Issue 16, June 2019
Comm. Anne del Castillo:
‘Make your films in NYC’ p15
More stories on the web @ TheFilAm.net
A feast called Filipino
Restaurant Week p10
How Joji Jalandoni brought Visayan street kids to NYC p6
Photo by Jose Inigo Jalandoni
Letter from the Editor
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The election of Imee, the rise of Chel
generation ago, Filipinos were willing to die for the country. We had martyrs -- Ninoy Aquino, Evelio Javier, and countless activists -- for the cause of restoring democracy. We had daily confetti rallies, and wearing yellow was not a political curse. We had the ‘mosquito press,’ like Malaya, that shone a light on many of the human rights abuses. In 2019, Imee Marcos is now an elected senator. There is very little agitation that her family is back in power. Her mother and her brother are basking in the political limelight, and her younger sister is cutting ribbons to arts exhibits. One of her sons, who was a little boy when the family was allowed to come home in 1991, was recently elected governor of Ilocos Norte. The whole caboodle is back, like they were never chased out by irate Filipinos and retreated into Hawaii as political exiles.
||Bullying? Nothing stuck against Imee. Not the kleptocracy of her parents, not the killings during the regime of her father, not even the bald-faced lies about her academic credentials. If anything, the last appeared to have given her can-
Imee Marcos; Chel Diokno didacy a boost as she came across as a “victim of bullying.” People ask: Where’s the outrage? A lot of it, it seems, is limited to social media and across the Diaspora, but nothing on the streets in the Philippines. Nothing that came close to a time in our history when protest after protest eventually led to the end of the Marcos regime. “The Marcoses are still sooo popular. Look how Imee is now a senator, no sweat. Branded talaga sila,” says one Filipino woman on Facebook. How is it that Imee Marcos got the political approval of Filipinos? Many theories emerge much of it a pivot to time and how it heals all wounds
of the past. Others are of the opinion that compared to today’s insatiable politicians, the Marcoses were saints! There is also a lot of finger pointing: The ‘masa’ for allowing themselves to be bought, the Millennials for not learning the lessons of history, the Elite for enabling patronage and corruption.
||Brownouts and ballots The government was accused of cheating in the polls, manipulating the computers to shut out the meager opposition candidates from any seat in the Senate. The signs were there, from the power outages during the critical count
Contributing Writers Tricia J. Capistrano Ludy AstraquilloOngkeko Joel David Mariel Padilla Wendell Gaa Maricar CP Lindy Rosales Hampton Danielle Vania Angelito Cabigao Bonus
Founding Editor Cristina DC Pastor Address P.O. Box 8071 New York, NY 10116
Contact Thefilamny@gmail.com
The FilAm is a publication of A&V Editorial THE FILAM |
to photos of peso bills being passed around with sample ballots. Mathematically, it would seem impossible that no opposition candidate – not the enormously popular lawyer Chel Diokno or the incumbent Senator Bam Aquino -- made the Magic 12. The Comelec final count showed an all Hukbong sweep! Remember how in 1986, conscience-stricken Comelec personnel at PICC walked out because of the massive cheating during the Marcos vs. Cory snap elections? This, the almost daily protests, the killing of Ninoy Aquino were the sparks that built up toward a crescendo that climaxed in the 1986 revolt that overthrew the Marcoses. Today, there is no organized opposition. One who is emerging is the self-effacing Chel, a human rights lawyer who provided this response: “Tomorrow we'll start again…I see no other option but to continue fighting.” While his words offer hope, the writings of Robert Pirsig, author of the “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,” should resonate as well to remind us that “if a revolution destroys a systematic government, but the systematic patterns of thought that produced that government are left intact, then those patterns will repeat themselves in the succeeding government.”
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Bloomfield boy does book signing at Barnes & Noble By Cristina DC Pastor
A 6-year-old student at Watsessing School in Bloomfield, N.J. has published a book and signed copies at a Barnes & Noble book store in nearby Clifton on April 28.
“I
Am Jan Alexander” was written by Jan Quintos, the youngest of three children by Alex and Ethel Quintos. The book has three short stories spread over 24 pages, with illustrations on every page which he himself had sketched. He could be one of the country’s youngest selfpublished authors. “It’s only one sentence per page,” chuckled Alex, a Sampaloc, Manilaborn businessman who operates a parking service and the food truck Sisig Republik. His wife, Ethel, from Las Pinas is a stay-at-home parent. They have two older children, Alexa, 13, and Josh, 7. Jan dedicated his book to older brother Josh, who has autism. All three kids are U.S.-born. A lefty, Jan’s interest ranges from writing to drawing to drums and piano to basketball, according to his father. When he heard his sister, Alexa, had no interest in having her writings compiled in a book. Jan declared he wanted to have his own book. “I was in Jersey City playing basketball, and he called me several times. What time are you coming home? When are we going to publish my book?” recalled Alex, 38. “Very persistent siya!” Dad found a publisher in Ex-Libris, and after two weeks “I Am Jan Alexander” was off the press. It has three stories: A Day in School, The Kid Goes on Vacation, and The Kid Got Lost in the Zoo. There is a Lesson exercise at the end of each story. Watsessing School issued a press release on the school website announcing the book signing at Barnes & Noble in Clifton.
Written and illustrated by Jan Quintos.
Young author also plays the drum, the piano and basketball. “Jan has been sharing his stories with his fellow classmates and other classrooms here at Watsessing,” reads the statement. “We are all so proud and excited for him we had to share the great news.” Jan spoke to The FilAm the day before the book signing. He is excited, he said, and proud at the same time. Asked why he dedicated his book to older brother Josh, he
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replied, “Because he got autism.” He does not quite understand what autism is, but he asks a lot of questions, said Alex. “Why is Kuya Josh not talking to me? Why doesn’t he want to play with me? We explain to him that his brother is a special child because of his condition.” As a published author, Jan gets a lot of attention at school. He thinks he is “famous” because some of his
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teachers gave him chocolate candies and notebooks. He also gets good grades and excels in Science. He was named Student of the Month for September and wondered why, despite getting praise from his teachers, he was not awarded in the succeeding months. “We remind him he needs to be humble and that the awards need to be shared with everyone,” said Alex. At a recent book fair in East Orange, he was able to sell 28 copies of his book. He went home with $280 in his wallet. “He sold them by himself, he talked to the buyers,” he said. Jan has this early morning routine where he plays the drums then the piano, and practices his ball dribbling before coming down to the table to take his breakfast. His parents are pleased that he displays a certain kind of discipline and confidence, but wish also that he stays a fun-loving kid.
