groups are willing to give up the fight. We do not know if and when a fifth installment will happen, I hope it stops at four, but we are definitely in for a match of our lives in the immigration reform arena. Boxing matches are more logical than the immigration reform debate. A boxing match’s logic is that to win a title and earn top money a boxer needs to beat or knock out the opponent. Fear is less likely to be involved in a boxing bout than in the immigration reform debate. As American author Mary Antin once said, “Fear is the devil hard to cast out.” Fear is the bottom line of “fight or flight or freeze.” As a survival mechanism to frightful situations, our brains signal our bodies to act by fighting, fleeing, or freezing. Our threatened safety and security trigger our kneejerk reactions and supersede logic and reason. Both pro- and anti-immigration reform activists’ “logic” and “reasoning” are driven by fear. Fear is the shadow of man’s rational thinking. And that is why there is no sane dialogue when it comes to immigration reform. Fear leads and pushes both groups to harass each other with racial slurs and other forms of threats. These forms of actions guarantee both US-born citizens and undocumented immigrants with nothing, but more harassments and threats. Both pro- and anti-immigration reform activists’ “logic” and “reasoning” are driven by fear. If fear is set aside and logical reasoning is our mediator, then the likelihood of finding a reasonable solution to the immigration problem can come to fruition. Citizens and non-citizens must understand that immigration reform does not only affect the Latino community. Other undocumented immigrants come from Canada, Europe, and Asia. Many of the undocumented immigrants hold US jobs that are undesirable for many US-born citizens: day laborers, caregivers, farmers, and factory workers. These low-paying jobs are important to the US economy because it allows undocumented immigrants to pay taxes and purchase their American Dreams by shopping in JC Penney, Sears, Radioshack, and so on. A demand for a sweeping deportation of all undocumented immigrants weakens further our economy. However, the demand of some pro-immigration reform activists of abolishing the prison system is as crazy as deportation of all undocumented immigrants. Where would the hardened criminals, both citizens and immigrants, go? Who will make our license plates and Victoria’s Secret lingerie? Should we let them back in to our neighborhood? Maybe we should dump the hardened criminals in a dystopic island and have them create their own government and society? Answers to complex problems, such as the immigration reform, almost always never come from extreme, hyper-interested groups. There needs to be a middle ground between the polarized groups. As cliché as it may sound, to come up with just solutions to the burgeoning immigration problem all we need to do is look at the past. And that past would most likely tell us that America is a land of immigrants, who chase their American Dreams of better opportunities, equality, and democracy. Whether we are naturalized US-citizens, US-born citizens, or undocumented immigrants, we as people traveled hundreds, and probably thousands, of miles to live a life surrounded by better social and economic opportunities. It is not about whose foreign feet stepped on American soil first, but how American values of economy, industry, and equality. Immigration problem is not about the chicken or the egg; the problems lie in the present, and in it is where solutions will hatch. To come up just solution two facts must be accepted: 1. Not all undocumented immigrants are as hard working, dedicated, and educated as Jose Antonio Vargas, and 2. Not every American citizens are as diligent, temperate, industrious, and just as Benjamin Franklin. (To be continued ...)
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KRIS AQUINO QUITS ALL HER SHOWS AS MARITAL WOES CONTINUE TO STALK THE THE PH’S QUEEN OF ALL MEDIA
►By VICENTE CONCEPCION
It was a very sensational Thursday night for TV Patrol as TV Anchor Ted Failon interviewed Queen of All Media Kris Aquino about the recent controversy surrounding her and her former husband basketball player James Yap. Aquino made a shocking statement when she revealed that she would resign from all her shows in network giant ABS-CBN for the sake of having a more private life with her two children –Bimby and Josh. Rumors have it that the mother and children are planning to migrate to the U.S. “I am sacrificing my career and work for a simple and quiet life with my son, Bimby” she revealed in tears.
Kris Aquino is in a legal fix with former husband James Yap as she is placing a Permanent Protection Order (PPO) against him. She accused James Yap of having sexual advances to her and threatened her when she refused. She says James did this in the presence of her son Bimby who according to Kris, was traumatized by the incident. She added “We do not deserve this kind of suffering.” Yap’s camp are saying that this PPO was triggered by his refusal to sign the adoption papers of his son. “I really do not want to say anything anymore but I don’t care if this will destroy me. At least Continued on Page 8
Estranged showbiz couple James Yap and Kris Aquino: He says... she says...
