FILAM 03'19

Issue 13, March 2019

More stories on the web @ TheFilAm.net

4 Pinay makeup artists gloss up N.Y. Fashion Week Who will run the next

Independence Day parade?

CPA Nora Galleros takes aim at Madison Avenue

Letter from the Publisher

A year in the life of a newspaper

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year has whipped by, seemingly like a bullet train.

Some 365 days ago, we decided to publish a monthly newspaper. It seemed counterintuitive at that time.

We had been online for more than seven years when a friend, whose insights we value, suggested that since we’ve been around that long, why don’t we take it to the next level: a newspaper.

At a time when many print publications were going digital, it felt like we were nuts to run in the opposite direction.

But we did with a mixture of dread, incurable optimism, and an abiding faith that we have a product we are proud of. It’s been a year since that decision. To borrow a phrase from New England Patriot’s Tom Brady, ‘We’re still here.’ We have not won anything, but survival – even for a year -- is its own accomplishment.

At one point, my founder-wife attended a ‘speed dating’ session with New York City agencies. She was with two dozen other community publishers trying to pitch their respective publications and hoping that in 4 minutes per agency she would have made a good impression. That the agencies would return to us with a second date and an offer to advertise.

We did profiles at palatial homes in the Tristate area, showed up at the opening of Jollibee in Manhattan, and penned profiles from boxing greats to beauty contestant winners. We tried our hand at collaborative investigative reports, reveling in the never-ending journalistic chore of tracking down leads and patiently waiting out people who reluctantly stayed on the cell phone for an interview. We avidly followed bells being given back to Samar that were taken in a time of harsh conflict. That journey took more than one hundred years to finish, even though we were only around for a year.

Founding Editor Cristina DC Pastor Business & Advertising Manager Rene Pastor

Harking back to what we said at the start of this venture, “We will seek to get it right and apologize when we get it wrong.”

That “independence lies at the heart of that commitment.”

In our minds, we have tried to live up to that vision while knowing fully well there are moments we would falter.

We look forward to another year of reporting on a community that is amazingly diverse and has as many opinions as it has members.

In the human tapestry that makes up this endlessly evolving nation, Filipino Americans represent the

Contributing Writers

Address P.O. Box 8071 New York, NY 10116 Contact Editorial: 848-219-0069 Advertising: 732-428-6318 Thefilamny@gmail.com

Tricia J. Capistrano

Elton Lugay

Joel David

Ludy AstraquilloOngkeko

Wendell Gaa Maricar CP Hampton

The FilAm is a publication of A&V Editorial THE FILAM |

best of what is in America. From the first Asian Americans known as Manila Men who set foot in what became New Orleans, Louisiana, to the Manongs who made their home in Hawaii and California’s farms, to the current immigrants who came in during the 1960s and all the way to the 2000s. We have endured and are still here.

Our hopes for The FilAm is to similarly last, persist and sometimes infuriate as well.

The newspaper is something we hope the community can take pride in – providing a mirror to Filipino Americans whose roots straddle the cultures they call home. We hope to do so with a measure of pride for the identities that sustain us. It is a vision that we hold dear. We are very conscious of the responsibility to be the best of what being Filipino American means.

In this, we are thankful to our readers, our sources, our advertisers and supporters who simply are there for us. Just passing along a copy of the newspaper you find at a Filipino restaurant gives us great pride.

Welcome to our first anniversary issue.

Rene Pastor

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Mariel Padilla Lindy Rosales

Consulate studying possible takeover of Independence Day parade

By Cristina DC Pastor

Just when everyone thought the case of PIDCI has lapsed into limbo, the FilAm community voted in a General Assembly in favor an independent ad hoc committee that would oversee preparations for the June 2019 Independence Day Parade.

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hat body would remove from PIDCI, which had lost its tax-exempt status when soliciting for contributions to the popular parade, the right to host the event.

The surprising turn came about after prominent community leader Loida Nicolas Lewis questioned whether the Consulate was willing to take back management and supervision of the parade through an ad hoc committee following allegations of financial mismanagement against PIDCI. “Checks were issued payable to cash without receipts (from PIDCI), a violation of IRS rules for 501(c)(3) organizations,” said Lewis, who is chairperson of U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance.

As for the proposed ad hoc committee, “It is one important idea and deserves thorough study,” said Consul General Claro Cristobal. “Thus, I’ve begun consultations on it as well as other ideas in earnest. In due course, I will consult with the wider Filcommunity in an open meeting,” he said in a statement to The FilAm. The community’s verdict came on the heels of a court decision that appeared to favor the beleaguered organization.

The Supreme Court of the State of New York dismissed on February 8, 2019 an affidavit from Olivia David who argued that PIDCI – or the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. — did not have any mechanism for discussing grievances and complaints from its members.

In her decision, Judge Barbara Jaffe said petitioners “failed to explain” why allegations made by David were absent in their original petition.

“Petitioners thus do not establish reasonable justification for failing to argue previously that they had exhausted their remedies or to submit an affidavit from David,” said Jaffe.

David is the candidate who lost to Antero Martinez in the 2017 PIDCI presidential election. In her defeat, she took a swing at PIDCI for alleged irregularities — mainly the use of proxy voting – during elections.

On May 29, 2018, Judge Jaffe dismissed a petition

by Juliet Payabyab of United Mindoro International, Inc. and Nieva Burdick of the Philippine Community Center Services for Aging seeking to nullify the results

of the elections. Jaffe said under the law, the matter is best resolved through an internal grievance procedure. David’s affidavit, which the court has dismissed, disputes the existence of such a procedure.