Bringing harmony
throughout generations This coming June 20, 2019, the Children's Orchestra Society (COS) will be celebrating 50 years of teaching the language and love of music to the next generation — with a Discovery Concert and Anniversary Gala at the prestigious Carnegie Hall. The evening will feature COS Senior Discovery Winner Darren Yang (Bass), Guest Artist Ray Chen (Violin), and all orchestras conducted by Global Filipino and virtuoso guitarist, Michael Dadap.
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aestro Dadap is known for internationally promoting the Filipino Rondalla, a form of chamber music with plucked string instruments (which includes the Philippine Harp, a unique 14-string bandurria invented in the Philippines during the Spanish period). He is also the COS Artistic and Music Director, who shares with us today how his Global Filipino Journey began, and where his love for music has taken him. Loida Nicolas Lewis (LNL): Growing up in Southern Leyte, Philippines, who were your musical influences as a child? Michael Dadap (MD): My family and church music. I've been so fortunate that all my brothers and sisters, uncles, aunts, and grandparents regarded music as the main staple of our daily lives. Being the 13th child of 14 siblings, allowed me to hear all the styles of music from sisters and brothers who are 15 to 22 years older than I am. I'm a huge fan of the music from the 1940s to the '50s, because of my older brother who played saxophone in a big band, together with my uncles. My sisters and my older brother Jerry were choir directors of our church. I used to watch them rehearse and tried to mimic them conduct the choir since I was around 5 or 7 years old. That was my earliest exposure to a four-part harmony. Listening to harmonized music pleased my ears, my heart, and my soul. Growing up as a teenager, my friends and I got hooked on rock n' roll and the music of Elvis, and other big hits of the '50s to '60s. After my evening classes at UP Padre Faura, I would play at night clubs in Malate with my jazz pianist brother, Noe. It was an awesome experience, playing jazz guitar and earning some money for my tuition. However, the melodies and the gentle strain of old Visayan harana (serenade) songs always haunted me. I fell in love with the guitar, and taught myself to play it with some early help from my brother Jun,
who taught me three chords. My interest in guitar and harana deepened, and it was great that I could look up to another elder brother, Celso, who could make the guitar sing. Music gave me confidence to articulate my thoughts and feelings. LNL: Who inspired and supported you in order to pursue further studies in New York? MD: My older brother, composer and conductor Jerry was relentless in encouraging me to be serious with my studies in classical guitar. He started by training me in solfeggio and music theory. In the late '60s he went to New York for his masters in composition and conducting at Mannes School of Music. I wrote him and told him that there is an opportunity to get a scholarship to study guitar in Spain offered by the German Consulate in Manila. He wrote me back in two sentences: "If you want to master guitar playing, go to Spain. If you want to become a complete musician, come to New York." That was the turning point. But the issue was more complicated: It was tough to get a student visa. Maestro Gilopez Kabayao was my special angel. He vouched for me and gave me the necessary supporting documents so I could get a student visa. My friend Gilopez: You are a true patron of Filipino artists. LNL: How did you and Dr. Yeou-Cheng Ma meet? Why do you think children's orchestras are important? MD: We were introduced by a mutual friend. It was not really planned, but my friend Janet (whom I met in one of my California Concert tours) brought Dr. Ma to The Terrace, a fancy French Restaurant in New York, where I used to work playing classical guitar music. That was the start of a lifetime to know more about each other, and discover our common interests. It was a huge and exciting turning point for me. You could say that our coming together sparked the re-birth of the Children's Orchestra Society, which was founded by her father, Dr. Hiao-Tsiun Ma, to inspire and empower young and talented musicians.
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Artistic and Music Director Michael Dadap. LNL: What memorable teaching experiences do you have, that validated your vision for COS? MD: I had a 3 ½ year old student who is very talented. One day, in the middle of a lesson he asked me, 'Mr. Dadap, who gave names to the musical notes?' That really shook me up. I was not prepared to hear that from a child. Before the lesson ended, I gave him a story made up at the moment, about a man called "King Musiker." He was so glued to the story that I kept on developing it for a few more months. Then in about three months or so, he could read and write his own musical thoughts. Today, he is a successful musician, author, and entrepreneur. He has his own foundation helping children with autism. Another one of our Discovery concert winners was an 11-year-old girl, Yumi Sagiuchi. At age 13 she won again, but gave up her prize to allow a very close second-place winner, the honor to perform at Lincoln Center — because he was in his last year with COS. She said to us, ‘I won once, and I know
I still have many more chances.’ That brought me to tears. Her magnanimousness and sense of compassion at such a young age, was so admirable. She is now playing as Principal Violist of the Bergen Symphony Orchestra in Norway. LNL: Are your children musicians too? MD: We are blessed to have very musical and musically literate children who are adults now. They know the language of music, even though they did not choose music as their main profession. Our son Daniel is working for NVIDIA and lives in Austin, Texas with his wife Marie and their two children. Daniel plays percussion, trombone and bagpipes. Our daughter Laura is a singer-actress and songwriter. She lives in New York with her husband John. They are starting a sauce company "Djablo", which is based on my original hot sauce recipe that I cooked for their wedding reception. I hope they succeed. They are launching very soon at www.djablosauce.com.
The Children’s Orchestra Society with Dr. Yeou-Cheng Ma and Director Dadap: A 50-year milestone.
