FILAM Jan'23

Jose Ng Filipino work ethic and its impact on a L.I. company

It’s called Paluwagan in the Philippines. In New York where the money-savings club is popular among Caribbean and West African immigrants, Sou Sou has easily penetrated the normally tight-fisted Filipino American community.

The word Sou Sou is now synonymous with “scam” after friends began accusing one another of running off with people’s money. Government agencies, such as the Federal Trade Commission, have warned against engaging in this community pastime calling it a “type of pyramid scheme.”

In the end, what started as a chummy neighborhood savings club has soured and turned friends against each other. The reputation of some players -- such as artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, etc. -- are ruined with accusations of fraud flying thick and fast on Facebook.

| How it’s played

It starts with a group, the more members the bigger the

dollar haul. For Sou Sou to succeed, players must strictly follow the rules and abide by the honor system. Each member puts a certain amount into a common fund. $500 was the amount agreed upon in a FilAm community Sou Sou that began before the pandemic erupted in late 2019.

The players were mostly friends, or friends of friends, who have known each other for a long time and enjoyed a happy camaraderie. They pooled their money into a common fund and committed to inviting two other people to join the savings circle.

In a pre-arranged rotation, each member is supposed to withdraw

the entire amount. So if there are 20 players, each one expects to receive $10,000 when it’s his or her turn to collect. Ideally, all the players get to take home the entire amount one after the other, that is, if all goes well and the chain is not broken.

But in the community Sou Sou, the chain broke before some players could collect. The rotation was disrupted when some players failed to recruit two members. Still the game continued into 2020 when those who could not bring in two members began to pay for the phantom players. Instead of $500, the player had to pony up $1,500, which became unsustainable in the long run. Some began to drop out, disrupting the chain.

“This serves as a warning,” writes one player in a social media post. “Not everyone plays fair, some are scammers.”

It got uglier when certain individuals were identified by name and publicly shamed. Those who were called out had to disable their Facebook accounts. Friendships are forever tarnished.

Congen Elmer Cato says goodbye, heads to Milan

By Cristina DC Pastor

Consul General Elmer Cato burst into the NYC scene with the energy of a bold, impatient leader and hit the ground running. On Facebook, he was photographed visiting victims of anti-Asian violence, while also teasing the rise of a Bayanihan community center. He quickly, nay meteorically, became a darling of the community.

He said his goodbye to the community on October 30 after a year and a half in office. The exiting Congen faced community leaders, some of them quietly expecting the dire announcement, and said he was being transferred to Milan, Italy as consul general “effective immediately.” He was given 60 days to wrap up business and vacate the official residence.

Career diplomat Senen Mangalile, who is currently a minister at the Philippine Embassy in Berne, Switzerland, will be the next consul general in New York, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Technically, it is not a demotion given it is the same rank but in a different city. But in the hierarchy of importance in Philippine diplomacy, the move is seen as a sharp step-down to a country where the most important posts are in Rome and the Vatican City, the seat of the Pope.

Milan is Cato’s first European assignment.

“Today, I started saying my goodbyes. I am deeply honored to have been given the privilege to serve our kababayan in New York and the rest of

Consul General Elmer at an October 30 party welcoming him back to NYC. Ironically, he bids farewell in this same gathering. Photo by Ronie Mataquel

the United States Northeast,” he told a gathering of community leaders at the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel in Flushing.

Cato quickly became somewhat of a polarizing figure since he arrived in NYC in 2021. He was beloved by those who admire his rapid attention to Filipinos attacked on the streets. He was also known to have “divided” the community surrounding himself with a coterie of favored organization leaders. He invited eyebrow-raising attention early in his term when he reproached organizations for not paying attention while he spoke at their gatherings.

His absence has been talk of the town for many weeks in mid-September just as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was about to visit NYC to address the UN General Assembly. He

was called to the home office in Manila a week before the presidential visit. It was viewed by some as a strange diplomatic incident.

Cato has remained mum about his absence during the Marcos Jr. visit. He told The FilAm he was admitted in a Pampanga hospital for “stress-related gastro issues” and was advised a two-week rest by his doctor before returning to New York City.

Members of the community were a mix of sad and stunned.

Writes school teacher Ernesto Pamolarco, “We feel sad. Pero baka mas higit na kailangan ang iyong serbisyo doon sa Milan, Sir Congen Elmer G. Cato. Thank you for all your hard work, dedication and commitment in serving the FilAm community in New York. Good luck and may God bless you and your family. Till we meet again.”

The Philippine flag is raised in Bowling Green, Manhattan to commemorate Filipino American History Month in New York. Cato delivers his remarks with Mayor Eric Adams and Filipina Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria TorresSpringer in attendance. Facebook photo

Career diplomat Senen Mangalile will be the next consul general, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs. Photo: Embassymagazine.com

The community is missing an Angel (Ram)

In case you’re missing the gravelly singing style of Angel Ram, one of the community’s frequently-invited musical performers, it may take a while to see her back on stage.