In 2017, Payabyab and Burdick filed a case urging the courts to compel PIDCI to: -produce annual reports from 2013 to 2016; Petitioners Juliet Payabyab (left) and Nieva Burdick -open the financial books and records; hoc committee while PIDCI is fixing (its) unresolved -nullify the results of the elections of Oct 7, 2017 issues,” she said further.

The court ordered PIDCI to “immediately hand Lawyer for the petitioners, Lara Gregory, said the over” its financial records, list of voting members, minutes of board meetings and other pertinent documents, decision was “about technical rules that have nothing to do with transparency and accountability.” a decision seen as a victory for petitioners.

“It has nothing to do with why a supposed umbrella Burdick rejected the notion that the latest court organization for the Philippine community is run like a decision is another victory for PIDCI. Reached by private-for-profit company that removes members who The FilAm, she said, “Did it really favor PIDCI? Their press for accountability. That is for the New York State 501(c)(3) stands as revoked.” Payabyab said the comand the federal agencies to investigate,” she said in a munity has “long been aware of the PIDCI issues, such statement. as their non-filing of taxes from 2013, 2014 and 2015 When contacted for a reaction on the ad hoc prothat led to the revocation of their tax- exempt status.” posal, lawyer for PIDCI Manuel Quintal said, “No “It was easy for the (community) to vote in favor of the Philippine Consulate handling the parade via an ad comment.”

Consul General Claro Cristobal promises a ‘thorough study’ of the ad hoc committee proposal voiced by community leader Loida Nicolas Lewis. Photos by The FilAm and Nonoy Rafael.

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Lilia and Leo Clemente:

Growing in love with music

By Bituin Aquino

“When I first met Leo in the University of the Philippines College of Business, he invited me to a Manila Symphony Orchestra concert. At that time, the only music I listened to was Elvis Presley’s popular songs. But since that night, I fell in love with Leo, and with classical music,” shared Lilia Calderon Clemente.

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er husband, Leo Clemente, is also an investment manager, and they have been married for 54 years now. Their company, Clemente Advisors, is headquartered on 57th Street and Madison Avenue, New York City.

The Clementes’ focus has always been on impact investment, and philanthropy for causes dear to their hearts, which includes classical music and children.

Indeed, Lilia and Leo Clemente are excited to lead the campaign for The Children’s Orchestra Society (COS) Million Dollar Endowment Fund, to support the Society’s programs for its 100+ students — starting with the upcoming 50th Anniversary Discovery Gala at Carnegie Hall on June 20, 2019.

During a luncheon hosted by the Children’s Orchestra Society Board chairman Loida Nicolas Lewis, COS executive director Dr. Yeou-Cheng Ma, MD welcomed the Clementes to the Society’s Benefit Committee.

“We are excited for our students, and are truly grateful that the vision of my father, Dr. Hiao Tsiun Ma, to ‘Teach children the language of music’ will be continued for a long time,” said Dr. Yeou-Cheng Ma. Just like the Clementes, the Children’s Orchestra Society was also forged with romance and love for music. Michael Dadap, Music/Artistic Director and Principal Conductor (who is a

renowned Filipino musician and Pamana ng Lahi awardee) first met Yeou-Cheng Ma in 1981, and their budding romance was sealed when he expressed his desire to form a children’s orchestra.

At that time, Dr. Ma’s father had retired from the COS and returned to Taiwan. The COS was dormant for seven years, until Yeou-Cheng and Michael finally committed themselves to rebuild the society, and renew its presence in New York. With only $2,500 as capital, they succeeded in having a concert by December 1982.

When the market fell in 2008, renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma (brother of Dr. Yeou-Cheng Ma), helped stage a private concert to raise funds for the COS and its young artists. Through ups and downs of the capital market, and with tenacity and personal sacrifice, the couple have managed to keep the Children’s Orchestra Society going and growing for the past 37 years. As alumnus Josh Chen (violist) said, “Michael and Yeou-Cheng not only taught us to love music, but they taught us how to love.”

On March 10, 2019, COS launched their alumni orchestra featuring Violist Jordan Bak during its Masterworks Concert at Good Shepherd Faith Presbyterian Church, 152 W 66th Street in New York, NY. The Masterworks Concert also featured Faculty Members Gloria Shih (Piano), Kevin Shue (Violin), D. Marc Tagle (Cello) in Amy Beach’s Piano Trio; Tim

Investment advisors Lilia and Leo Clemente (seated) to lead the campaign for the Children’s Orchestra Society Million Dollar Fund. Behind, from left, Loida Nicolas Lewis, board chair; Dr. Yeou-Cheng Ma, MD and Michael Dadap of COS. Cho (Violin), Yeou-Cheng Ma (Violin/Viola), Olivia Martinez (Viola), Grace Wu (Cello) in a U.S. Premiere of COS Founder Dr. H. T. Ma’s Scherzando, and all string players for Dvorak’s String Sextet. Alumnus Jordan Bak, Violist, performed as soloist in Bruch’s Romance for Viola & Orchestra, concluded with Mozart’s Symphony #40, with the alumni orchestra joined by key players of the Young Symphonic Ensemble.

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Manchester’s Jason Buendia debuts

at NYFW with one red gown

By Cristina DC Pastor

Catriona Gray and the jeepney.

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hey were the creative inspirations behind the red suit gown that paved the way for Manchester, U.K. design student Jason Buendia to debut at New York Fashion Week.

Considered one of this year’s young, promising designers, Jason, 20, presented just one design. Using layers, wraps, and a cape-like blazer worn loosely around the waist, Jason turned a straightforward red dress into a complex piece of clothing using three types of fabric and many layers of possibilities.