Violeta McGough sentenced to 27 months for alleged embezzlement
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EWARK, N.J. – A former accounting specialist in the Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, office of an insurance broker was sentenced to 27 months in prison for defrauding her employer of approximately $900,000, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced on May 20. Violeta McGough, 57, of Bergenfield, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo to an information charging her with one count of wire fraud. Judge Arleo imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: -From 2008 through October 2015, McGough allegedly made numerous fraudulent accounting entries to steal
funds that her employer – identified as “Victim-Company 1” – collected as insurance premiums. The premiums were for policies underwritten and issued by Victim-Company 1 on behalf of a United Kingdom-based insurance syndicate that actually held the risk. As part of her employment duties, McGough tracked premiums collected by Victim-Company 1 and its monthly payments to the syndicate. -McGough repeatedly used her access to Victim-Company 1’s books to divert a portion of those payments to her personal use. McGough disguised the stolen funds as reimbursed premiums for cancelled policies. She caused Victim-Company 1 to generate checks payable to a person identified in the complaint as “Individual 1,” who suppossedly worked for a premium financing company, but
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did not actually work there. McGough personally deposited the checks into Individual 1’s bank account and the bulk of the funds were transmitted back to McGough’s bank account. In addition to the prison term, Judge Arleo sentenced McGough to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited postal inspectors with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge James Buthorn, and special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Feder of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark. -- Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey
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The accused was treasurer of PIDCI. She resigned in 2017 citing health reasons. Photo by Boyet Loverita
COVER STORY
How Joji Jalandoni brought Visayan street kids to NYC By Cristina DC Pastor
Josephine ‘Joji’ Jalandoni grew up in Victorias Milling Company (VMC) in Negros Occidental -- known as the “Sugarbowl of the Philippines” -- where the landed families derived their affluence from sugar plantations. Sugar was one of the country’s top agricultural exports up until the 1980s, and the sugar cane farming families at the time were flush with cash. Her father, Jose Jimenez Juele, a mechanical engineer known as Triple J, was one of the executives of VMC and Victorias International lnc. Her mother, Estrella Ebro Juele, was a high school teacher. “Those were happy days growing up in Victorias Milling Company, the biggest refinery sugar central in the country. I grew up thinking sugar is free, that is, until I got to college,” reminisced Joji, a slight smile forming.
Sons Jose Carlos, 39 (seated); and Jose Inigo, 37. ‘They are the only grandchildren.’
||The sweet life “Life in VMC was ideal we grew up feeling we were all part of one big happy family. My siblings and I, we are what we are because of the family values our parents instilled in us,” she said. Her two sons -- Jose Carlos and Jose Inigo -- grew up nurtured in a loving home by an extended family of grandparents, aunts and uncles. “They were raised instilled with the same core values espousing the importance of integrity, excellence and love of family,” she said. “I’m so proud of them.” Joji, the second of five siblings attended St. Theresita’s Academy in Silay City, a school that produced good Catholic Ilonggas. She went to Silliman University in Dumaguete City for college, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. In New York, where the wings of fate had flown her, Joji found work in hospitals, gained experience and worked her way up through the ranks. She earned a master’s degree in Hospital Administration/Nurse Executive Program from Teachers College Columbia University. In the health facility where she now works, she holds the position of Infection Control and Prevention Associate Director, where her positive attitude, creative problem solving and professional skills make her highly effective in her role.
At TOFA where she was honored for her contributions to Arts & Culture. Photo by RJ Ensalada. Gown: PJ Aranador. Stylist: Victor Palmos She became active in the Filipino community of New York despite the long hours she devoted to her work. She is a core member of the Philippine Nurses Association-NY from 2003 up to the present, and was president of the Silliman University Alumni Association from 2007-2009. With every organization she joined, she made sure she contributed to the goals of growing the membership, fundraising, developing young leaders, whatever the organization’s needs were. The desire to “preserve and share” the rich Philippine traditions brought Joji to PIDCI or the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. “Through the 28 years of celebrating the commemoration, the New York festival has gained many reputations, foremost of which is it is the largest celebration of Philippine Independence in the world, larger even than that held annually in the Philippines,” she said. “It takes almost a year to organize.” She remembered how, in the beginning of her involvement with PIDCI, she rode the Nursing Float. “We won Best Float. The next thing I knew I THE FILAM |
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The Manggahan (top) and Dinagyang street dancers.
was one of the volunteers, became one of the Board Directors, vice president, and acting president in the latter half of 2009.”
||PIDCI president In 2011, she was elected PIDCI president and served for a year. It presented, for Joji, a platform to bring the Dinagyang of Iloilo and the Manggahan of Guimaras to perform at the Independence Day parade. She first invited the Dinagyang in 2011 and for three more years after that. In 2018, the Dinagyang and Manggahan dance troupes joined forces to bring color and cadence to Madison Avenue. About 70 young Filipinos dressed in the costumes of their regions danced to Ati-Atihan beat, energizing the parade as FilAms, watching on the streets, cheered and rocked to the beat. Clearly, a day bursting with ethnic pride. While it was Joji who facilitated the kids’ travel to the U.S., there would be additional responsibilities, such as finding homes that would welcome them and sponsors who would provide meals and sightseeing trips. “The Ilonggo community rose to the challenge,” she said. “From chaperoning these kids to providing them with hot meals and their favorite chocolates, these generous patrons made sure that these young kids’ dream of seeing New York City becomes a reality even for just a moment in time.” Through the “gargantuan feat,” Joji was recognized by The Outstanding Filipinos in America as a 2018 honoree in the field of Arts & Culture.
Jose and Estrella Jalandoni’s daughters celebrating their mother’s birthday. Seated from left, Joji and Joy Cesareo. Standing, Jajorie Hagelgans and Jacqueline Schuster. How did she do it? With a lot of faith in her network of friends, family, community leaders, and some government and local officials. Asked why and Joji looks back to a time when she was a young student in the province, and life was rich with promising opportunities. “The street kids of Dinagyang and Manggahan are kids of farmers,” she mused. “Yes, they will be
all professionals of their chosen careers, and one day as parents, grandparents, titos and titas will have stories to share about how once upon a time they had visited Ground Zero, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and watched Broadway shows like ‘Peter Pan, Finding Neverland.’ These adventures opened their eyes that there is a big world out there full of possibilities and opportunities.”