She’s been in a hospital since July undergoing one medical procedure after another, according to a GoFundMe fundraiser organized by her friend Little John. A thyroid surgery in July 14 was followed by a collapsed airway resulting from the surgery. Just when her condition was starting to get better, she suffered a stroke which doctors described as a Transient Ischemic Attack which paralyzed parts of her body and affected her sense of balance.

Her friends in the local concert circuit banded together in “Jam for Angel” to raise funds for her hospital bills and therapy. Those who performed included Krizia Daya, Brix and Joanna, Neeko, and Sidney Guevarra. They dedicated their numbers in hopes of Angel’s speedy recovery. Daya, one of the organizers, said the concert was able to raise $1,716.

Angel has returned home and is undergoing sustained physical therapy to get her back to form.

“I’m speechless,” she writes on Facebook. “Truly grateful for EVERYONE, took all your precious time despite your busy schedules to be there and show love and support, I will cherish this forever.”

A short video shows Angel’s progress carefully navigating the few steps around her living room with a cane and a walker.

| ‘At Last’

Born Angel Ramchand to a Filipino mother and a half-Indian father, she grew up in Zamboanga and later moved to Manila when she got married. She came to the U.S. in 2012 when her marriage ended.

However, it was only a year and a half after arriving in NYC that she began to sing publicly at gatherings. She has a raspy singing style that some find charming and also haunting. She loves the songs of Ella Fitzgerald, Angela Bofill and Etta James. “At Last” by James was one of her outstanding numbers that got Filipino Americans in the New York area to take notice of her vocal prowess.

She broke ground when she did a solo concert in 2016 at the fabled BB King Blues Club & Grill, the first Filipino to ever perform at the club on Times Square. With butterflies in her stomach, she wondered then, “Am I ready?”

Resting for the holidays. Note walker in front of the singer. Facebook photos

Three years later, she sang the Philippine National Anthem “Lupang Hinirang” during the Pacquiao vs. Broner fight in Las Vegas.

“I can’t wait to start walking again on my own,” she laments on Facebook. “My body may be weak, but my mind is strong and determined enough to keep pushing.”

The GoFundMe campaign is seeking support for the months Angel will be recuperating. “No amount is too big or too small. Angel works paycheck to paycheck and she would really appreciate any help from anyone,” said her friend John. -- Cristina DC Pastor

Regular physical therapy to hasten recovery.

In 2016 when Angel did a solo concert at the legendary BB King Blues Club in Times Square.

Celebrating the loving ‘lolas’ in our lives in Sophia Lee’s ‘Holding On’

By Cristina DC Pastor

It seems Sophia Lee has so many grandmothers.

Typically, you have two. In the story of how she became Simon & Schuster’s latest heralded children’s book author, her maternal and paternal grandmothers not to mention the grand aunties, played pivotal roles. They all surrounded her with love from the time she was a sickly little girl and up until she came to New York to attend grad school.

“As a child who grew up in a really full household, I felt really seen in my Lola’s house. We called her Mama Jessie. I didn’t have to compete with anyone for attention. Though I was a really picky eater, whenever I was there, I had a really good appetite because all of the food we’d have were my favorites. I could just be and read and nap for hours, or dance and sing, or play tindera at my grand-aunt’s sari-sari store.

“Those summers really stand out in my mind because I just felt so loved whenever I was there. That’s how I want to remember my Lola, always caring for me and for everyone around her.”

“Holding On” is Simon & Schuster’s first Filipino picture book, authored by Sophia and illustrated by Isabel Roxas, both Filipinos working as artists in New York. It will be published under the Atheneum Books for Young Readers division. It is the story of a young Filipino girl who uses music – from Sammy Davis to Basil Valdez’s love songs — to connect with her grandmother whose memory is fading. “And when Lola starts slipping into silence and stillness, she helps Lola hold on, piece by piece, with the joy and music that Lola taught her,” came the publisher’s synopsis.

“It is the first time that Simon & Schuster is investing in a Filipino children’s story,” said Sophia in an interview with The FilAm.

Part of their pitch while reviewing the book’s possibilities, she said, was a short video from a member of their marketing team, a FilAm mom and her son who talked about how much they wanted to have a story about a Lola with Filipino characters they recognized out in the world. A rash of feel-good stories growing up under multiple lolas welled up in Sophia’s memories. It was a theme she knew so well.

“The memories in the book come from experiences with my different Lolas – from my maternal grandmother Benita who we called Ima, which means mother in Kapampangan, and my paternal grandmother Josefina who we called Mama Jessie,” she began.

But much of it was inspired by her Mama Jessie, with whom she spent summers as a little girl and lived with for some time as a grad student in New York.

Born and raised in Manila, Sophia came to New York City in 2016, to take up MFA in Creative Writing

for Children and Young Adults from The New School. Although she finished law school in the Philippines, it didn’t feel like a good fit for her and the kind of life she wanted. She continued to indulge in writing and reading fiction.