“My design is just a simple dress turned into something modern,” he explained in an interview with The FilAm. The three-piece ensemble uses soft cotton satin for the dress, pure wool for the jacket, and polyester for the skirt layering – all of them in crimson red.

“My inspiration is the jeepney,” Jason said. He explained how the dress is the body of the jeepney. The pleated skirt appears to represent the wheels. The overlays and sheets The designer and the dress: Red is a bold and powerful color. of textile appear to symbolize the tassels, the pop art, the graffiti, and the religious icons that typically adorn this mode “I would design dresses for relatives, Jason enjoying the Rockefeller Center of public transportation popular in the Philipwedding dresses or prom dresses. SomeGoFundMe campaign to raise money so he could ship pines. times dresses for high school friends using the dress to New York.

Unlike the kaleidoscopic colored jeepney, howrecycled material,” he said.

“I still can’t believe it that I got to show my ever, Jason’s dress is a consistent red.

The son of a single mother who works as a senior first-year work in New York Fashion Week,” writes He explained, “I chose red for Catriona Gray carer in a United Kingdom hospital, the Jason is a Jason on Facebook. “Thank you to everyone who (who wore a red gown when she won Miss Unifull-time student at Salford University in Manchester, helped me and who believed in me.” verse). Red empowers Filipinos, it’s bold and England. As a freshman student of fashion design, Everything happened too fast for Jason. He powerful. Red is our color this year.” one of the school’s projects is for students to land a would like to take things slowly when he goes back “Everyone loved (my dress),” he added coyly. As he was slot at New York Fashion Week. He learned later that home. For sure, he will create new designs and walking to his dress, he heard people raving about it. his design made the cut and that he was to fly to New perhaps aim for London Fashion Week.

Jason began drawing and playing with colors and York in three weeks for a ramp showcase. Thrilled “I think the bar was set too high,” he said. patterns as a young boy of 12 growing up in Baguio. but totally caught by surprise, Jason launched a THE FILAM |

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COVER STORY

CPA Nora Galleros opens

4th office and it's on Madison Ave.

By Cristina DC Pastor

She was just days into her Madison Avenue office where we agreed to meet.

I was greeted by piles of boxes, a courteous staff, and a romantic view of the St. Patrick’s Cathedral from her 23rd floor curtainless window.

“See? See? Hah?” CPA Leonora Galleros excitedly pointed to St. Pat’s gothic-style tower visible from a corner of her room. Then she got all school-girl giddy.

488 Madison Avenue is just one of four offices of Galleros Robinson audit and accountancy firm. There are three more locations across the country -- in Penn Station; in Cream Ridge, New Jersey; and in Boca Raton, Florida providing services to about 300 non-profit and corporate clients and about 700 individuals seeking tax returns. Certain government entities -- among them the City of New York and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority -- count among the 300. She has sub-contract agreements through leading accounting firms, including Deloitte and Grant Thornton.

Diligence and grit appeared to have prepared Nora for her American Dream. Actually, there was no American Dream until she came to the U.S. in 1990. She was already a manager in Gingoog City’s water district when she won a Rotary scholarship for a one-year graduate studies at Fairleigh-Dickinson University in New Jersey, with a subsequent one-year fellowship in the same university, allowing her to complete her MBA in Accounting in February 1993. Growing up to an impoverished family in

Nora and family enjoy their recent visit to Gingoog City in Northern Mindanao. She is shown here with husband Jonel Tinio and son Brian Alberto Tinio at the city’s popular Rizal Park. Jonel works at Rutgers University as an accounting manager.

Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, she remembered selling hardboiled eggs on a moving bus and running after the bus. Her mother struggled to find jobs, sold street food, and washed clothes. Her father, like some Filipino men, was steeped in ‘bisyo’ such as drinking and gambling. She is the eldest of four siblings and the first in

the Galleros clan to graduate from college. She was already a breadwinner as she was coming of age.

“My father, I love him very much. He is the most hardworking person I’ve known. He taught me work ethic,” she said in an interview with The FilAm. “My mother worked very hard taking all odd jobs.”

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A conscientious student who was always at the top of her class, she got her education through scholarships from high school to college at Christ the King in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, where she majored in Accounting, all the way through her MBA degree in New Jersey.

“All my friends were going to universities outside of the city. I was

realistic, I know my parents wouldn’t be able to send me an allowance so I stayed in Gingoog City.” She passed the CPA exams and became the first CPA graduate of Christ the King. A historic feat which saved the then start-up course from being eliminated. “They had to produce a CPA in five years or else they would close the program” she said.

||Second CPA

As a student in Fairleigh Dickinson, she worked a succession of odd jobs – tutoring, waiting tables, caregiving, etc. to support herself and her siblings through graduate school.

She dreaded letters from home reminding her of tuitions; money was always never enough. A scholarship may have got her started, but it was Faith that gave her the strength and tenacity to persevere. She took the CPA tests, all four parts, in one sitting and passed. It opened many doors.

She joined Watson Rice LLP as a staff auditor in 1993 and became partner after eight and a half years.

“I got one of the fastest promotions ever. Typically, it would take 12 years to become a partner.” At the time of her promotion, she was the youngest and the first woman partner at Watson Rice.

In late 2007, she was recruited by O’Connor Davies LLP, a much larger firm with 64 partners at that time, and joined the firm’s Government Services Division in January 2008. The commute became a drag as she would Galleros Robinson on the 23rd floor. The firm has about 300 non-profit and often meet clients at Westchester and corporate clients. The FilAm photo go home to Cream Ridge in New Jersey.