Jose Padua to launch book of poetry at Bowery Club Poet Jose Padua’s new award-winning book, “A Short History of Monsters,” was chosen by former U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins for the Miller Williams Poetry Award and has recently been published by the University of Arkansas Press. Many of the poems were written in and about NYC in the early 1990s, a time when spoken word poetry was blossoming and Jose was a popular performer in places like CBGBs, the Knitting Factory, the Nuyorican Poets' Café, and other venues. Jose will launch the book’s publication in New York at The Bowery Club on July 1 at 6:00 p.m. He would like to invite area Filipino Americans to this event. In his introduction to the book, Billy Collins says, “We are the happy riders on the stream of Padua’s consciousness . . . a smart, sympathetic mind at work.” Booklist comments, “Padua is a very wry poet who, in his first book, presents
stinging and riotous poems, as in the two-stanza ‘Barbie’: ‘I am Barbie I live in your dollhouse You change my clothes every day. If I could get out of here I would kill you all.’” “These are works that sharpen the mind on the micro, as opposed to the macro of our human experience,” Booklist continued. THE FILAM |
Drawing on the spirit of New York City in decades past, “A Short History of Monsters” presents the sins and obsessions of a poet nimble in beat and slam traditions. Padua 7
wrestles with an American Dream interrupted by failure, excess, and other nightmares. Often brash and unruly, these poems range from recollections of lost, drunken days to unadorned manifestations of hope. Throughout, the speaker redefines his relationship to pop culture, praising it, skewering it, and mourning it by turns. Jose's poetry, fiction, and nonfiction have appeared in Bomb, Salon. com, Beloit Poetry Journal, Crimes of the Beats, Up is Up, but So Is Down: New York's Downtown Literary Scene, 1974-1992, and many other publications. He’s written features and reviews for The Weeklings, NY Press, the Brooklyn Rail, and the New York Times, and has read his work at Lollapalooza, CBGBs, the Knitting Factory, Nuyorican Poets' Café, and other venues. – Heather Davis
Raised Pinay: Growing up under three Filipinas
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he house was filled with the familiar aromas of a party, including the mouthwatering scents of fresh fried lumpia and the pepper and bay leaves of chicken and pork adobo. Outside, the air hazed with savory smoke from barbeque smeared in banana ketchup. All around the small property, laughter and music pierced the evening as food and drinks were passed around. In the kitchen would have been my mom, Imelda, replenishing the already abundant dishes of Filipino favorites. On the microphone would have been my aunt, Tita Helen, one of the many karaoke singers of the night. As for my grandmother, Lola Remy, she would have been enjoying the night, offering assistance but ultimately kept entertained by the crowd of young adults. Many find it strange that I identify strongly with my Filipino heritage, despite only being half, and definitely looking more American than Filipino. However, the scene above must have occurred every weekend, at least that’s how it felt growing up. Despite growing up outside of the Philippines, my upbringing was mainly Filipino. Even when my mom spent most of her days at work, my tita (aunt) and lola (grandmother) were always there to pass down traditional values to my little brother and me. Mom wanted her family members close by when we found ourselves in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. Dad’s job had us relocating every few years, but the Filipino community was a constant presence. The first three years were especially the busiest, moving-wise. After the eruption of Mount Pinatubo and the closing of U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay, we went to Pensacola, Florida. Then, only mere months later, my parents and I went back to the Pacific. We only stayed in Okinawa for a few months as well. South Korea was finally a place in which we could settle down for a while. Lemuel was only a week old when my Tita Helen flew in from Hong Kong. She helped mom out, taking care of Lem and me. Soon, however, she had to return to Hong Kong. Mom and Dad decided that since they had the means, they would sponsor other members of the family to come live with us for the opportunity to work outside of the Philippines. South Korea was certainly a lot easier to reach than the U.S. First to be sponsored was my Tia Mila, lola’s youngest sister. Unfortunately, I don’t have a strong recollection of the time she was with us. I do remember, and know her still, as a woman who is loving, youthful, and a natural nurturer—qualities often prided by Filipinas. Perhaps due to how young I was, I remember her as always smiling.
By Rachel Walt
The author: A Filipino upbringing Unfortunately, it was not the same for my Tita Helen. Mixed in with all the fun memories of her are also all of the memories of her yelling. After Tia Mila left, Tita Helen was granted a sponsorship to work in the country and stay with us. However, I was at a mischievous age, and Lem was growing fast and taking after me. We may have been too much the troublemakers for our tita, who was still just in her early twenties. She often had to take on the role of disciplinarian, almost as fearful as the parents. Being the younger sister, she was also very energetic and creative. She often had plenty of activities for us to do. She was like a third parent to us for years, and there is no way I could envision my childhood complete without her. Around 1998 or so, my lola was able to stay with us for some time every six months. Lola Remy is a treasure. I don’t think there is any other word that can singularly encompass the essence that is my lola. She is sweet, and often cares for others first. Lola was always so calm, but really knew how to find the ticklish spots with her soft matronly hands. We’d always be thrashing wildly on her lap while she just sat smiling and singing, calling our backs her piano and our bottoms her drums. Having multiple Filipinas running a household gave THE FILAM |
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‘With my beautiful nanay.’ me a very different upbringing than a lot of other Filipino American children. While I received the traditional values, I was also exposed to the little nuances of the Filipino home—the respect for all family members by generation, the mano po (kissing the hand as a sign of respect), the walis (broom) and tsinelas (slippers) as disciplinary tools, the tabo (plastic or tin can used to scoop water), and even the squat and hover — sorry but I could not leave that out — just to name a few. More importantly, I realize that lola’s love for family knows no bounds, and that was what passed on to my mother and tita. As cliché as it is, that’s really what I got being raised by many Filipinas, the overwhelming love and responsibility towards family. Rachel Walt is currently a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy stationed out of San Diego. Her parents met in Okinawa and got married in the Philippines. They now live in Alabama.
Jaime FlorCruz’s journalist memorabilia on exhibit in Intramuros By Wendell Gaa
Former CNN Beijing bureau chief Jaime “Jimi” FlorCruz recently launched his collection of memorabilia from his distinguished journalist career at the Bahay Tsinoy Museum of Chinese in Philippine Life in Intramuros.
D
uring my late father Ambassador Willy C. Gaa’s tenure as the Philippine envoy to the People’s Republic of China from 2003 to 2006, Jimi became one of our closest friends from the Filipino community. We were always honored to have him, his wife Ana, and their children grace our social events. I first began watching Jimi on CNN International back in the early 2000s with his rich and clear newscasting voice. It was a great feeling to see one of our own reporting on events throughout China to the world. I finally had the honor to meet Jimi at the 2004 Philippine Independence Day Reception which our embassy hosted for the diplomatic community and other distinguished guests. I may have been starstruck. It was wonderful to see how truly humble and intelligent he was in person as well as on TV. China was a very different country when Jimi first arrived in August 1971 on a study tour. The country was halfway through the Cultural Revolution launched in the late 1960s by Communist leader Chairman Mao Zedong. Universities and schools were just reopening and students wielding little red books worked on farms or in factories. Then U.S. President Richard Nixon had not yet made his landmark 1972 state visit to China, which effectively opened the country to the West. According to Jimi, the everyday sights and sounds of China in those days were akin to what one would experience when visiting North Korea today. A firebrand student leader, his life was forever changed when he found himself stranded in China after his name was blacklisted by the administration of then-Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos when he declared martial law. Jimi stayed on in China together with four others from the study tour. His passport expired the following year, thereby leaving him practically stateless. Strangely, this became a blessing in disguise. Within the following four decades, he heralded an illustrious career as a journalist witnessing epic moments in China’s modern history. From the economic reforms of leader Deng Xiaoping during the 1970s and 1980s, to the infamous 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre, and the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Jimi had witnessed them all.