“What Things Mean” was the young adult novella she had written for her class under Professor Heidi Eusebio-Abad. It was her first published book and it won the grand prize in the Scholastic Asian Book Award. She was pleased when her second book “Soaring Saturdays” was also accepted for publication by Scholastic Asia.

“Holding On,” her third published book, was completed in 2019 right before the pandemic happened. It got multiple offers from different publishing houses.

“I wrote this story at a time when I and my lola were navigating our changed relationship from those summers when I was younger to the time when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and could no longer remember who I was,” she said.

The day the manuscript sold at auction was also the day Mama Jessie passed.

“It was a bittersweet day,” she recalled. “I think my Lola was definitely looking out for me as well. I wish that she could have read the story and seen the book.”

‘Holding On’ is Simon & Schuster’s first Filipino picture book, about a Filipino girl who uses music to communicate with her grandmother whose memory is fading.

‘I just felt so loved.’

The young Sophia with her Lola Jessie, Josefina Tañedo Lee.

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A safer New York

By Mayor Eric Adams

While I was on the campaign trail, I met many New Yorkers who expressed their desire for a safer city. New Yorkers want to feel safe in their neighborhoods, at their places of worship, in the subway and on the streets. I vowed to make public safety my top priority, and under the bold leadership of NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell, our efforts are paying off. We have a lot more work to do, but I want to be clear to New Yorkers: we are making progress.

For the first time this year, we saw a drop of 1.2% in overall index crimes in November compared to November of 2021. What does that mean? It means that in November of 2022 compared to November of 2021, we saw a 32.8% decrease in shootings, a 14.1% decrease in rapes, a 6% decrease in burglary, and a 5.5% in grand larceny.

We have also removed more than 6,750 guns from our streets so far this year. Gun arrests are at a 27-year high. And we’ve seen a decrease in murders and shootings.

This is not a coincidence. It shows that our laser focus on public safety is working. We created an anti-gun unit that has been effective at removing illegal firearms, and we’ve added more checks to detect illegal guns before they enter New York City. We’ve also had success in our fight against “Ghost Guns”—these are guns that can be ordered online and assembled at home; they do not have serial numbers and are untraceable, which makes stopping them from entering our city even more urgent.

We have more officers on patrol in key neighborhoods, and newly-created Neighborhood Safety Teams are focusing on the 30 precincts where a majority of violence occurs. We are working hard and working smart to make the most of our resources and to make our city safer.

As part of our Subway Safety Plan, we are sending mobile crisis teams and outreach workers into the system to connect with homeless New Yorkers and help them get the assistance they need. We’ve also introduced a surge of 1,200 additional police officers patrolling subway platforms and trains each day. As a result, in just over a month, we have seen a 12.8% reduction in major crime in transit stations compared to the same period last year.

We’re addressing the problem of “Ghost Cars”— cars with illegal paper or obscured license plates that don’t follow our traffic rules. And we’re pursuing targeted bail reform in Albany.

Just as important, we have achieved historic diversity in hiring. We want our NYPD academy classes to resemble the neighborhoods they serve so they can better understand our diverse communities’ needs and form closer connections. So our most recent hires

to the NYPD are on average 41% Hispanic, 23% white, 19% black and 15% Asian. And on average, this group is 29% female.

There is much more work that remains to be done. Crime is still substantially higher than it was in 2107, and New Yorkers deserve to be safer than they are right now. We will not rest until New Yorkers both ARE safe and FEEL safe. Public safety is the key to prosperity. It is the only way we can achieve a just and equitable New York in which everyone—no matter what language you speak, or where you come from—can thrive. I promised I would make a difference on public safety during my campaign, and as mayor, I am proud to say that we are well on our way to a safer New York.

Mayor Eric Adams is the 110th mayor of the City of New York. He has served the city as an NYPD officer, state senator, and Brooklyn Borough presiden

The city now has 1,200 additional police officers patrolling subway platforms and trains each day. Photo: Unsplash

The women of Red Poinsettia

As a titleholder and longtime supporter of Nena Lozada Smith’s Red Poinsettia Charitable Foundation, Inc. Cecille knows how to show her appreciation. She had the Christmas flower tattooed on her navel close to her C-section. It goes to show, she said, how much certain things mean to her: The surgical scar to remind her of the joy of giving birth to her son Christopher, and the poinsettia to symbolize the organization’s mission to help underprivileged families in the Philippines.

“This is not for fame and glory,” she said of her title when interviewed by The FilAm. “Hindi ito koro-korona lang.”

She said the Red Poinsettia humanitarian mission has kept her going at a time when she was looking for something meaningful in her life. The title made her feel proud and empowered.

Tanauan, Batangas-born Cecille graduated from FEU and worked as a medical technologist. She migrated to Germany and, later, Sweden where she opened the first Filipino-Scandinavian restaurant. It was her legacy, she said, to introduce traditional Filipino cuisine to Swedish society. She pursued her profession and became a cytotechnologist who examines cellular abnormalities. She also worked as a biological engineer in Oslo, Norway.