“I was leaving very early in the morning as assistant treasurer, and within a ||PIDCI and community and going home very late, and my son involvement month named treasurer, taking over was very young.” After three years, from Violeta McGough -- who allegedly Nora is now the Board Chair of she decided to form her own company. misused PIDCI funds – who resigned the National Council of Philippine Nora became Managing Partner of supposedly for health reasons.

American Canadian Accountants Galleros Koh LLP, a full-service CPA “I had no idea about these things, I (NCPACA), an umbrella organization and consulting firm. wasn’t paying too much attention,” of accountants across the U.S. and “When you’re a partner in a firm she shared. All she knew about PIDCI Toronto, Canada. She served as you’re paid very well and it comes was the annual parade which she President in 2016-2017. every 15th and 30th. You don’t have Nora was friends with fellow Gingoog always joined. What she found out to worry about it. When you’re on as a member of the board is how the City native Alice Manacay -- wife of your own you don’t know what’s out PIDCI Vice President Rely Manacay officers are “hardworking individuthere,” she described the dread of -- who invited her to join the Philippine als eager to get things done.” being on her own.

Independence Day Council, Inc. As The case against McGough is someEight years later, Galleros Koh president of a community organization, thing Nora would rather not discuss evolved into Galleros Robinson, a Gingoognons in the USA (GIUSA), because of the ongoing investigation result of strategic mergers. Her she qualified for membership. Once by the U.S. Attorney General. She company currently has seven partin, her reputation as a topnotch CPA said PIDCI continues to cooperate ners and about 40 employees and became known. She was asked to serve with the Attorney General. consultants.

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The first in the Galleros clan to graduate from college, a breadwinner as she was coming of age.

“We’re cleaning past issues,” she asserted. She was tightlipped on whether there would be charges filed, but stressed “there is an effort to get things resolved.” She sounded optimistic its tax-exempt status would be restored any time soon.

||Personal and family time

The family makes it a point go on ski trips to Shawnee, Pennsylvania once or twice a year for relaxation.

When she wants to give her brain a rest, she watches Filipino films in theaters or reads romance or thriller books by Tom Clancy and John Grisham. When she wants to keep herself current professionally, she turns to books by Darren Hardy, John Maxwell, and Grant Cordone, among others who write about success, entrepreneurship, real estate and leadership.

Now on her own, Nora is done being scared.

Filipinos in NYC:

Higher income, better educated

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ew York City’s Filipino population was the fourth largest Asian ethnic group in New York City, behind Chinese, Indians and Koreans. Relative to all residents, Filipinos in New York City were more likely to be: • working-age adults, • better educated, • proficient in English, • higher income, and • living in overcrowded housing

population. Median family income was $95,881 for Filipinos, higher than the city’s median family income of $59,285. Additionally, Filipino per capita income was $38,179 – above the per capita income of $33,078 citywide.

Staten Island 8% Bronx 7%

||Population

From 2010 to 2015, the Filipino alone or in combination population in New York City increased by 5 percent from 81,200 to 85,065 – a faster growth than the city’s overall 4 percent increase but less than the 13 percent growth of the total Asian population. The Filipino population alone population increased by 0.3 percent from 72,156 in 2010 to 72,398 in 2015.

New York City was home to 60 percent of New York State’s Filipino residents. The majority (54 percent) of Filipino New Yorkers lived in Queens. The remainder lived mostly in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The neighborhoods with the largest Filipino populations include Woodside, Elmhurst, Fresh Meadows, Jamaica Estates, and Queens Village in Queens Borough In 2015, working-age adults (age 18 to 64) were a larger share of New York City’s Filipino population, comprising 69 percent, compared with 66 percent of all city residents. Children (under 18 years of age) and seniors (age 65 or older) each constituted 18 and 13 percent of the city’s Filipino population, compared with 21 percent and 13 percent, respectively, of the citywide population in those age groups.

Queens 54%

Manhattan 17% Brooklyn 14% Figure 1: Filipino Population by Borough

||Immigration and Citizenship

About 65 percent of New York City’s Filipinos in 2015 were foreign-born, compared to 37 percent of all city residents. Filipino immigrants in New York City were less likely to be recent arrivals with only 7 percent arriving in 2010 or later, less than the city’s 10 percent rate. Of all the city’s foreign-born Filipino residents, 62 percent were naturalized citizens, greater than the city’s 53 percent of all foreign-born New Yorkers.

all adults citywide.2 Also, 3 percent of Filipino adults in New York City had less than a ninth-grade education – a third of the 10 percent rate for all adult New Yorkers. At the high end of the educational spectrum, 87 percent of Filipino adults in New York City had some sort of postsecondary education, greater than half (56 percent) of all city adults. About two thirds (65 percent) of Filipino adults in New York City had a bachelor’s degree or higher, almost double the rate of 36 percent for all city adults.

||Education

||Income

Filipinos in 2015 had more schooling than the city’s general population. Of the city’s 63,266 Filipino adults, only 5 percent had not graduated from high school, significantly lower than 20 percent of

Filipino New Yorkers had higher incomes compared to New York City residents overall for all income gauges.

The Filipino median household income was $86,935, greater than the $53,373 median for the entire city

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||Poverty

The poverty rates for Filipino residents in relation to the total New York City population were lower overall. Among all Filipinos in the city, 9.2 percent lived below the poverty line, compared with the general New York City poverty rate of 20.6 percent. One in ten (9.7 percent) of Filipino children in New York City experienced poverty, compared with 29.5 percent of all city children. Also, 8.5 percent of working-age Filipino adults and 12.3 percent of elderly Filipinos in the city lived in poverty, lower than 18.1 percent and 18.8 percent, respectively, for residents city-wide in those age groups.

||Housing

Filipino New Yorkers in 2015 had a larger average household size than households in general (2.98 people versus 2.65 people). Filipino households were slightly more likely to be overcrowded than households in general, with 11 percent of Filipino households and 9 percent of households in general having more than one occupant per room.