Saturday, March 16, 2013
BERNIE’S BOX By BERNIE CORTES-KIMMERLE
He pops open a bottle of Hennessy Cognac and takes a shot. He gingerly places the empty cup on the grave. March 3 every year is the day Carlito Bonjoc pays a visit to this particular grave…usually alone…sometimes he sees a few people gather around this grave in Stockton, California. He is CARLITO BONJOC, a master of two forms of escrima, an ancient Filipino art, now touted
as one of the most used for fighting techniques with the police, armies all over the world and now, the fighting techniques are used in Hollywood. Bonjoc was born with spina bifida and moved to Stockton in 1971. He was bullied in school. His parents, then teachers in the Philippines, succumbed to whatever employment they could obtain and ended up as migrant
Filipino Martial Arts Goes International (2)
workers. They took whatever job they can to make sure Carlito and his little sister would have some “baon” for school – be it farming tomatoes in the summer, asparagus, citrus etc. and they also were saving money to buy a home. One day, a bully strong-armed Bonjoc for his money while trying to buy lunch. Because of this, his sister begged their father (who at that time was teaching escrima)
to coach little Bonjoc. His father, who was a grandmaster, sent him to the best, Grand Master Angel Cabales. Though Bonjoc also trained with grandmaster Roy Omor and also through his father, who trained him with the Cadiz Lapu-Lapu system, he became truly connected with Angel – and mastered the Cabales-Serrada system. He visits Angel Cabales’
graveyard every March 3 as this day too, is Carlito’s birthday. Angel’s favorite drink is Hennesy Cognac so Carlito always buy a bottle and toasts to Angel at the cemetery. LIFE WITH ANGEL CABALES: Angel was an amazing man according to Carlito. “He was a great man. Angel always said ‘I don’t have Continued on Page 9
Carlito Bonjoc
Vincent Cabales, son of Angel Cabales Remembering Angel’s death anniversary-Eskrima masters gather.
Angel Cabales grave
Saturday, March 23, 2013
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PinoyWatchDog.Com
Parokya Ni Edgar Delivers Rock, Shock, and Awe ►By FRANCIS JOHANN VERDOTE
Under a cool cloudless night, people slowly arrived at the City National Grove in Anaheim, California for Happy Box Production’s “Rock, Shock, & Awe 4,” featuring Parokya ni Edgar, Gloc-9, Mocha Girls, and several Filipino-American bands. Young folks of all ages calmly wait in line with friends – cracking jokes, chitchatting, and lighting up their cigarettes or e-cigarettes. But the day, my day, was not as chill as the night and the crowd in line waiting to see Parokya ni Edgar or Gloc-9 or Mocha Girls. I did not have my ticket yet. I wondered if I was going to miss all the night’s rocking, shocking, and awing because my ticket was M.I.A. Was I to miss the action of the “Pambansang Banda ng Pilipinas?” I was as anxious as a lost mid-summer heat in a waning winter Los Angeles day. Fate’s gentle hands open doors or make phone calls at the right moment
Photo Coverage by: John Sacramento and Ron Valledor
and time. PinoyWatchdog. com’s Arts and Entertainment Editor, Bernie Kimmerle, gives me a ring and says, “I got your ticket. I’m in West Covina until 6pm. When can you pick up your ticket?” Restlessness and apprehension dissipate in a flash. The calm
after the storm settles in. Parokya ni Edgar’s Inuman Sessions Vol. 1 was the music of choice as I pick up my tickets. “Rock, Shock, & Awe 4” started a quarter past 8 with Project State: Unknown covering songs by P.O.T. and Red Hot Chili
Peppers. Ten to Midnight and Project 7 followed shortly. The final front act Guns @ Bar brought their own flavor of arena rock in Anaheim. The lights dimmed to its lowest level. AfContinued on Page 8
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Parokya Ni Edgar Delivers... From Page 7
ter a few moments, the lights gradually turned up, and with it the room’s testosterone level increased. The Mocha Girls were on stage and reigned over the audience. Youngsters in the mosh pit were as wild, frantic, and crazy as the girls’ dance moves. The girls’ hair fluttered about as their bodies gyrated, bounced, and swirled. You can see in the dark the yellowish or pearly-white smiles of the boys and young men, as the Mocha Girls danced the dance to sexually rile them up. However, not everyone’s dopamine levels were as high as the blue-balled boys. Men in the lounge were not enticed by the Mocha Girls’ skimpy clothes, celebrity skin, and art of seduction. The people in the bar and lounge did not hesitate to enter after the Mocha Girls’ set. The final two acts of the night were coming. The crowd left their seats and positioned and squeezed themselves in the mosh pit. Gloc-9’s set was composed