In Sweden where she lived for more than 30 years, she dabbled in real estate. She left for the U.S. to start a new life and embark on a career as an entrepreneur. She currently resides in Las Vegas because she wanted to get back into real estate and become an entrepreneur in medical health and hospice care.

Salve Wong Queening is this year’s Mrs. Red Poinsettia Beacon of Hope and Light.

Salve, 63, who enjoys being with friends across the Tri-State of New York,

Cecille Magsino Skala was crowned Mrs. Poinsettia Ball Queen 2022 at the Red Poinsettia Grand Ball held December 4 at the tony Leonard’s Palazzo.

Salve leads the opening event with the Christmas Tree lighting

Mrs. Poinsettia Ball Queen 2022 Cecille Skala is shown here with Red Poinsettia founder Nena Lozada Smith. Photos by Joros Razon, Nonoy Rafael and Mari Cel.

The Red Poinsettia Classic Women of Elegance 2022

New Jersey and Connecticut, wore a red two-piece gown beaded at the top with a shimmery long skirt. At Red Poinsettia events, everyone wears all shades of red -- whether they’re in a gown, a cocktail dress or a business suit. More than 300 guests attended the December 4 ball, the first time it was held on a Saturday.

“I’m so happy,” said Salve who lives in Milford, Connecticut with her husband John.

Born in San Fernando, Masbate, Salve came to the U.S. in 2001. She

met her now-husband John three years later at a Filipino party. “He is very understanding and supportive,” she said.

An energetic community leader, Salve was “so delighted to support the prestigious Red Poinsettia Charitable Foundation, Inc.,”which sends annual medical and humanitarian missions to the Philippines to help the less fortunate. Before she came to the U.S., she was a business woman in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental

who ran a home decor and furniture store and a merchandise boutique. She said meeting women like Nena has inspired her to become active in the community. She was past president of the Filipino Women’s Club of Connecticut, which has supported many of her fundraising galas over the years. At present, she is the branch president of the Connecticut Care Share Foundation, under the umbrella of the New York Phil-Am Lions Club led by Raymond and Nena Smith.

Salve Queening is Mrs. Red Poinsettia’s Beacon of Hope and Light

Cecille wearing her sash and crown:

Proud and empowered

Parade of Nations

Ladies in red with Deputy Consul General Arman Talbo (in dark suit), Nena Lozada Smith. Patriarch and Matriarch Hugo and Flor Gomez. Next to Talbo is Carmen Conseur

The Filipino work ethic and its impact on an L.I. company

By Cristina DC Pastor

When Hurricane Sandy flooded Lower Manhattan’s Financial District in 2012, one Long Island company came to its rescue.

Power-Flo Technologies (PFT) rushed to 175 Water Street to survey the damage. PFT quickly dispatched their team to get the building back up and running. Thanks to their equipment, dedicated technicians and can-do attitude PFT was able to get AIG & 175 Water Street’s critical systems back up and running within 48 hours. “Hurricane Sandy hit New Yorkers in a way we had not experienced before,” recalled CEO Jerry DiCunzolo.

DiCunzolo’s father started at a small electric motor and pump repair shop called General Electric Specialty in Jamaica, Queens that was started in 1929 and ultimately became a partner in the company. Following in his father’s footsteps, Jerry bought out one of his father’s partners in 1984 and in 1992 bought out his father. That trusty repair shop has since grown into a conglomerate now comprising 15 companies scattered across 13 different locations on the East Coast. PFT provides electrical, industrial, mechanical and automation products, services, and solutions – from conception to completion. It employs over 300 employees with 50 more openings, and is always “looking for good people to grow our team.”

A small but industrious group of Filipinos work at PFT. Their Filipino team members work across the board in various departments such as accounting, purchasing, senior management and more at both their headquarters in Garden City, New York and in the Somerville, New Jersey location. One of them is IT

professional Jose Ng who joined the company in 2020 as Chief Information Officer.

Manila-born Jose is involved with IT, Marketing and Pricing. Whether he is leading their rebranding project or spearheading new system integrations, he fully immerses himself in

every aspect of his work. With a master’s degree in Information Systems he initially pursued a career in web development. He quickly transitioned into systems and business applications with a focus in manufacturing and distribution.

“Manufacturing and distribution

are the lifeblood of America,” he said when interviewed by The FilAm

Jose’s expertise in his field eventually led him to consulting with PFT regarding their Inventory Management system. One day, Jose and Jerry met over lunch, hit it off and the rest is history.

Family first

Jose lived with his parents and two sisters in Manila until he was 8 years old. His father’s job as general manager of Motorola, however, would uproot the family and bring them to live in Taiwan and Malaysia, and with that came the ability to travel to nearby Singapore and Thailand.

“The diversity of these countries and cultures had a profound impact on me,” he said.

Ultimately, Jose landed in the United States where he went to college at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut and earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science in 2001.