Filipino households had higher rates of owning homes compared to New York City households in general. Almost two-fifths (38 percent) of households owned their homes, compared with 32 percent homeowners in the city overall. – Asian American Federation For more information regarding this profile, please contact the Asian American Federation Census Information Center at (212) 344-5878 x219 or howard.shih@aafederation.org, or visit www.aafny.org/cic/.

Atty. Arvin Amatorio:

‘Nothing political’ about visa suspension

By Cristina DC Pastor

On January 18, it was announced that countries like the Philippines, the Dominican Republic, and Ethiopia are no longer eligible for the H-2A, H-2B visa programs. The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State said “overstay and human trafficking concerns” were reasons for the suspension. They noted a “four-fold increase” in H-2A visa applications from nationals of the Philippines between FY 2015-2018 and the “high H-2B overstay rate.” They also pointed to the U.S. Embassy in Manila having issued approximately 40 percent of total T-visas worldwide from 2014 to 2016. This suspension will be in effect from January 19, 2019 to January 18, 2020. The FilAm reached out to immigration lawyer Arvin Amatorio of Amatorio Law for an explanation on what all this means.

The FilAm: Attorney, please tell us what the announcement is about and how it will affect Filipinos looking to come to the U.S. Arvin Amatorio: It’s very unfortunate that this happened but looking at stats, if the stats are accurate, it’s reasonable for certain countries such as the U.S. to do that if they see that there is abuse of the process. From 2014 to 2016, 40 percent of T visas were being issued to the Philippines, that’s very alarming. It raised a red flag.

TF: Please explain why H-2B and T visas were singled out.

AA: They’re interrelated. Beneficiaries came to the U.S. on H-2B visas, then when they became out of status, they applied for T visas.

Whether the T visa (for human trafficking) was reasonable or not the fact was inabuso yung proseso.

TF: Who are these H-2B beneficiaries?

AA: There are a lot of Filipinos who come here as hotel workers; that’s a growing trend. I get a lot of inquiries from HRM (Hotel & Restaurant management) graduates who come here for on-the- job training because their schools in the Philippines have

a tie-up with U.S. hotels mostly in remote areas like West Virginia.

Some of these U.S. hotels go to countries like the Philippines to hire employees. Our kababayan are college graduates and smart.

It’s usually a three-year program.

What happens is sometimes there is no work here, or the hotel did not honor their contractual obligations, and the workers don’t want to go home. Some of them would rather file for human trafficking violations – whether it’s true or not – and convert their H-2B to T visas. In some cases, there are elements of human trafficking, especially if they were lured to come to the U.S. and promised a certain salary that was not honored.

TF: Those who are here on H-2B and T visas, are they secure?

AA: Yes, they are secure. They can continue using that visa, but moving forward, like if they need to renew…

TF: Will this affect nurses trying to come here?

AA: No, this will apply only to temporary workers and seasonal workers like the hotel workers I mentioned.

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‘The number of visas being issued to the Philippines, if accurate, is very alarming.’

If you’re a hotel worker and want to extend, one option is to find a school who will admit you and will apply for student visa for you. I don’t even advise them to use an attorney because the schools will help them.

TF: Was there really abuse as the agencies claim? Are immigration lawyers partly responsible because of their legal advice?

AA: These are common scenarios.

Lawyers, if a client comes to them asking for visa extension, they should do it within the bounds of the law. With some, they will advice clients to sue their employers to get a T visa. The attorneys that I know do not do this.

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TF: Is there a political motive behind this?

AA: It did not come from the political aisle. It’s from organic, administrative cleaning. Napansin ng immigration, then they made a recommendation to the State Department, Homeland Security came through with an announcement. We raised a red flag.

We can’t say we are being singled out as a people.

Step-by-step guide to buying a home

A Bite of the Big Apple

By Edwin Josue Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker

By Edwin Josue

With having the knowledge of the different types of NYC real estate ownership in the February issue, we are presenting the closing process or stepby-step guide involved in acquiring an apartment or a home in New York City.

1. Create a Wish List. Speak with your Halstead agent about what you desire and require of a home and neighborhood. Defining the price range, size of apartment, and building amenities will give your agent a good starting place for your search.

Flexibility in any of these areas will broaden your options.

4. Fully Disclose Your Financials. Your agent will best guide you through this process once he or she is aware of your financial situation, specifically, your down payment, liquid assets after closing, debt and overall income. This will assist them in finding the best home to fit your parameters and help you spend your time as wisely as possible.

5. Plan Your Search. Your Halstead Agent has access to all available listings in New York City transmitted by the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) as well as other listings. Ask them to send you potential listings prior to making appointments and going to open houses.

There is no need to seek the assistance of multiple agents as all members of REBNY have access to the same listings.

FEATURED PROPERTY 7 E 35th Street Apt 8G NY NY 10016 1BR/ 1.5 BTH Triplex Coop $660,000.00

2. Select a Winning Team. It is not only important to work with a Real Estate Agent whom you like and trust, but to select a full team of skilled professionals, including a New York City-based Real Estate Attorney and Mortgage Broker/Banker, who can help facilitate the process.

Purchasing in New York City is highly specialized, so it is important to work with experts who can guide you through the intricacies.

3. Consult About Financing.

Whether working with a Mortgage Broker or Financial Institution directly, one of the most important steps in the purchase process is to meet with a professional to assess your finances and determine what you can afford and whether you should finance your purchase.

