EPCC NEWS
April 01, 2015

3rd PH (117th ) INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS/HISTORIC FILIPINOTOWN PARADE ON JUNE 6, 2015

Los Angeles– The 3rd PH Independence Day Celebrations Organizing Committee was organized and ready for the 3rd (117th) PH Independence Day Parade in Historic Filipinotown.

The 3rd HFT Celebrations Organizing Committee is comprised of the Ms. FILAM International who is responsible for the LAKAMBINI NG KALAYAAN Contest, the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) the newly formed national organization, Pilipino American Kultural Society in Action (PAKSA), the Pilipino Institute For Language Arts and Culture (PILAC) and the Philippine Consulate General of Los Angeles as the initial organizing committee member organizations.

It was named celebrations because it will not be only responsible for the parade in the Historic Filipinotown on Saturday, June 6, 2015 on the 3rd time but because it will be more comprehensive and will cover the whole gamut of the celebrations of the 117t7h Philippine Independence Day, June 12, 2015

Activities Set for June 5 and 6, 2015

This time the 117th Philippine Independence Day Celebrations has grown bigger and better and will have four major features:

1) The LAKAMBINI NG KALAYAAN 2015 Contest that will be held on June 5 at the Castaway Restaurant in Burbank. The winner of the said contest will be the LAKAMBINI NG KALAYAAN Muse for the 3rdHistoric Filipinotown Parade on the next morning, Saturday, June 06, 2105.

2) The 3rd HISTORIC FILIPINOTOWN PH INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE to be held on Saturday, June 06, 2015 from 9;00 AM to 0 11;30 AM The parade will go around the Historic Filipinotown Temple and Beverly Corridor.

3)The HISTORIC FILIPINOTOWN INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION AND FAIR to be held after the parade on the grounds of the Silver Lake Medical Center (SLMC) on June 6 from 12;00 to 4;00PM. It will feature the public coronation of the LAKAMBINI NG KALAYAAN Beauties, a free public variety shows and fair for private and non-profit organizations.

4) The 20th Anniversary of the Filipino-American Mural in Unidad Park at Beverly St. There will be a Youth Festival sponsored by the Los Angeles Land Trust (LANT) and the District 13 Office of Councilman Mithc O’ Farrell.

The Filipino-American Mural is the largest mural of the Filipino American community in the United States. It was called “ Gintong Kasaysayan, Gintong Pamana.’

For more information please call Al Garcia at(213)241-0995 or (323)253-1818 or email us [email protected] or visit our website at newfacla.org

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JFAV UPDATES
MArch 31, 2015

BATAAN DIARY, 1942

The Japanese General in Command for the invasion and occupation of the Philippines, General Masahuru Homma,a graduate of Brtain Sandhust Military Academy in Britain, called for reinforcements from Japan. The reinforcement is to strengthen his forces who laid siege on Bataan peninsula.

From January to March 1942, his campaign to break the more than 90,000 Filipino and US troops of USAFFE failed. Despite his attempts to break the Bataan defense from the sea in the Battle of the Pockets and his attacks on the Main Line of Resistance (MLR), Bataan held on.

By the last week of March, element of the Kwantung Army, battle hardened Japanese Army veterans from China has arrived to bolster the now more 50,000 Japanese forces in the Philippines and are ready for the final battle for Bataan. Homma planned the attack to commence on April 4, 1942, the Holy Friday of 1942 in the Philippines.

The final battle for Bataan is about to begin.

EPCC NEWS
March 31, 2015

PABASA AT FACLA ON APRIL 2 and 3 FOR THE HOLY WEEK 2015

Los Angeles- The Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) and the Pilipino American Kultural Society in Action (PAKSA) will hold a two-day PABASA or choral reading by singing of the PASYONG MAHAL NG PANGINOON HESUKRISTO, a tradition during the Holy Week in the Philippines

The PABASA will be held on Holy Thursday, April 2 and Holy Friday, April 3, 2015 in the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) Social Hall.

The PABASA will begin on Maudy Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 12:00 Noon and ends at 3:00 PM on Holy Friday, April 3, 2015.

Marathon Reading by singing the Holy Book in Tagalog

It will be a marathon 36 hours of singing the PASYON in the tradition of the PABASA or Holy reading singing in Tagalog.