of some original Pinoy hip-hop. Performing old and new hits, Gloc got the audience singing and rapping with him. In the middle of his set, the “Biggest Pinoy Hip-Hop Artist” stepped off the stage to get closer to his fans. For his final song, Gloc-9 paid tribute to the late FrancisM by singing “Kaleidoscope World.” The audience responded positively and joined in the singing. The night’s star. The band we had been waiting for. The “Pambansang Banda ng Bayan.” Finally, Parokya ni Edgar walked on to the stage and thanked and welcomed their fans, old and new, to the concert. Twenty years of rocking and rolling the Philippine music industry and Parokya ni Edgar’s intensity was as steady as it goes. The City Grove Anaheim crowd jumped up and down to Parokya’s first song “Buloy.” One might say Parokya ni Edgar’s music and performance are formulaic, but with their success and marketability who would care about a formula? Parokya ni Edgar may not have an evolving
Saturday, March 23, 2013
sound, but their formula of verse-chorus-verse-pluscomedy formula have kept the band relevant and influential, especially to their fans between the ages of 18-24. I could itemize Parokya ni Edgar’s set list, but it would not describe and illustrate the fans’ excitement and ecstasy. Safe to say, Parokya ni Edgar performed songs beyond their limit of eight, as announced by frontman Chito Miranda. The band played old and new songs to the delight of fans that sang in chorus, bobbed their heads, or kept their enjoyment and pleasure to themselves. To close Happy Box’s “Rock, Shock, & Awe 4,” Parokya ni Edgar played “Bagsakan” with Gloc-9. Miranda, together with Buwi Meneses, Darius Semana, Dindin Moreno, and Gab Chee Kee, rocked and entertained their loyal fans up final chord, last strum, final word, and last bang on the drums.
Kris Aquino quits TV shows...
From Page 6
later on my son will know that I fought for him,” Yap responded to the many questions of this legal conflict. In the mean time, RTC Makati Judge Liza Marie Picardal-Tecson denied the hold departure order petition of Yap against ex-wife Aquino and son Bimby who are preparing for a trip outside the Philippines. When Ted Failon asked Kris Aquino if the Filipino people should believe her, she responded “You don’t have to believe me, you just have to believe my son.” “You don’t have to believe me,
you just have to believe my son,” Aquino said. “Humihingi ako ng paumanhin, lalong-lalo na sa lahat ng katrabaho ko na nandito ngayon. Sana maunawaan ninyo ako.” She apologized to her ABS-CBN co workers for leaving her three shows- Kris TV, Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw and Pilipinas Got Talent. “I have to do what’s best for my son and that means sacrificing this career, sacrificing this job.“ Kris stated. “Sa totoo lang, eh kung pribado kaming tao, hindi kami pagpipiyestahan,” she explained. “
“Hindi ko sinasabi ‘yan just so I can say na I’m the one making the bigger sacrifice, no. Tinatalikuran ko ‘yung mundo na nakilala ko, na bumubuhay sa akin dahil higit dun sa karera ko, mas mahal ko ang anak ko”, she added. When asked if who is telling the truth – she answered ”It’s not between James and me and who is telling the truth, it’s about how much I love my son.” Kris Aquino was supported by her older sisters Ballsy Cruz, Pinky Abellada and Viel Dee during the interview.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
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Final Salute To A Decorated War Hero...From Page 2 Edwin Ramsey on March 9 in Seaside California. Capt. Fernandez fought with the Philippine Scouts during the defense of Bataan from January to April 1942, holding back the Japanese long enough to allow Filipino and American troops to retreat to the peninsula. Refusing to surrender after Bataan fell on April 9, he and others in his unit went to join the remaining forces in Corregidor, fighting there until the island fortress fell on May 6. Trooper Fernandez was wounded and captured. After this, he was brought to Camp O’Donnell
in Tarlac, where he joined the tens of thousands of Filipino soldiers who survived the Death March. In discussions with the members of the Nininger Chapter of the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society, Captain Fernandez relayed his account of what happened to the 26th Cavalry trooper upon surrender to the Japanese Army. Captain Fernandez has been a strong supporter of the Philippines Scouts Heritage Society and has provided the Chapter members on how to be gentlemen soldiers and has often provided members
‘I Am The Resurrection...From Page 4 Christ rose again. And that is why Christians celebrate Easter Sunday, the anniversary of Jesus’ resurrection. The funny thing is how Easter generates different responses from Christian believers. Some do it with eggs; others do it with flagellations, crucifixions and all sorts of funky, if blasphemous religious practices. Enough with Easter eggs and Holy Week follies, enough with our own designs; God’s perfect plan is already in place. And, unlike us, God does not change His plan because everything He does is perfect. Now, think about it. (davidnow88@yahoo.com)
