Atty. Gurfinkel answers immigration...

PAGE B1 citizen first.

• Jessica, who came to the Q and A session with her mother, Marosa, wants to know why it is taking so long for her siblings to get an interview date at the U.S. Embassy in Manila even if they are already Documentarily Qualified.

Tune in to Part 2 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot,” with Kapamilya from Las Vegas, Nevada on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, February 12 at 6:30

PM PT (9:30 PM Eastern Time through select Cable/Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)

Soriano, performed the Candles and Roses Induction Ceremony of 13 New Members.

In between the Installation of the officers and directors and the Induction Ceremony, The Jazzers performed the Broadway Classic Dance, and LE CHIC performed the Egyptian Dance.

Thank you to our sponsors: Margie del Rosario Canlobo, Jeanette Espenida, and Anna Lyra Venaglia.

Ramona Marie Soriano, the Mistress of Ceremonies, thanked everyone for the opportunity of serving as emcee. Margie Canlobo, Board of Directors Chair, gave the Closing Remarks, and thanked all the distinguished guests, board members and sponsors for their support. Guests dancing followed. g

Rhizomes

“PANTA hypoménei. This means that love bears every trial with a positive attitude. It stands firm in hostile surroundings. This “endurance” involves not only the ability to tolerate certain aggravations, but something greater: a constant readiness to confront any challenge. It is a love that never gives up, even in the darkest hour. It shows a dogged heroism, a power to resist every negative current, an irrepressible commitment to goodness… .”even the race that hates you most has some good in it.” – Pope Francis, ‘The Joy of Love’, 2016 I got this gift, a book on “The Joy of Love” from Fr. Camilo Pacanza in 2016, with a dedication: “The joy in loving is guaranteed by loving one another As Jesus loves us. Thank you for giving me that kind of love.”

I wanted to capture an inspiring quote that describes the dogged determination of Ted Benito, Acting Executive Director of Apl. de.ap Foundation, to showcase Philippine culture with so much love. Ted has shown a growing love for his Philippine roots and culture.

Each October, Ted meticulously shares vignettes of Filipino American icons, heroes and public figures. From August through October, he produces public events to share the graceful, artistic, and elegant features of our culture in its highest evolved forms.

In three decades, performing artists have been privileged by good sounds, good acoustics, good staffers, well maintained artistic spaces at the The Aratani Theater at the JACCC, The Hollywood Bowl, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Historic Wilshire Ebell Theatre, Carnegie Hall (just tossing in for fun!) and The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

With adequate sound checks, and proficient sound engineers, memorable cultural experiences become heartfelt gifts for families. Artistic and cultural development for families

Much has changed since the first poster that came out in the 1920s: “Positively No Filipinos Allowed”, captured by Sprague Talbot at the lobby of an American hotel. As we aspire to grow hallowed, highly respected beings in our community, our exposures to culture cannot ever be empty, hollowed out, or depicting hateful and mean traits of the American society.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta who posted this image on Instagram: ”It’s a constant reminder of BOTH where we’ve been –the hate we’ve endured, the injustice we’ve suffered— AND how far we can go if we fight, demand and push.”

Isn’t it fitting that the Philippine Ballet Theater (PBT) performed in NY, Florida and Los Angeles during Filipino American History Month last year, with performers from the homeland, Ted reflected on what that evening was, as producer?

“I am delighted to bring the PBT experience to our LA audience, I‘m also very happy that Rev. Fr. Rodel Balagtas, the first Filipino pastor at Incarnation Church in Glendale, and the Filipino Ministry are part of this special night,” said Rosie Chua, who donated a significant portion of the ticket sales to the Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, as the event’s executive producer.

These cultural spaces have evolved into giving opportunities, but also exposures to our children, on what they can become.

As first generation Filipino immigrants and parents of second generation Filipino Americans, a Filipino connected to our cultural roots is a must. Or we become empty gongs. It is a conscious undertaking for aspiring to see our own role models represented in the mass media, newspapers, and cultural spaces. Unless these spaces are consciously created, our culture is left on the wayside, for casual appropriation. Hence the conscious undertakings of Ted, supported by Rosie Chua and an array of sponsors to have these artists perform, and as respectfully and with integrity.

Charles Akau and Jamie Borromeo Akau, drove an 80 mile-round trip to attend the PBT’s event with Ava, their four year old daughter. Even before the show began, Ava instinctively jumped, rotated her body, leaped with hands extended, and smiled. She was practicing her ballet moves.

Mom Jamie posted: “We went to the Philippine Ballet Theatre tonight [October 30, 2022] and it was so inspiring!

Why representation matters… as someone born and raised here in the States, I never saw a professional Filipina ballerina when I was growing up. I didn’t want Ava to have that same experience. I wanted to show her what is possible for people who look like us. Tonight was important for the dreams of my 4yo and I can tell it affirmed her identity. After the show she told me, ”Mama, I wanna be a ballerina when I grow up!” Yes, my love. One day you will be!”

Creating respectful cultural spaces are a gift from Ted’s and Rosie’s hearts, and a gift of conscious parents to their child, Jamie and Charles, resonating richness to multiple souls for weeks to come, where over 400 came to watch PBT.

‘Creativity is the natural attitude of the soul’

We all know that businesses thrive on a sense of purpose and growth, while individuals grow with creativity and soulful activities. With these creative spaces, we shoo away the blues and withering of the human spirit.

In 2020, when arts in public squares were frozen by the coronavirus pandemic, we said prayers for our collective wellness in the world. No country was spared by this pandemic.

In August 2021, producer Ted Benito mustered his courage and filled up Ford Amphitheater, all 700 spots, showcasing the best Filipino American performers in hip hop and comedy. It felt like a reunion of Northern with Southern Californian residents, some even flying from the East Coast.

In August 2022, Ted produced a spectacular over-two-hours show showcasing #M4D, Martin Nievera’s 40 years in music, as a composer and as a singer in the best acoustical stage, Disney Hall [though with acoustical glitches from a less than seasoned sound engineer for the louder songs].

That night, 1,201 folks attended. I showed vignettes of PBT’s ballet scenes to my 7-year-old granddaughter, for this piece, #princess2015la, a pseudonym, who enjoyed ballet lessons taught by her French teacher, chosen by her consciously loving parents. Each time we passed by the mall strip, she would recall how she took ballet and now, her teacher has returned to France. The longing for ballet lessons is quite palpable.

These are her observations:

First part is where a pair dances to “On the Wings of Song”, and my 7-year-old granddaughter said: ”As the lovely music was playing, the ballerina danced along the spotlight. With her partner, they made gentle moves. They pirouetted [a rotation of spin with a complete turn of the body