The young reporter with former Chinese President Jiang Zemin.
Poster of a young woman during the Cultural Revolution from Jimi's collection of Mao era art. THE FILAM |
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The author with Jimi during the exhibit. Throughout his stay in China, Jimi studied, worked, and traveled extensively throughout the country. Throughout 1972, a year after he first arrived, he worked in a state farm in Hunan province, birthplace of Chairman Mao. From 1973 to 1974, he worked at a fishing corporation in Shandong Province. He then took two years of intensive Chinese language study at the Beijing Languages Institute. In 1978, he provided English lessons to college professors at Peking University twice a week, and then to college students at Peking Normal College in 1979-1981. It was during this time that he also appeared on Chinese national television, teaching English songs in a weekly program called “Let’s Sing.” In 1982, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Chinese History at Peking University. His journalistic career officially began when Newsweek hired him as a Beijing correspondent. In 1982, he joined TIME Magazine’s Beijing bureau. He served as the bureau chief from 1990 to 2000, the year he was named the Edward R. Murrow Press Fellow – the first non-American — at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. CNN hired him in 2001 as the network’s bureau chief and correspondent. He retired from journalism in December 2014. Jimi remains active as an adjunct professor at Peking University, and occasionally provides his unique perspectives and insights on China to various media outlets, such as CNN Philippines. He may reside in China much of the time, but calls the Philippines his first home.
LET’S EAT! …A call to a culinary alliance as the 2019 Filipino Restaurant Week unfurled from May 13 to 26 across seven states, including New York, New Jersey, and Washington D.C.
T Kabisera Kape’s Augee Francisco offers her Sushi using salted egg and tomato.
wo dozen eating places – from sit-down diners with a waitstaff to food court counters and coffee shops – participated. They presented their unique versions of the Philippines’s standard favorites, such as the Pancit, the Adobo, and the Turon. They gave new life to traditional dishes or concocted their own using indigenous ingredients and avant-garde ways of cooking. Seven restaurants from New York and New Jersey have been with the FRW since it started in 2015: Ugly Kitchen, Purple Yam, Phil-am Kusina, Max’s Restaurant, Maharlika, Jeepney, and Grill 21. They were joined by Tito Rad’s, Swell Dive, Mighty Bowl, Perla in Philadelphia, Kuma Inn, and Kabisera Kape in the succeeding years. Ten new restaurants joined this year: The Buren in Brooklyn; Maganda, a pop-up restaurant; Karenderya
A delicious collage by Jan Andrada. THE FILAM |
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Turon banana spring roll by ASIN Filipino Restaurant.
in Nyack, N.Y.; ASIN in New Jersey; Tanám in Massachusetts; Sarvida and Lalo in Philadelphia; Bistro 1521 in Virginia; Kuya Ja’s Lechon Belly in Maryland; and Purple Patch in Washington, DC. Inspired by the New York Restaurant Week, the FRW participating restaurants served prix fixe meals of three courses: appetizer, entrée, and dessert. This year, the Philippine coconut is the featured ingredient that is incorporated by the restaurants in any one of their dishes. With its increasing popularity, FRW generates buzz not only within the FilAm community but also in the mainstream gastronomic landscape. Judging from the social media postings, this year’s FRW was wild! Consul General Claro Cristobal is optimistic that FRW 2019 will carry on the growing trend of offering food lovers throughout the US East Coast a “fantastic gastronomic treat which will immerse them into the fascinating tastes of Philippine cuisine.” Deputy Consul General Kerwin Orville Tate expressed excitement as the project aimed to promote the beautiful and delicious tradition of cuisine and cooking continues to expand in many states across the U.S. He also thanked the chefs and restaurant owners for nurturing the Philippine food heritage. Consul Arman Talbo presented the participating restaurants before guests, sponsors, and the media at a launch party held May 8 at the High Bar Rooftop of the Double Tree Hotel, the first time an FRW launch was held outside of the Philippine Center. “There’s more to explore about our cuisine as the Philippines has many regional specialties which we highlight in our
Beef Brisket Salpicao by Ugly Kitchen.
restaurant,” said Queenie Banez, ASIN’s owner and a two-time national winner of Nora Daza Food Contest in the Philippines. "We do our best to honor the food and the flavors we grew up with, and we are also very careful to be honest when we take liberties. Most importantly, we love that we can play a role in starting a dialogue about the food and the culture of the Philippines. In that sense, we take our role as representatives of our culture very seriously," said Cheryl Baun, co-owner of Karenderya, a restaurant named by Esquire as one of the 20 Best New Restaurants in America for 2018. Joann Canosa, owner of Maganda, said her pop-up and events company not only offers both traditional and innovative Filipino cuisine but uses its platform to “spotlight and empower Pinays all over the world from the tribal Pinays, as depicted in our logo, to the Gen Z Pinays.” “I am always excited for FRW! It’s a great intro into the yummy world of Filipino cuisine,” remarked chef King Phojanakong, a Culinary Institute of America graduate and the owner of Kuma Inn. “Savor the best of Philippine cuisine,” urged the consulate in inviting the public to experience Filipino hospitality through FRW. In short, kain na. This year’s Filipino Restaurant Week is a flagship project of the Philippine Consulate New York in cooperation with Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C., Philippine Department of Tourism-NY, Philippine Trade and Investment Center-NY, Philippine Airlines, Tanduay, Planet X, GMA Pinoy TV, Philippine National Bank, and Neocolors.
PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS
List of participating restaurants. Photos by Philippine Consulate NY and Jan Andrada.