with much advice as to how they re-enact proper Philippine Scouts regalia and manners. He was a real true gentleman soldier and at last year’s first ever Philippine Scouts Heritage Society reunion in the Philippines provided an honorable and memorable Eulogy for the over 600 Filipino and American Scouts buried in the Angeles Cemetery. Those of us that heard and witnessed his delivery of the Eulogy to the Philippine Scouts could not hold back the tears. After his release from O’Donnell, Fernandez married Emilia, his fiancée, now wife of 70 years. He was captured and tortured by Filipino constabularies working for the Japanese. After his release, he volunteered to become an intelligence operative for the guerrillas. He was later commissioned as an officer in the US Reserves and was called to active duty in 1946. He fought with the US Army in the Korean
Filipino Martial Arts Goes International...From Page 6
an education, my education was in the sidewalks – street boy.’ I was really fortunate to find Manong Angel.”
His father knew Angel from the Filipino Lodge popular with FilAms after World War II. Manong Angel was with the Dimasalan group. Because of this common bond his father gave him permission so he started with Angel. FIRST DAY OF TRAINING: Bonjoc smiled when asked what his first day of training was like. He stated, “The first day was intimidating. Though I was trained in FMA, (Filipino Martial Arts) they had this speed. They had sharp quickness in the movement that I was not familiar with. When you watched the advanced students, it was a lot of snap. Then Angel took me to the side and gave me a really soft hit. He was showing the first movement. Angel was very gentle with his new students and showed a lot of care in the teachings. He was pouring his heart to you. He drew me in from the very first day. “We were all taught differently according to our strength, weaknesses, height and abilities. “ SPINA BIFIDA: Bonjoc’s left leg was afflicted with this disease. Yet, Angel ignored this handicap. Bonjoc said, “I worked with Ron Saturno, who also was a master Graduate of Angel Cabales’ system. These guys treated me right – they didn’t care if I was handicapped. If I didn’t get back up, they would kick me – it was tough love.” Bonjoc continued, “I started training in 1979, received my master’s degree in 1983. It was different instructors taking you to different levels. Angel would review you, train you then you graduate to the next level. To further improve, he would find instructors that fit your personality, then he would test you – he will study your movement and the integrity of your technique.” After he received his Master’s Degree with the Cabales-Cerrada method, he started with Largo Mano. Then disaster struck. Carlito developed problems with his good leg - the right foot. An infection moved too fast and in 1986 they had to amputate his right leg. Bonjoc was depressed as he already
had a deformed leg and now they were going to amputate the only good leg. He lamented to Angel, “How can I continue?” Angel then said in a terse manner, “I will teach you how to teach. We will train you how to teach.” Private lessons then started. Bonjoc stated, “We have a lot of master graduates from the Cabales-Cerrada group and they have to survive a challenge match.” Bonjoc admits that he did not have the privilege to train in the challenge level but has his degree. He then thought, “Here I am, I thought my leg was a curse. But now Angel is telling me to break down his teachings piece by piece, to break it down and develop a curriculum. So fast forward to present time, not only is this method structured, but the classes are still designed for the strength, height, and dexterity of the student. Thus, in 1989, Carlito opened his groupMatas Baguio and Angel gave him his blessings. Angel Cabales is indeed a legend as his name is known in the martial arts world. His influence is international – the system Cabales-Cerrado is international. One of Angel’s student is Dan Inosanto still claims to this day that he learned the basics from Angel and still holds a strong influence in his techniques. Because of Inosanto’s training with Angel’s escrima, this woke up the escrimadors in the Philippines and now, it is our national sport and no longer viewed as a sport for the poor or troublemakers. The growth of escrima is rising and one can truly state that escrima in the US started with a manong, the great Angel Cabales in the heart of Stockton, California. Carlito’s parting words were, “There is no one style of escrima. Here’s what you are supposed to think, if I go into a fight, I will win. If it is time to save my family, I will win. At that time, my style will be THE ONE.” With that, he takes another shot of the Cognac and smiles.