Both at work and in his personal life, Jose leads by example. He is deeply involved in his local Filipino

Chief Information Officer Jose Ng. ‘Proud to be part of a team that values diversity in its workforce.’ Photo by Alma Ng

CEO Jerry DiCunzolo and Chief Information Officer Jose Ng discussing the process of rewinding an AC electric motor. Photo by Vince Giannettino

community as it is an integral part of his identity. Jose and his wife Alma are active in their church, Saint Dorothea, and within the community of Couples for Christ. He believes in living and leading by example. Although his parents and one sister live in Canada, and another sister in California, Jose keeps family at the center of his heart.

Jose embodies treating others “compassionately and respectfully.” He spends his free time volunteering in his community of Eatontown, N.J. and helping out at the local soup kitchens. In addition to this, he recently completed the 2022 NYC Marathon!

“We are very proud of our Filipino coworkers,” said Jerry, CEO and

owner for eight years now. “The hard work ethic of our Filipino workers motivates all of us to keep moving forward. Our Filipino team members continue to be true examples of how hard work, integrity and teamwork can lead to success.”

Jose and Jerry share a mutual respect for one another. Jose is

excited to be joining Jerry as he takes on the challenge of growing his business and expanding PFT beyond the confines of Long Island. He feels empowered to be part of a team that strives to include diversity in its workforce.

PFT, Jose likes to say, is a “small microcosm of what America truly is.”

17.5 years for attacker who punched Yonkers Pinay 125 times

At least 17 years in prison await Tammel Esco, the Yonkers man who punched his Filipina neighbor 125 times on March 11. This is a rare case where an anti-Asian hate crime has reached a resolution and a suspect is put behind bars.

The woman was seriously injured and is recovering for the brutal assault she suffered. She spoke about her ordeal and how her family is coping in a statement issued by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.

“Because of the viciousness and hate of Tammel Esco, I lost the place I called home for over 24 years, the place where I raised my daughters, and my longtime neighbors… As the attack happened, all I could think was, ‘Please Lord let me live, please Lord my daughters need me. A complete stranger heartlessly spit, beat and kicked me over 100 times just because of my heritage. My only hope is that God and the criminal justice system will see fit to make sure this never happens to any other innocent family again.”

Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah said in a statement this is “one of the most vicious and shocking hate crimes we’ve seen in Westchester County. This is a case that has traumatized not only the victim and her family, but

also her neighbors, the Westchester community, and the broader Asian American and Pacific Islander community.”

Esco, 42, was indicted on hate crime charges, including attempted murder in the second degree

as a hate crime, assault in the first degree as a hate crime, and three counts of assault in the second degree as a hate crime.

The YPD described the attack in a report: “On Friday, March 11th, at approximately 6:11 p.m., members of the Yonkers Police Department Investigation yielded that the victim, a 67-yearold resident of the City of Yonkers, was returning home and saw the suspect in front of the building. As she walked past him, he called her an ‘Asian bitch;’ the victim is of Asian descent. Ignoring his comment, the victim entered the vestibule of the building and was attempting to open the second door to enter the lobby when, without warning, the suspect approached from behind and punched her in the head, knocking her to the floor; he then stood over her and proceeded to punch her in the head and face more than 125 times with alternating fist strikes before foot-stomping her seven times and spitting on her. As a result of the beating, the victim suffered multiple contusions and lacerations to her head and face, facial bone fractures, and bleeding on the brain; she is currently listed in stable condition and is recovering in the hospital.”

Esco is known to law enforcement as having a long rap sheet that includes more than a dozen arrests and convictions.

The Filipina is being followed by Tammel Esco as seen in this photo released by the Yonkers Police Department.

Three Filipinos who work at PFT. From left, accounting associate Eric Santiago, administrative associate Ellaiza Caragan, and purchasing agent Sherwin Pacis. Photos by SueJean Naglieri

Groundbreaking ‘Maximo Oliveros’ returns to NYC

By Gil Quito

Years after the MoMA and Film Society of Lincoln Center chose “Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros”/ The Flowering of Maximo Oliveros as its opening night presentation for the annual New Directors/New Films exhibition, Auraeus Solito's “Pagdadalaga” made a rare return appearance to a New York theater on December 9, at 7:30 p.m.

The screening at New York University's King Juan Carlos Center was free and open to the public.

The film tells the story of a 12-year-old boy who falls in love with a cop investigating his family's illegal livelihood. Among its many citations are Best First Feature at the Berlin International Film Festival and the Urian Dekada Award as one of the 10 best Philippine films of the decade.

Made with a miniscule budget of $40,000 and shot in 13 days, Auraeus Solito’s debut feature “The Flowering of Maximo Oliveros,” with major participation by debuting producer Raymond Lee, is another remarkable example of the resourcefulness, grit, and imaginative élan of Philippine independent filmmakers. It caused a stir at its premiere at Cinemalaya, the Philippines’ major independent filmfest, where it won the Special Jury Prize and a Special Citation for debuting lead actor Nathan Lopez. It then went on to gain further awards and acclaim at the Berlin International Film Festival, Sundance, and Rotterdam among many festival appearances. In New York, the MoMA and Film Society of Lincoln Center chose Maximo to open the annual New Directors/New Films exhibition.