Bedroom

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6. Hit the Ground Running.

The best times to view properties are weekdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Sunday, when you can cover a lot of ground by visiting open houses scheduled throughout the day.

7. Make an Offer. You’ve found it! The next step is to discuss submitting an offer through your agent. An

hinges on your ability to provide all the required financial documents to your broker/banker.

11. Complete Your Board Package. While applying for your mortgage, your Halstead Agent will assist you with completion of the Condo or Co-op board package.

Your completed package must be returned to your agent within the time specified in your contract or three days from the date a bank commitment letter is received, whichever applies.

12. Ace the Board Interview If you are purchasing a co-op, meet with your Halstead Agent beforehand to prepare. The Board’s decision is customarily made known within 72 hours; however, some Boards may take longer. Upon board approval, notify your attorney who in turn will coordinate the closing date. This can take up to two weeks to schedule.

13. Inspect the Premises. The day before or the morning of the closing, your Agent will accompany you to inspect the property. Make certain to check appliances, plumbing, and personal property has been removed and that the premises are in broom swept condition.

Living room offer includes your preferences such as price, closing date and included/ excluded personal property (light fixtures, etc.), as well as your qualifications as a buyer (i.e, current income, job description, net worth and debt status).

8. Due Diligence. Once the seller accepts your offer, the seller’s attorney supplies your attorney with a Contract of Sale. In addition to the review of the language of the contract, your attorney will review the necessary/pertinent Condo/ Co-op documents such as the Offering Plan, Building Financials, and Board Meeting Minutes. For a Townhouse, your attorney will review city documents.

9. Sign a Contract. Upon satisfactory due diligence, you should be ready to sign your contract. Unlike most states, in New York no monies are due until you are ready to sign, when a 10 percent earnest deposit is

14. Close the Deal. Within a few days of your closing date, your attorney will advise you on what certified monies to bring to the closing. Also be sure to bring your driver’s license or passport, and a checkbook.

Congratulations You’re a homeowner!

View from balcony usually due and held in escrow until closing. It is very important to note that until both parties sign a contract and it is delivered to the seller or seller’s attorney, a seller can accept another purchaser’s offer.

THE FILAM |

10. Apply for a Mortgage. Upon signing your contract, immediately contact your mortgage broker/ banker to help move the process along quickly. The loan process may take up to 45 days to complete and

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Edwin Josue is a Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker at Halstead Manhattan, LLC located at 499 Park Avenue, 14th Fl., NY, NY 10022.

He can be reached at O: 212-381-3304 C: 917-560-6874 or at ejosue@halstead.com. www.halstead.com

Jersey resident shares distressing experience vs little-known traffic law

T

By Cristina DC Pastor

his happened two years ago.

It was the start of a snowstorm on January 31 and New Jersey resident Vivian Talambiras Cruz was driving cautiously along Route 10 in East Hanover to her home in West Orange which is two towns away.

From her location, she spotted a police car with blinking lights parked on the right side of the road.

Carefully she slowed down as she passed the police vehicle. Within minutes she saw the same police car trailing her. She drove further along thinking it was following another car.

To her surprise, the same police car appeared to be on her trail. Vivian, getting a bad vibe, pulled over.

“Is there a problem, officer?” she asked, wondering what traffic violation she may have committed.

It’s called the Move Over Law and, according to the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety website, it requires drivers to “reduce their speed and change lanes when approaching authorized vehicles displaying emergency lights. Such vehicles include police, fire and medical services vehicles, and also highway maintenance, tow trucks and official motorist aid vehicles displaying amber emergency lights.

Where possible, drivers are required to move over to create an empty lane next to the emergency vehicle. When safely changing lanes is not possible, drivers must slow down below the posted speed limit prior to passing emergency vehicles. Drivers should also be prepared to stop, if necessary.”

Until that incident, Vivian had not heard of the MOL, which was passed in 2009 to protect roadside emergency workers. Neither have some of her friends, co-workers and neighbors. She did not change lanes when passing, but out of consideration for the police officer whom she did not want to spatter with accumulating

New Jersey is the 44th state to pass a Move Over Law, according to the state’s Department of Law & Public safety. Photo: CommonsWikimedia.org cated on this traffic rule.

What she found “disturbing and confusing” was that the police officer who gave her a ticket admonished her not to go to court. Baffled, she went to the police station to clarify. She was told everything was up to the court and, to her astonishment, she already had an appointment to appear before a judge Vivian Talambiras Cruz, a community organizer of the A week later, she stood Simbang Gabi and Homecoming sa Konsulado, with before a courtroom withgranddaughter Adeline Rose in her West Orange home. out a lawyer. Everyone snow on the side of the road, Vivian had legal representation. slowed down.

When the prosecutor saw her clean Within the next couple of days, she record, he decided against penalizing was frantically talking to lawyers and her by not assigning points to her went online to research and get edulicense. Most moving violations are THE FILAM |

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equivalent to 2 to 4 points. Twelve or more points can result in a suspended license revocable only when one pays a fine or returns to driving class again.

The prosecutor asked her to pay $250 plus court fees. The penalty – ranging from $100 to $500 — was affirmed by the presiding judge.

In the end, Vivian paid a total of $339. Some of her friends urged her to contest the judgment. She just wanted to get it over and put this incident behind her. Had she gotten a lawyer, she believed she would have paid more!

“Just glad I didn’t get any points to my license,” said Vivian, who is sharing her story so others will know about the Move Over Law and not take it for granted.

||March 15,

Calendar

of Events

||May 17,

8 p.m.

7 p.m.

Parokya Ni Edgar - "Todo Tambay Tour" - Live in New York!