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THE FILAM |
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||June 15
Calendar
of Events
Awitin Mo, Isasayaw Ko.... With The Rigor Brothers & SoM! Mason Hall - Baruch 17 Lexington Ave, NYC
||June 17
WorldPride 2019 | Stonewall 50 50th NYC Pride March 26th Street and Fifth Avenue
||June 20
Fusion! AVP's Annual Pride Party Hudson Terrace 621 W 46th street NYC
||June 26
Making it/ (Werking it!) as a Queer Attorney Kabisera Kape 151 Allen St. NYC
||June 26
LGBT Mega Events Across the Globe: Stonewall 50 and Beyond New York Public Library Fifth Avenue at 42nd St., NYC
||June 28
Raised Pinay 2019: A Benefit Production Speyer Hall 184 Eldridge St., NYC
||July 14
7th Annual Summer Potluck Picnic for Young FilAm Families Contact info@filschool-nynj.org or call 774.257.4669 for location
||July 14-21
Very Important Pinoy/2019 Ambassadors Tour
||July 15
Philippine Landscapes and Waterfalls: Raul Tangco Photography Philippine Center 556 5th Ave, New York, NYC
||July 21,
12:30 p.m. Ilocano Gala 2019 Leonard's Palazzo 555 Northern Blvd, Great Neck, New York
||July 28
1¢ Days at the Museum American Museum of Natural History Central Park West & 79th St., NYC
||August 3 ||June 28
Left Forum 2019 LIU Brooklyn
I Love Rock n' Roll: Music Under the Stars | West Point Band Trophy Point Amphitheater, 117 Washington Rd. West Point, N.Y.
THE FILAM |
||August 30 – September 2
20th Grand Reunion and Convention, University of the Philippines Alumni Association in America, Inc. Crowne Plaza Hotel at San Francisco Airport, Burlingame, California
||October 26
9th TOFA Awards Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall 154 W 57th St, NYC
||September 8
2019 Outstanding Foreign Workers Awards Night Astoria World Manor 25-22 Astoria Blvd., Queens
||September 21
9th Annual All About Downtown Jersey City Street Fair Grove PATH Plaza 319 Grove St, Jersey City
||September 23 San Gennaro Feast Little Italy
||October 11
Medicare For All & Its Competitors: Comparing Democratic Plans The Murphy Institute - CUNY School of Labor & Urban Studies 25 West 43rd St., 18th floor, NYC
||October 12
Create Your Own Social Media Filter Pioneer Works 159 Pioneer St, Brooklyn
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||November 2
UP Alumni Association of DC, MD, VA Sapphire Ball Fairview Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, 3111 Fairview Park Dr, Falls Church, Virginia 22042
||2020
July 1 Filipino American National Historical Society Metro NY Chapter National Conference Waikiki Marriott Beach Resort & Spa, Hawaii
INC launches Aid to Humanity in Canada “The Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) has set its sights on the global campaign against poverty. It’s a cause we’ve committed to champion and sustain as a church.”
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his was the remark of Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo after the INC conducted its most recent outreach activities in various Canadian cities, describing them as “much bigger than our initial Aid to Humanity efforts last year in North America.” The church provided assistance to marginalized groups in Montreal, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver this May through the worldwide "Lingap" program of the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation. INC General Auditor Glicerio B. Santos, Jr. noted that “We’ve heightened our assistance efforts for immigrants, indigenous peoples, female lone-parent families, members of racialized groups, persons with disabilities and other sectors where poverty incidence is higher based on Canadian population statistics. Our focus, like before, is on the needy and vulnerable.” In Winnipeg Manitoba last May 19, INC gathered beneficiaries from the Turtle Island Recreation Center, Ma Mawi Chi Itata Center, Norquay Center Children’s Orphanage and the Indigenous Children’s Orphanage and distributed 3,000 care packages. Montreal followed the next day with 500 bags benefiting the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation, Orphan Sun (Soleil des Orphelins), La Société de Développement Social, YMCA, The Open Door, Old Brewery Mission Hall, La Maison Benoit Labre, Mile End Community Mission and La Rue de Femme. Aid recipients also received
checks on top of packages which had fleece blankets, socks, hats, bath towels, soaps, toothbrushes, toothpaste, canned foods, noodles and ready-toeat meals. The May 21 Ottawa leg meanwhile included the Matthew House Doreen and Ottawa Food Bank, as well as the Le Gîte Ami, L'Ami de l'Entraide and Moisson Outauais shelters, which all received similar financial assistance and care packages. On May 23, the foundation has prepared thousands of care packages and visited Maskwacis, Alberta, home to the Crees of Maskwacis, a collective of four First Nations groups: Samson Cree, Ermineskin Cree, Louis Bull Tribe, and Montana First Nation. Ten food banks, health and friendship centers received financial assistance. Montana First Nation Chief, Leonard StandingontheRoad, spoke of “friendship and acceptance” as he welcomed the members of the Church of Christ in their town. Similar well-attended initiatives were held in Toronto and Vancouver on May 23 and 25, respectively. Brief programs were held at the venues, which included messages from local civic and political leaders. A film showing on the INC’s global push for expansion followed, including a presentation highlighting the church’s outreach activities in the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Australia-New Zealand. “These activities fall under the umbrella of our Lingap sa Mamamayan program. Our Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo strives to make our
May 20. The FYM Foundation visited Maskwacis, Alberta, home to the Crees of Maskwacis, a collective of four First Nations groups: Samson Cree, Ermineskin Cree, Louis Bull Tribe, and Montana First Nation. Ten food banks, health, and friendship centers received financial assistance. Photo: J. Lopez THE FILAM |
May 19 in Winnipeg. Kevin Lamoureux, MP for Winnipeg North reads the Certificate of Message, thanking Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo and the FYM Foundation for their years of hard work and charity for the people of Manitoba. Photo: M. de Jesus North American humanitarian presence stronger and more responsive. His singular vision of alleviating poverty in various parts of the world is what drives and inspires us,” Santos Jr. explained. The INC went full blast with its North American Aid to Humanity efforts in 2018. Three big “Fight Poverty” activities were held in Long Island, New York, and Hartford, Connecticut in the United States and in Toronto, Canada in September last year, targeting low-income localities. The INC General Auditor stressed that the aid efforts were equally focused on Filipinos, especially Overseas Filipino Workers. In late 2018 and early 2019, big Aid to Humanity and Lingap sa Mamamayan activities were held in Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Macau and Hong Kong, with close to 8,000 OFWs attending. More aid activities are planned. “Assistance is given regardless of nationality, gender, religious and political affiliation. Every day in many parts of the world, there are lives to improve and souls to nourish. Our Executive Minister and the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation do their best to make the INC a meaningful and helpful presence where poverty needs to be addressed,” the General Auditor explained. – Tess de Jesus, INC.