Maximo Oliveros is a 12-year-old boy who goes around cheerfully wearing girly clothes and participates in neighborhood pretend beauty

contests. Warmly accepted and loved by his rough-mannered father Paco (the great character actor Soliman Cruz) and elder brothers (Neil Ryan Sese and Ping Medina), Maxi has taken the role of his departed mother in cooking for the family and cleaning and decorating the house.

Denizens of the Manila slums where they live generally treat Maxi as a colorful and cheerful part of the scrappy ecosystem. Maxi’s father and brothers are engaged in petty crime for a living, all the while maintaining an understanding accommodation with the neighborhood police. Maxi’s world turns upside down when an idealistic neophyte cop (JR Valentin) saves him from an attack by a couple of thugs and becomes the object of the boy’s puppy love.

During its international festival run “Maximo” was seen as a groundbreaker in the way it dared to depict a queer child’s burgeoning sexuality. The film was often cited for its delicate yet unapologetic and refreshingly nonchalant depiction of gay sexuality. In a review, Slant magazine’s Keith Ulrich, praised the film for its “quietly revolutionary queer perspective,” and noted: “It is one of the great taboos, particularly in Western culture, to seriously consider the developing sexual feelings of children, a subject most easily infantilized, sensationalized, or brushed under the carpet, lest one become an unwitting Megan’s Law pariah. What’s often lost in this swirl of knee-jerk ‘adult’ protectiveness are the feelings of the child, which—raw though they may be—deserve to be included in the discussion rather than subsumed by argumentation.”

“Maximo,” for all the international buzz it generated, is only part of a vigorous tradition of depicting LGBTQ stories in Philippine cinema. A couple of streams can be traced in this tradition. The longer stream, reaching back to the early 1950s comedies of superstar Dolphy, feature gay and transgender characters in exaggerated, mocking, sometimes affectionate, parodies. Depictions have lately turned into celebratory and campy displays of gay wit and survival instincts. Notably, five of the top 10 grossing Philippine films of all time star Vice Ganda, a cross-dressing gay host and comedian, all of them produced within the last 10 years.

A cop (JR Valentin) is the object of Maximo’s (Nathan Lopez) puppy love.

Comedian Dolphy is known to portray ‘lady roles’ in some of his films. Photo: dolphyquizon.com

Remember Tam of ‘Miss Saigon’? Meet Geena Quintos!

By Cristina DC Pastor

How many of us who watched “Miss Saigon” on Broadway in the 1990s, thought the young child who played Tam was a boy?

How so wrong we were!

This week I met 29-year-old theater actress Geena Quintos who remembers going to Broadway Theatre every day for more than a year to portray the son of a Vietnamese bar girl Kim. To her at the time, it felt like going to work every night and playing Tam eight times a week.

In this tragic love story written by the exceptional tandem of Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, Kim and Tam are abandoned by the American G.I. who is Kim’s short-lived romance Chris and Tam’s father. Geena’s role as Tam was brief – doodling on the floor as Kim belts “I’d Give My Life for You” – but it was the drama’s high point.

“I was 4 years old when I auditioned for the role of Tam,” was Geena’s recollection when interviewed by The FilAm. “All I remember from the audition was having to draw whatever I felt in a notebook and throw a ball back and forth between some cast members. It was fun!”

At a young age Geena had no idea she was part of an iconic production that won for Lea Salonga her Tony Award for Outstanding Performance of the Year by an Actress in a Musical. However, Salonga was not Geena’s Kim. It was Deedee Magno who continued the role in 1997 after Salonga (1991-1995) and Joan Almedilla (1995-1997) had stepped down.

When Salonga made a special Broadway comeback in 1996 to reprise Kim for one month, Geena portrayed Tam. At the time, Salonga was already a Tony honoree.

“I never understood how legendary it was. I was so young,” she said. “All I remember was going to work, hanging out with friends who put on their costumes, their wigs and hearing the orchestra.” At the time, too, she alternated with a young child actor named Eric Kramer.

| Daughter of a nurse

Geena was born in Sunnyside, Queens to Filipino parents who were both nurses and now retired. Both were working in the Philippines until they immigrated to the U.S. on a family petition. Her mother Gloria started out as a floor nurse and became an administrator at the Henry J. Carter

Specialty Hospital and other facilities until her retirement. Her father Isagani worked for Visiting Nurses Services and is now also quietly enjoying his 60s. Her parents are from Lingayen, Pangasinan and also the town of Dimasalang, Masbate.

“My mom and dad came in the 1980s to work as nurses in the U.S. My dad’s

uncle who was also a nurse showed them around, helped them find jobs. The Aids crisis was huge at the time, and they were opening doors to foreign nurses,” she said. “I am really proud of my parents for the life they have given us. They have worked so hard their whole lives and I want to work hard to give them a great life too.”