Melrose Ballroom 36-08 33rd St, Long Island City 11106

Vice Ganda: Ang Fantastic Concert ng Vaklang Twoooh Newark Symphony Hall 1020 Broad Street, Newark NJ

||June 12,

||March 15

7:30 p.m.

Selected Shorts: A Celebration of James Baldwin Symphony Space 2537 Broadway

Women of Color Political Conference Brooklyn College 2900 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn

||March 18

||July 28

||March 30

||August 30 – September 2

Central Park Triathlon Central Park Lasker Pool NYC

Womxn in Asian America Asian Arts Initiative 1219 Vine St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107

PACCAL's Women's History Month Celebration 380 Monmouth St, Jersey City

||April 5 to April 7

National Summit for Human Rights & Democracy in the Philippines Washington, District of Columbia

||April 14, 6 p.m.

Gary V Live in New York The Town Hall 123 W 43rd St, NYC

||April 24

Fighting Anti-Asian Discrimination in the 19th Century: A Tour Asian/Pacific/American Institute at NYU 8 Washington Mews, New York, New York 10003

||April 26,

||May 13,

Organizing 2.0 Annual Training Event The Murphy Institute, CUNY SLU 25 W 43rd St, Fl 19th

Lea Salonga in The Human Heart Tour Sony Hall 235 West 46th St.

9 a.m.

7:30 p.m.

20th Grand Reunion and Convention, University of the Philippines Alumni Association in America, Inc. Crowne Plaza Hotel at San Francisco Airport, Burlingame, California

||September 8

||April 27,

2019 Outstanding Foreign Workers Awards Night Astoria World Manor 25-22 Astoria Blvd. Queens

7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

PNA New York Spring Conference: Reimagine and Transcend the Culture of Nursing NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital 301 East 17th Street, Manhattan, NYC

||September 21

9th Annual All About Downtown Jersey City Street Fair Grove PATH Plaza 319 Grove St, Jersey City

||May 5,

||2020, July 1

8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Filipino American National Historical Society Metro NY Chapter National Conference Waikiki Marriott Beach Resort & Spa

Rooftop Penthouse Spring Fling Party 230 5th Ave. Penthouse, 20th fl.

THE FILAM |

13

LET US TAKE CARE OF YOUR LOVED ONES IN THE COMFORT OF THEIR HOMES

Go on a travel-spree this 2019 with PAL’s 78th Anniversary Sale.

Book as many flights as your heart desires with our great deals to Manila and other international destinations!

Selling Period: March 1 - 17, 2019. Travel Period to the PH: March 16 - December 12, 2019.

To Beyond Destinations: US - 07Jan-20May19, 16Aug-30Nov19, 30-31Dec19. Hanoi & Phom Penh for travel on/after 31Mar19; Delhi for travel on/after 16Apr19.

PHILIPPINEAIRLINES.COM |

flyPAL

At N.Y. Fashion Week, 4 Pinays bond over their love of makeup

By Cristina DC Pastor

AOFM’s Michelle Webb with makeup artists Jessy Daing (left) and Michelle Estrada: ‘An honor.’ Photos by Joan de la Cruz

A bag of Doritos sat on top of Jessy Daing’s holy mess of brushes, foundation palettes, tubs and bottles of eye and concealer makeup. It was another early day at New York Fashion Week, and this makeup artist began work at 8 a.m. wrapping up five hours later to go to another location to do more makeup.

“Sobra! I haven’t had lunch, have some,” she offered me some chips.

A friend of Jessy’s grabbed the bag and passed it around. Pretty soon other makeup artists were digging into her bag of snacks, their lifeline to another stretch of four to five hours as they headed out to nearby Pier59 Studios.

Everyone in this Hell’s Kitchen studio of about two dozen makeup artists appeared upbeat, exhilarated although clearly exhausted. No one was heard complaining of the long hours standing and more hours of waiting. Some were huddled into small groups while others packed their makeup paraphernalia into

THE FILAM |

rolling luggage ready for the next batch of models.

Jessy was one of four Filipinas in this tribe of face painters. With Michelle Estrada, Chary Escuadro, and Paula Alday, they form this indefatigable quartet of enterprising Filipinas who work their day jobs and do freelance makeup on the

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side. Jessy is a Real Estate Information Manager at Goldman Sachs, Michelle works in health care in New Jersey, Chary is an ER nurse in California, and Paula is also in the medical field.

“Makeup is not just a job, it’s a passion,” said Jessy, who is a single mom to a 7-year-old son. “Since I love painting, a face is like a blank canvas for me.”

Michelle Estrada came to NYFW through the Academy of Freelance Makeup (AOFM), a school in London that trains makeup artists and books their apprenticeships. “I’ve been doing NYFW for four years now,” she said. “When I found out I was going to do NYFW I was so excited. I just graduated school and the next day they told me. I just ended up going to every show.”

Michelle holds the title of assistant lead makeup artist to industry legend Michelle Webb of AOFM. “It’s nice that Filipinos are represented but we are actually a diverse community. We celebrate each and every makeup artist of every race, of every community and sexual orientation.”

Paula does more than just makeup; she also cuts and colors hair.

Chary, an emergency room nurse from Fremont, California, has been doing freelance make up for three years. She has done three seasons for Fashion Week, and, like Michelle Estrada, entered through the makeup academy. “I’ve always been a creative artist and I find creative release in drawing, painting and makeup,” she said.

The four of them met at NYFW and, “we just bonded over our love of makeup,” said Chary.