May 23. The Toronto organizations receiving financial assistance were Flemingdon Food Bank, North York Harvest Food Bank, East Scarborough Storefront, and Redwood, a women’s shelter. Photo: M. De Jesus 13
‘Shoot, edit, show your film here in NYC:’ MOME Commissioner Anne del Castillo A second-generation Filipino American, who was an associate producer of the documentary “Imelda,” has been named commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) by Mayor Bill de Blasio.
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awyer Anne del Castillo has 20 years of experience in film production, public media, and arts and nonprofit administration. As commissioner, her goal is to “strengthen the city’s media and entertainment economy (and) to ensure that the workforce in those industries is as diverse as New York City itself.” MOME supports the city’s film, TV, and theatre as well as the music, publishing, advertising and digital media industries that account for 305,000 jobs and an economic output of $104 billion. “Media and entertainment are central to New York City’s economy and identity. Anne has the vision and experience to continue to strengthen the industry during this time of unprecedented growth and change,” said Mayor De Blasio in a press statement. In accepting her promotion, Del Castillo said it is an “exciting time for our agency to engage a broad cross section of industry, community and other key stakeholders to advance an inclusive, sustainable and thriving creative economy that benefits all New Yorkers and reflects the diversity that defines our city.” Del Castillo was born and raised in New York. Her mother, Rachel del Castillo, is a nurse from Isabela, Negros Occidental. “My mother is Visayan from Negros Occidental,” she said in an email interview with The FilAm. “She came to the U.S. through Philadelphia as part of a wave of nurses who immigrated from the Philippines in the 1960s. She eventually moved to New York.” Del Castillo joined MOME after more than 20 years in film production, public media, and non-profit administration. Her first job was information coordinator for the Independent Feature Film Market, while also working as script supervisor on an indie film in
Austin. She took on a variety of roles and responsibilities in many film-related ventures, becoming vice president of development and business affairs at American Documentary, which produced the award-winning PBS documentary series POV. In that position, she secured $3 million annually in grants and contracts and negotiated partnerships with Netflix and theatrical distributors to maximize distribution opportunities for independent documentaries. In 2014, she was appointed as director of legal affairs of MOME and was promoted to chief operating officer and general counsel in 2015. During her tenure, she helped develop and launch mentorship and training programs to increase industry diversity and the Made in NY Women’s Film, TV and Theatre Fund which is distributing $5 million in grants to women filmmakers and playwrights. She has served as the acting MOME commissioner since February 2019. “New York City is a creative capital with iconic landscapes known all over the world,” she told The FilAm. “The city is home to a rich talent base, both above and below the line, from wellknown actors, directors and producers to skilled artisans and technicians. One can write, develop, shoot, cut, and exhibit your film – start to finish – all right here.” Filmmaking has further diversified into the Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality cutting-edge technologies where demand for jobs has increased in recent years. “AR and VR are rapidly growing industries that along with Artificial Intelligence, are transforming the way we live and work,” she said. “Traditionally viewed as gaming enterprises, these industries are impacting areas such as healthcare, real estate, manufacturing, THE FILAM |
‘Moonstruck’ is her favorite Made-in-New York movie. Photo: MOME
With her Visayan mother, Rachel del Castillo, a nurse who came to the U.S. in the 1960s. just to name a few.” MOME has made “significant investments” in these sectors to ensure that NYC remains at the forefront of innovation and job creation, she said. An example she cited was RLab, the first city-funded AR/ VR center which received $5.6 million to support the training and develop a “pipeline of talent.” 15
Her favorite ‘Made in New York’ movie? “Moonstruck,” among many, for the dialogue and the acting by Cher and Olympia Dukakis. She has a poster of the 1987 flick in her office. “Admittedly I have an affinity for films with strong mother-daughter dynamics,” she said. – With Cristina DC Pastor
Fascination with Jewish culture distinct in new book By Maricar CP Hampton
It’s not often that a Filipino author writes fiction featuring Jewish characters.
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n “Anna and the Exodus into a situation that quickly Moon… and other Stories,” becomes a story,” he said. Gene Del Carmen breaks “Anna and the Exodus ground through the Moon…and other Stories” narratives of Anna whose is a collection of 10 stories family languishes in a concentration each with a cliffhanger camp, and the teacher Mr. Cohen ending. A story tends to whose happy-go-lucky son does not start slow but picks up pace appreciate the value of education. quickly and leads the reader “It was a very kind and compassiontoward where it becomes ate Jewish couple who helped me hard to put the book down. migrate to the U.S., and since then, my Each story offers a diverse admiration and respect for them and genre, such as crime and the Jewish people started,” said Gene, mystery, romance, and an accountant who lives in New Jersey, political drama. and has published two collections “I think readers want to of short fiction. “I have also worked read romance, personal with other Jewish people, including struggles, and light farce, one Holocaust survivor, who narrated plus a true story, all in one some of her sad experiences which I book,” he said. will never forget. Gene is a prolific writer. His friendship with Jewish people He has the broad strokes of remains strong to this day. He and a story within two to three his wife, Arielita, find Jewish Amerhours. He edits when new icans friendly and easygoing, who ideas come to mind, which Prolific writer Gene P. Del Carmen and his third collection of short fiction. appreciate hard work and loyalty, may take a couple more and attach importance to family. hours. Choosing a title its cacao industry. my personal thoughts and feelings.” The book opens with the story is what slows his process. “It’s a Churches and ancient cathedrals A light romantic story is the theme of Anna, a 17-year-old Jewish girl, serious task.” are the setting of three stories: in “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” whose innocence is shattered when “I pick nicely titled stories as my “Who Will Play Barnabas?” “Regalos inspired by a 1960s love song by The the Germans threw her family into a lead. My other books titles, ‘The Para Los Muertos,” and “Lilacs at Mamas & the Papas. It is a story of concentration camp during the holo- Pork Bun Heist’ and ‘The Manny the Cloister Abbey.” a man who immerses himself in the caust. True love, faith, and patience Pacquiao Effect’ grab the attention “I am always in awe of churches current dating scene following his free her from the wretched slavery and curiosity.” divorce. she has witnessed. He continued. “I have been praised and the human mourning, cele“Thieves” is the story of two In “May You Flourish,” Gene brations, and sanctuary they hold.” for my story titles like: ‘Lontragically orphaned young men explores the complex relationship donderry Tenderloin,’ ‘Blueprint for He worked as a Sacristan for a between father and son. Lando a Bordello,’ ‘The Pork Bun Heist,’ etc. century-old church where he said, “I who attempt to trace the insurance money they believe is owed them. Cohen, a Jewish-born teacher who I take time mulling over possible felt the stillness and loud singing Before migrating to the U.S. in believes in the value of education titles until I get it right.” and they could be both deafening. 