The Quintoses have four children whose names all start with the letter G: Gemini, Gail, Geena, and only brother Ganilo.

Geena is an alumna of LaGuardia Performing Arts High School at Lincoln Center. After “Miss Saigon” she continued to perform in theater touring the country in various musicals and plays. Her next professional gig was joining the National Tour of "A Chorus Line" when she was 19 years old. She has created roles in Off-Broadway and out-of-town productions.

Her website says she loves the outdoors. She is a coffee and dessert enthusiast and enjoys binge-watching “Top Chef” when she has time to spare.

Right now, she is part of a production called “Good Enemy” written by Chinese immigrant Yilong Liu to stage at The Audible Theater in the West Village. Geena plays a young college student who is desperate to connect with her distant father who is reckoning with his past after Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution. The father role is played by Francis Jue with Alan Ariano, another “Miss Saigon” alum as the swing.

Said Geena, “I have so many wonderful memories from my time in ‘Miss Saigon.’ I loved all the people I met and my fellow cast members who became family to me.”

A feeling she will always treasure is being giddy with excitement as she walked down a Broadway stage with Kim and seeing the stage light up. It was such a sad and intense moment coming from a poignant scene after Act 1, but Geena felt otherwise.

“I would have to bite my lip to stop myself from smiling because I was just so happy.”

Geena as Tam with Deedee Magno. YouTube screen shot

‘I never understood how legendary it was. I was so young.’

Photo: geenaquintos.com

FilAms make history in midterm elections: NaFFAA

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Representation matters!”

So declared National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) national chair and outgoing president Brendan Flores as he congratulates Filipino Americans who won in state and local positions in the November elections.

He said he is seeing more Filipinos step up to run for public office. “As our fellow Filipino Americans and those from other minority communities see someone who looks like them, speaks for them, and makes decisions on their behalf, they will also feel inspired to speak up, participate, and listen. We are excited to see progress for our community.”

Rep. Bobby Scott remained the highest-ranking Filipino American elected official after winning the U.S. House election in Virginia's 3rd Congressional District. He has served this district since 1993.

| Historic state election victories

In California, Rob Bonta was re-elected as the Attorney General for the U.S. state that is home to more than 500,000 Filipinos.

Steven Raga was elected the first Filipino American in the New York State Legislature. Maria Cervania became the first Filipina American member of the North Carolina Legislature after winning the House of Representatives to represent District 41. Joining them on the East Coast are re-elected Kris Valderrama, a Maryland House of Delegates member, and Marvin Lim, a state representative in District 98 in Georgia. Justin Jones also won as a state representative for District 52 in Tennessee, and Luz Bay won the New Hampshire House of Representatives for Strafford County District 21. Representing FilAm state winners on the West Coast are Genevieve Mina, who will assume office in the Alaska House of Representatives, representing District 19, and Erica Mosca, elected as a state assembly member for District 14 in Nevada. In Hawaii, Rosebella Martinez was elected as a member of the State House of Representatives for District 40 in Ewa, Hawaii. Joining history makers in Hawaii are Brandon Elefante and Henry Aquino, two newly elected to the Hawaii State Senate.

| Trailblazers in local elections

A record number of FilAms won local government posts during the recently held November elections. Assuming the office of Mayors are Jed Leano of Claremont City, Rod Daus-Magbual of Daly City, and Melissa Ramoso of the City of Artesia. The three

mayors are elected council members but will assume their new roles as mayors in 2023.

FilAms are also well-represented in city council positions. Gabriel Quinto was reelected, the first LGBTQ council member in the history of the city of El Cerrito, CA. Other notable city council victories in California are Garry Garbadillo of Milpitas City, Ray Buenaventura of Daly City, Ollie Cantos and Letty Lopez-Viado of West Covina City, Tony Daysog of Alameda County, Joanne Del Rosario of the City of Colma, Diosdado Matulac of the City of Vallejo, Buenaflor Nicolas of City of South San Francisco, David Oro of American Canyon, Charles Palmares of the City of Vallejo, Cameron Sasai of the City of Pinole, Phil Bacerra of Santa Ana City, and Ditas Yamane of National City. In addition, Krystle Ang of Burbank City was elected treasurer, and Kenneth Mejia of Los Angeles was elected as the city’s first FilAm city controller.

In Hawaii, newcomer Tyler Dos Santos and former member of the State House Val Okimoto were both elected to the Honolulu City Council.

Several Filipino Americans also won school board elections. Thelma Boac and Jaria Jaug won at Berryessa Union School District Board in San Jose, California. Judy Patacsil was elected as a Board Trustee for District 1 of Palomar College in San Diego County. Mike Guingona and Agnes Gonzales also won the election to assume roles at the San Mateo County Community College District Board and Rowland Unified School District, respectively. In addition, Robert Moreno won a seat on the Southwestern Community College District Board of Trustees at South San Diego County, California.