One of the long-time teachers at AOFM is Michelle Webb, who has done makeup for royalty and celebrities and is known widely in the fashion world. She spoke briefly to The

FilAm in between inspecting the work of her artists making sure the quality is ‘NYFW level.’ She recalled working as a makeup artist for a film production in Mactan, Cebu years ago. She came to know from living in the province how Filipino makeup artists could take risks while being artsy and original.

“It was one of the best times of my life, working with talented Filipino makeup artists,” she said.

The four Filipinas consider it an “honor” to be working with the world-famous fashion event.

Building an artists’ portfolio that shows their unique styles is just a natural and happy consequence.

“About 60 percent of the makeup artists flew all over the world just to join NYFW. It’s really an honor to be part of it,” declared Jessy, with Chary adding, “Not everyone can say they’ve done NY Fashion Week.”

Chary Escuadro

Paula Alday

THE FILAM |

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Miss Universe Catriona Gray:

A woman of very many talents

By Lindy Rosales

What is your typical day in New York?

CG: It really depends. Now I’m going into New York Fashion Week, so it can consist of fittings, shows, going to events or meetings or even packing to go somewhere else. Being a Miss Universe you do have to be flexible and be on your feet 24/7.

For little girls growing up in such a stigmatized society like Tondo, what is your message to them?

CG: Tell people or tell your parents what your dreams are, if you find that they will support you. That is such a big thing. And if not, you will find it along the way, people who will believe in you.

A New York snapshot. Instagram photo

With Consul General Claro Cristobal during a meet-and-greet with the community.

Photos by Boyet Loverita

O

ne balmy afternoon around the tail end of the polar vortex, Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray came to the Philippine Consulate for a meet-and-greet with the community.

“Hello po, magandang hapon,” she greeted everyone, this tall beauty with the grace of royalty. She was wearing white pencil pants matched with Filipiniana top, ruffled and embroidered. She was – if words could adequately describe —

resplendent, beautiful, charming and charismatic. Consul General Claro Cristobal introduced her as a “woman of very many talents.”

Indeed, for those who are not aware, Gray has a black belt in taekwondo and a Master’s Certificate in Music Theory from Berklee College of Music in Boston. She is a budding singer, and has recorded her first single to benefit charity organizations in the Philippines. She has a combined social media following of at least 5 million.

THE FILAM |

“Thank you everyone for being here today. I feel like I’ve taken a step back home to the Philippines seeing you all.

I am a little bit homesick. It’s been a wonderful two months.”

With contagious enthusiasm, she fielded questions from the media.

You came fresh from the Superbowl. Could you share that experience with us?

CG: It was wonderful. It was my first taste of American sports, let alone the Superbowl, which is a huge deal here in the States. I actually was very surprised going into the NFL Honors and seeing how they not only focused on the players’ achievements but how they contributed back to their community. So, I came out of that event feeling very inspired.

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On HIV awareness as one of her priorities.

CG: Being a volunteer at Love Yourself Philippines, talking to volunteers and also having friends who have their own experiences, there is an incredible amount of fear around HIV/AIDS. We’ve stigmatized it so much, there’s so much fear attached to it. We have a lot of young people (or people of all ages) who are scared to get tested, scared to ask questions of a medical professional. Because of that fear, lots of people aren’t getting tested.

As a Miss Universe that’s the one thing that I want to address.

How do you want to be remembered during your reign?

CG: I want to be remembered as a Miss Universe who really had advocacy at her core, cause that’s really who I’ve been for the last three years. I want to be remembered for the work that I did for the charities. And if I can be successful in raising a certain amount of money or impacting a certain group of people in such a

way, then I’ll look back on my year and say that I did a good job.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

CG: I would love to have my own business, but with a livelihood program. I’ve really just had this love developed for our Filipino textiles as I’m wearing some today.

I would love to be able to have a career in music, perhaps my own album that I’ve toured or be able to perform, and would have people sing back to me my own song. That would be fantastic.

I’m just curious about the training.

CG: I can’t say that it’s really the training that makes the girl, because you work with what you have. And I really feel like the girl is a big part of that. You could have my exact same team…you could have the best training in the world but if you don’t have that drive, you will never get to that stage.

Has your perspective in life changed when you became Miss Universe?

CG: Definitely. I really make such an effort every step of the way to remain humble through it all because with this great success I always remember what I went through to get here.

You are from Bicol. What is your impression of Bicol?

CG: I’ve been there only a handful of times po. I went there for the initial time with my mother. That was very sentimental for me. We drove by her primary school and the church where my lola used to bring them. I never had the opportunity to meet my grandparents on my mother’s side. I love the food.

Gray was slated to have a grand parade in Makati on February 21 and a gathering with fans on February 23 at the Araneta Coliseum.

‘Thank you for being a part of this journey.’

Live in HOUSEKEEPER and BABY NANNY needed Manhattan

Start date: May 1

Time schedule

Responsibilities • Evening baby-sitting (from 8pm - midnight) • Weekend day-time nanny - waking up with baby, playing, feeding, putting to naps, taking for walks • Housekeeping - laundry, cleaning, dish washer, etc.

• Small pet support (walking, ..)

Budget: $600 a week

• Saturday, and Sunday - full day work • Monday day off • Tuesday - Friday - few hours during the day for housekeeping, and evenings from 8pm - midnight for baby sitting Travel - with family will be required.

Experience: minimum 5-year experience.

Reference to previous families working with you will be required.

Speaking English

Please apply to Victoria at VictoriaLookingForHouseKeeper@gmail.com THE FILAM |

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Photo by Boyet Loverita

Issue 13, March 2019

Filipinos in NYC:

The ban on H2 work visas explained

Higher income, better educated Catriona Gray: Miss Universe with many talents