1984, Gene worked in an advertising and hard work as key to success, is He believes the setting of a story Churches are very good settings for frustrated that his son Richie lives a agency in Manila. He had written is equally important. “This book stories.” scripts for television, among them complacent life. also has my first story where the Gene writes from deep conviction The inspiration to write short stosetting is an unfamiliar country in “Doubt and Faith” and “Caligula.” “Pira-pirasong Pangarap” and “Tambakan Alley” and stories for ries comes naturally to the author. like Brazil.” The crime thriller in “They are relevant stories of today illustrated comics like “Pilipino “Ideas constantly come as words and “Chocolateland” details the agrarian and I could not ignore the need to speak up on their subjects. They are Komiks” and “Liwayway.” sounds that are unique. It later turns conflict set in the country noted for
THE FILAM |
16
COVER STORY
The adult life of pop singer
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Kirby Asunto
hree years ago when Kirby Asunto turned 18, many thought the verybusy pop singer Kirby Asunto was about to embark on a life she herself would design. Get an apartment perhaps or manage her singing career. In many states, she can legally get married without parental consent. Her life today is so different from the time she was a constant presence at fundraising galas, parties, and concerts singing Broadway hits or OPM covers. Kirby today has begun working for Davita Dialysis in Metuchen, N.J. On Sundays, one finds her cantoring at Divine Mercy Parish in Rahway, singing and leading the prayers. Not too long ago, she became a brand-new aunt to her brother’s first-born. She continues to sing but at carefully selected engagements. She is nonchalant that at 21 she continues to live in the same Linden house with her parents. Her mother, the feisty and overprotective Shirley is fortunate she has an affectionate daughter who respects the old-school way she has been raised. “Sinasabi ko sa kaniya, kahit umabot ka pa ng 25, basta wala ka pang asawa hindi ka puwede mag-desisyon sa sarili mo,” said Shirley when the two women sat down for an interview with The FilAm in 2016. Kirby was in full agreement. She said, “Going back and forth to the Philippines, I’ve learned (Filipino) traditions. I’ve compared them with my life here. I see some of my friends here who now have kids…whaaat?” Shirley said she and Kirby have an excellent relationship nurtured on traditional Filipino values. They are very close, and she said her daughter cannot sleep without her nearby. “Ma-miss niya yung amoy ko,” she joked followed by lingering laughter. The story of Shirley and Kirby Asunto is not only a narrative of a mother and daughter who seem to get along very well. Hovering in the background are intricate cultural and generational dynamics. The women are holding tight, making sure the permissiveness in American society does not dilute their closeness. The biggest misconception FilAms have about their relationship, according to Shirley, is the issue of control: “Akala nila fino-force ko si Kirby kumanta kahit ayaw nung bata. Hindi totoo yan. Mahilig talaga kumanta si Kirby.”
By Cristina DC Pastor
Kirby then and now. Photo by Boyet Loverita.
‘An amazing journey.’ Kirby validated her mother’s words, “I love singing. I’ll never get tired singing for our community.”
||From the crib
It seemed that when Kirby was born, the youngest of Liberato and Shirley’s four children, she was already “singing from the crib.” “Na-notice ko humming humming siya, sabi ko, parang may boses itong batang ito ah,” Shirley recalled. Before she even turned 2 years old, Kirby was already trying to imitate the dance moves of Britney Spears and sing the heart-achy ballads of Regine Velasquez. Her father, who was then very new in the U.S., would ask Shirley to send him videos of his daughter which he played to ease his homesickness and also shared with his friends. THE FILAM |
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In nursery school, Kirby, on her own initiative, joined a Linggo ng Wika singing contest at St. Ives School in Taguig in Metro Manila. “Sabi niya, nanay sumali ako sa contest? Anong contest sinalihan mo? Siyempre kantahan,” said Shirley, then a full-time housewife. Kirby has been winning every singing contest in her school, a streak interrupted only when the family – including older brother Mark — joined their father in the U.S. in 2006. Two older daughters, a nurse and a school teacher, remain in the Philippines. In the U.S., Kirby entered as a fourth grader at Number 9 Deerfield Terrace Elementary School in Linden. She enrolled at Myles J. McManus Middle School to continue her education but did not finish. She opted to be homeschooled when her singing career became busy with bookings left and right, requiring frequent trips to the Philippines.
||‘Amazing journey’
It all began when Kirby would be asked to sing at community events, grace this and that party, sing with other artists, and receive awards for her exceptional musical talent at a young age. One gig led to another until she got invited to perform at major events and sing before important personalities, such as former New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine and diplo-
matic officials. A momentous appearance at the 2012 Pacquiao-Bradley bout in Las Vegas had Kirby singing Lupang Hinirang before a crowd of more than 16,000. “It’s been an amazing journey,” said Kirby. Shirley gave credit to two community organizations that have backed Kirby through the years, from the time this wisp of a warbler burst into the scene: the National Federation of Filipino American Associations and the Philippine-American Friendship Committee. She said Kirby began singing at NaFFAA conventions at 9 years old, she’s now called “our NaFFAA baby.” As for PAFCOM, she expressed gratitude to officer Gani Puertollano who was always ready to motor Kirby to her many engagements at a time, said Shirley, “when I didn’t know how to drive yet.” “Si Gani parang tatay niya yan,” she said. Kirby thinks her mom is not all that strict like some Asian mothers, just steeped in traditional values. “Kung baga pauwi na siya, papunta pa lang ako,” she quoted a folksy motto, when asked if she found her mom smothering. She does not chafe at her rules and is grateful to have been raised in the homegrown values of her parents. Kirby and Shirley Asunto interviewed by The FilAm in their Linden home. ‘We're very close.’ Photo by Dipika Shrestha
Live-In Domestic Couple
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Issue 16, June 2019
Bloomfield boy, 6, publishes a book p3
Jaime FlorCruz unveils journalist memorabilia p9
The adult life of Kirby Asunto p18 Photo by Sean Vargas