On the judicial level, Filipina American attorney Mari Parlade won as a District Family Court Judge in Las Vegas, Nevada.

| Young FilAms are stepping up

History was made when 23-year-old Cameron Sasai became the youngest FilAm council member in Pinole City, California. The 32-yearold activist and accountant Kenneth Mejia made headlines after becoming the first Filipino and Asian American elected to a citywide office in Los Angeles. In Tennessee, the 26-year-old activist Justin Jones was elected state representative of District 52, becoming the youngest lawmaker in their state capitol. In Hawaii, 36-year-old Brandon Elefante will become Hawaii’s youngest state senator in the coming term.

Left, Gabriel Quinto, the first LGBTQ council member in the history of El Cerrito, CA is reelected. Newcomer Tyler Dos Santos is elected to the Honolulu City Council.

Rep. Bobby Scott remains the highest-ranking FilAm elected official. He keeps Virginia's 3rd Congressional District which he has served since 1993.

The cleaning lady turns Boss Lady in ‘Triangle of Sadness’

By Wendell Gaa

When we as human beings are stripped of everyday modern conveniences which we take for granted, then how we adapt and how we survive reveal our true nature. Can we be strong enough to be resourceful without losing our morals and principles? These are but a few questions which are faced head on so beautifully and brilliantly in

the black comedy film “Triangle of Sadness” by Swedish director Ruben Östlund in his English-language movie debut.

The plot concerns a young couple named Carl, a male model, and his lovely girlfriend Yaya, who are invited to sail on a luxury cruise together with diverse passengers that include affluent Russian oligarch Dimitry, an elderly British couple, the strokestricken German lady Therese, the

lonesome tech millionaire Jarmo, a highly demanding cabin crew staff head named Paula and onboard Filipina cleaning lady Abigail, played by the talented Manila native Dolly de Leon. The drunken captain of the cruise ship is played by longtime Hollywood vet Woody Harrelson, who excels in breathing flavor to the role, given how he has a knack for portraying characters who are unsympathetic, obnoxious and snarky.

We get to know the oddball traits of the characters as they embark on a cruise voyage in what is presumably somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea, and the results are a real interesting mixture of dark humor and deadpan eccentrics as we see how people from

different backgrounds interact with each other when riding the same ship.

The cruise doesn’t turn out to be the ideal vacation voyage. When disaster strikes which results in the sinking of the ship, some survivors -- which include Yaya, Carl, Therese, Dimitry, Paula and Abigail -- are stranded on a seemingly isolated island. A test of survival among the core characters then unfolds, as people of different social and financial backgrounds are forced to live and work with one another under forced circumstances.

It is at this point of the movie where we really get to see Abigail step forward as a character given how she is the only one with expert cooking and survival skills. It is

Dolly de Leon is a Golden Globe nominee for Best Supporting Actress for Motion Picture. Photo by Jojit Lorenzo

Photo by Sina Görcz

especially with Paula, her boss on the cruise ship, whom she turns the tables on in terms of giving orders and instructions, and the rest of the survivors on the island are forced to give in to Abigail’s demands that she calls the shots in return for her providing them all assistance in preparing and gathering food.

Dolly de Leon is such a joy to watch as Abigail, every minute she is onscreen she simply steals the show, and she brings depth and humor in the growth of her character from being an outwardly modest cleaning lady to rise as a domineering matriarchal figure towards the surviving cruise passengers on the island. No matter what may be motivating her behavior and actions, you just can’t help but root for her throughout. I am truly hoping that she will be a serious frontrunner in the acting category for this Oscars season.

The other cast members also shine and are a perfect foil to Abigail, especially Yaya, Carl and Paula. I was heartbroken to learn that the

gorgeous actress who portrayed Yaya, South African model Charlbi Dean, had tragically passed away due to sudden illness a few months ago before the U.S. premiere of this film, which ended up being her final

role. No doubt she could have had a blossoming career ahead of her had she lived.

I found the brief scenes of the onboard Filipino crew members to be very interesting and it is the

first big film where I have seen a depiction of their cabin life at sea. Seeing them onscreen brought me back personal memories of my own experiences meeting several Filipino cruise staff members from past vacation sea cruises. I am glad the filmmaking world is taking notice of their dedicated work, while I simultaneously hope that future films in Hollywood and beyond don’t just portray Filipinos in so-called “menial” roles. Although the strong portrayal of Dolly de Leon’s Abigail here is undoubtedly a promising break from that “subservient trope.”

I am proud to know that Dolly happens to share the same alma mater as my father the late Ambassador Willy C. Gaa, the University of the Philippines Diliman where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theater in 1995. She is a recipient of the L.A. Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Performer and a Golden Globe nominee for Best Supporting Actress for Motion Picture.

Abigail (Dolly de Leon) and Yaya played by South African actress Charlbi Dean who died on August 29 just as the film was about to launch internationally.

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Photo by Sina Görcz