JFAV UPDATES
August 29, 2013

5th Annual PH National Heroes Day, A Resounding Success.

Los Angeles—“ We Honored our heroes, Ikinarangal at Dinakila Namin Sila.”

The 5th Philippine National Heroes Day dubbed as the “ Gabi ng Tula, Awit at Sayaw “ held last Wednesday, August 28, 2013 from 5;00 PM to 11:00 PM in the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) was resounding success.

According to JFAV National Coordinator Arturo P. Garcia, “ JFAV and FACLA has been commemorating this event to memorialize our heroes .

Most especially our beloved World War II Veterans who until now are not recognized as American Veterans and their widows who also “stood and waited “ for their soldiers and benefits denied to them until today.” Garcia said.

Guest Speakers and Performers

Ms. Jovy Alejandrino, President of S4PACE also said: “The fifth year of the project that seeks to revive Filipino patriotism and love of country while honoring the brave men and women of Filipino heroes including those of descent and ancestry in the United States attained its goal.”

JFAV guest were Angelo Yenko, Field Rep. of City Councilman Mitch O’ Farrel, District 13. He presented certificates of appreciation to the event host. Ninoy Aquino Movement Founder and known Fil-Am lawyer Atty. Roman Mosqueda was also a special guest,

The public were regaled by an array of Filipino songs, music and dances. Local performers sung, Patriotic and Tagalog, Kapampangan and Visayan love songs.

Some of the performers who sung were Atty. Roman Mosqueda, Rudy Ferran, Austin Baul, Arturo P. Garcia, Rosalinda Nery. Fender Santos, Phil Del Rosario and the Harana Group of Ms. Bernie Ganon.

Ms. Philippines-America-USA Candidates Presented

S4PACE President and poetess Jovy Alejandrino recited poems and the Silverlake Adult Health Care Center performed dances at the party.

Three candidates for Miss Philippines- America-US 2014 were presented by Miss Philippines –America pageant director Baby Batacan . They were serenaded by the singers and danced with the crowd during their presentations.

The music was provided by the Buddy Reyes and Letty Reyes and their Band. After the program the dance party went on until 11;00 in the evening.

For more information please call (213) 484-1527 or email at [email protected] also visit our website at wwww.newfacla.org

****

JFAV UPDATES
August 25, 2013

5th PNHD “ Gabi ng Tula, Awit at Sayaw “at FACLA on August 28.

Los Angeles—“ Honor our heroes, Ikarangal at Dakilain sila.”

The Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) and S4PACE in collaboration with FACLA presents: the 5th annual Philippine National Heroes Day named“ Gabi ng Tula, Awit at Sayaw “ to be held on August 28, 2013 from 5;00 PM to 11:00 PM

According to JFAV National Coordinator Arturo P. Garcia, “The public is cordially invited to this commemorative program in honor of the 5th Filipina/o and FilAm heroes and Dance Party will be held at at the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles ( FACLA) Social Hall at 1740 W. Temple St. Los Angeles,C A 90026

JFAV has been commemorating this event to memorialize our heroes most especially our believed World War II Veterans who until now are not recognized as American Veterans and their widows who also “stood and waited “ for their soldiers and benefits denied to them until today.” Garcia said.

5th Year of the PH National Heroes Day

Ms. Jovy Alejandrino, President of S4PACE also said: “This will be the fifth year of the project that seeks to revive Filipino patriotism and love of country while honoring the brave men and women of Filipino heroes including those of descent and ancestry in the United States”.

JFAV confirmed guest speakers were Ms. Stephanie Wong, Field Rep for Asm. Jimmy Gomes (D) of the 51st District that included the Historic Filipinotown and Angelo Yenko, Field Rep. of City Councilman Mitch O’ Farrel, District 13.

The public will be treated to an array of Filipino songs, music and dances. JFAV and FACLA invite performers to sing, recite poems and dance at the the FACLA Dance party.

The music will be provided by the Buddy Reyes and Letty Reyes and their Band.

The suggested donation at the door” is $ 5.00. After the program the dance party will go on until 11;00 in the evening.

FACLA is calling out people and organizations who are interested to perform Filipino or any regional music like Ilokano, Waray, Ilongo or Cebuano songs and dances please call FACLA at (213)-484=1527 or JFAV at (213)241-0995 for reservations in the program.

The deadline for reservations for performances for the night will be on August 26, Monday at 6:00 PM

For more information please call (213)241-0995 or email at [email protected] or [email protected]

****

USAP Coalition
Press Release 06
Aug. 23, 2013

USAP Coalition Launches US-Wide Mass Actions, Aug. 23-25.

LOS ANGELES—In an act of solidarity with the Filipinos’ public upheaval against Philippine government’s corruption leading to the “Million March to Luneta” on August 26, Filipino-Americans and their allies resolve to organize parallel protest from Aug. 23-25 in key cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Honalulu and Washington DC in the US .

The newly formed United States Action Against PDAF (USAP) Coalition organizers demand among other things an immediate scrapping of the “pork barrel” or the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), which as asserted by the Commission on Audit (COA), has been a great source of corruption and pillaging of the people’s taxes.

US Mass Actions vs PDAF, Aug 23-25.

The United States Action Against PDAF (USAP) will hold candle light vigil to show support and indignation on August 25, 5 p.m. at the Philippine Consulate General, 3600 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, August 25 in New York , and August 23 in San Francisco. Washington DC and Honolulu will follow suit..

Alliance Philippines declared: “Enough with politicians pocketing people’s taxes while the rest of the country are suffering from the devastation of the floods,” said Art Garcia, LA community leader and seniors’ advocate.

The veterans, widows, and health professionals will follow with rally and delegation to the Philippine Consulate at 447 Sutter Street in downtown San Francisco on Friday, August 23.

“We are sending the message to President Aquino that if he wants to clean the government, he should himself initiate scrapping the “pork barrel,” said Regalado Baldonado, WW II veteran and Commissioner of San Francisco for Veterans Affairs.

Baldonado adds, “It hurts us to see our countrymen and our families suffer because they have been deprived of services and projects that could have been delivered had politicians not chose to profit from the pork barrel.” “Enough!”

ABOLISH THE PORK!

Other groups will rally and send delegation to DC, Honolulu, and New York. USAP will deliver demand letter that includes:

1.The abolition of the pork barrel system in the euphemism of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), the source of graft and corruption in the government used for political patronage and not for the benefit of the people,
2. The transfer of abolished PDAF to government budget for basic services like education, roads, health, and reforestation, but not debt servicing.
3. Punishing all grafters in the governments and those who were found guilty of malversation of public funds and ostentatious living out of PDAF.
4. Sequestration of all properties of corrupt officials and grafters like Janet Napoles.
5. Calling on President Aquino to divest himself of his own PDAF and set a good example.

JOIN THE AUG 25 RALLY/VIGIL/ WEAR WHITE!

MAKIBAKA, HUWAG MAGPABABOY!

***

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
You are invited on August 28,2013 at FACLA at 6 pm to 11 pm.

Press Release
August 15, 2013

FACLA OFFERS FREE TUTORIAl AND MENTORING AFTER SCHOOL CLASSES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Los Angeles—The Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) announced today that it is offering a FREE tutorial and mentoring after school classes for Filipino-American High School students in Central Los Angeles starting next week, August 19.

FACLA Director Dr. Marc Caratao announced the start of these tutorial and mentoring classes on Mathematics and Science subjects for high school students. The classes will be held on Fridays afternoon from 3-5 PM. The Classes will be held at FACLA Social Hall.

FACLA’s Public Service

FACLA announced that Math and Science subjects for high school students will be taught or mentored for the duration of the school year . This is a public service feature of FACLA for the Filipino-American youth in the community.

Dr. Marc Caratao, a graduate of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) will handle the tutorial classes at FACLA.
Enrollment is now going on. If you are a parent and interested to enroll your children and to those high school student s who need tutorials on these subjects please enroll at FACLA

Please contact Clarita Julian , FACLA Manager at (213) 484-1527 or Dr. Marc Caratao at (213)280-1041.

***

FACLA BULLETIN
August 12, 2013

VITUG CASE, A LANDMARK VICTORY FOR GAYS IN THE UNITED STATES

By Arturo P. Garcia

Los Angeles—“ This is a landmark case that involved, for the first time, a Filipino Gay that can be used as precedent for gay immigrants to gain reprieve from deportation on the grounds that they would be persecuted for their sexual orientation if sent back to their home country”

This was the statement of Atty. Brad W.Selling , a partner at Manatt, Phelps and Phillips,LLP that handled the case of Dennis Vitug when he was interviewed by TRIBUNE –USA at their office at 11355 W. Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles yesterday, August 12, 2013.

The landmark Vitug Case is about a Filipino gay man who is also an HIV AIDS victim whose case was unanimously overturned by US 9th Court of Appeals of Northern California last July 24, 2013.

The three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously overturned a decision by the Board of Immigration Appeals to deport Dennis Vitug, 37, a Southern Californian who was ordered removed after being sentenced to prison for drug possession.

The 9th Court of Appeals Decision

According to the CA Decision, “No reasonable fact finder could conclude that the harm Vitug suffered did not rise to the level of persecution,” wrote Judge Harry Pregerson, who was appointed by formerPresident Jimmy Carter . He was joined in the ruling by Judges William A. Fletcher, a Bill Clinton appointee, and Jacqueline H. Nguyen, an Obama appointee.

Vitug moved to the United States in 1999 and overstayed his tourist visa, the court said. He worked as an assistant designer for a Sherman Oaks hotel and as a shipping clerk and studied fashion design.
In 2001, he became addicted to crystal methamphetamine Although he obtained drug counseling, he repeatedly relapsed and was arrested several times. After being diagnosed with HIV in 2005, Vitug relapsed again and was sentenced to a year in state prison, the court said.

According to Selling, “ The Department of Homeland Security tried to deport him, but an immigration judge said Vitug would probably be persecuted and tortured if returned to the Philippines.
The department appealed that decision to the immigration board, which said Vitug had failed to prove that he would be in danger if returned to the Philippines or that the government there would be unwilling to protect him.”

Vitug’s 5 ½ years Case

Selling narrated to the TRIBUNE-USA . “ This led to the law firm to appeal the case to the 9th circuit. It took another two years for the Appeals Court to decide on the case.”
He also commended Vitug for ably representing and depending himself in the immigration court. Adding, “ Although it took him and us more than five years, in the end what is important is he is now free.”

The TRIBUNE-USA also learned that the 9th Circuit agreed that Vitug had not proved he would face torture, but said he had presented sufficient evidence to show he would suffer discrimination if returned to his homeland.

The panel said there was established law that bars deportation of gay immigrants on the grounds that they would be persecuted for their sexual orientation. The immigration appeals board failed to show “there is any less violence against gay men or that police have become more responsive to reports of antigay hate crimes” in the Philippines since Vitug relocated, the panel concluded.

Selling, Vitug’s lawyer, said his client “ has been out of detention for the immigration jail since 2008 and may stay in the United States and work but still needs to find “a basis” for changing his immigration status. ”

***