The PASYON was introduced in the Philippines during the Spanish times in a way to introduce Catholicism to Filipinos by the Catholic Church.

Since then it has been a tradition during the celebrations of the Holy Week in the Philippines until today. FACLA started the event last year with the PABASA during the Holy Week of 2014. More than 40 people joined the PABASA for the two days.

We call on everybody to join the event, bring food and drinks especially the Filipino_American youth to join and try this Filipino tradition by joining the Holy Week PABASA in FACLA.

Those who are interested to join the PABASA can come during the two days of the PABASA and enlist by calling Clarita or Cording at the FACLA office (213)484-1527 or Al of PCORE at (213)241-0995 or Sid of PAKSA at (213)399-5042.

You can also visit our website at newfacla.org or by email at [email protected]/[email protected]

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EPCC NEWS
March 30, 2015

FACLA CELEBRATES 70th ANNIVERSARY WITH A 2-DAY PARTIES

Los Angeles—Mabuhay ang FACLA!

The oldest and still existing non-profit organization representing the Filipinos in the United States, the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) will be celebrating its Platinum or 70th founding anniversary on April 26, 2015.

This was announced by the President of the Board of Directors Austin Baul Jr . FACLA will celebrate its founding anniversary with a two-day party on April 25, 2015 from 12:00 Noon to 5;00 PM as a tribute for all members.

The formal dinner and party will be held on Sunday, April 26, 2015 from 6;00 PM at the FACLA Social Hall.. Government and private personalities have been invited to grace the occasion on April 26, 2015 at FACLA’s 70th Anniversary.

FACLA’s Platinum Anniversary

Baul also said, “The two day party is headed by the Anniversary Committee headed by FACLA Director Susan Oca and Treasurer Linda Nery. Other members of the Committee were Letty Reyes, FACLA 3rd Vice President and Bernie Ganon”

FACLA was organized 70 years ago by four farm workers namely Petra Hernandez, Alex Velasco, BG Aquino and one other on April 26, 1945. Subsequently in 1965, the FACLA building was constructed where it stood now.

FACLA will also hold its special membership meeting on April 26, 2015 at 10:00 AM to elect the COMELEC Commissioners on the forthcoming FACLA elections on November 2015.

For more information please call FACLA at (213) 484-1527 or visit our website at newfacla.org

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EPCC NEWS
March 28, 2015

PABASA AT FACLA ON APRIL 2 and 3 FOR THE HOLY WEEK 2015

Los Angeles- The Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) and the Pilipino American Kultural Society in Action (PAKSA) will hold a two-day PABASA or Choral Reading of the PASYONG MAHAL NG PANGINOON HESUKRISTO, a tradition during the Holy Week in the Philippines

The PABASA will be held on Holy Thursday, April 2 and Holy Friday, April 3, 2015 in the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) Social Hall.

The PABASA will begin on Maudy Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 12:00 Noon and ends at 3:00 PM on Holy Friday, April 3, 2015.

MARATHON READING BY SINGING

It will be a marathon 36 hours of singing the PASYON in the tradition of the PABASA or Holy reading singing in Tagalog. It was introduced in the Philippines during the Spanish times in a way to introduce Catholicism to Filipinos by the Catholic Church.

Since then it has been a tradition during the celebrations of the Holy Week in the Philippines until today. FACLA started the event last year with the PABASA during the Holy Week of 2014. More than 40 people joined the PABASA for the two days.

We call on everybody to join the event, bring food and drinks especially the Filipino_American youth to join and try this Filipino tradition by joining the Holy Week PABASA in FACLA.

Those who are interested to join the PABASA can come during the two days of the PABASA and enlist by calling the FACLA office (213)484-1527 or Al of PAKSA at (213)395042

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ALLIANCE NEWS
March 27, 2015

PRESENTATION FROM THE ALLIANCE-PHILIPPINES;

WAR OR PEACE IN MINDANAO, 2015

BACKGROUND;

For more than 500 years the Filiipino Moro’s enjoyed independecnce from foreign invaders. They enjoyed their own economic system, religion and culture and fought the Spanish colonialist for more than 300 years, The Spanish colonialist failed to conquer Mindanao and only gained foothold in the periphery.

But the American imperialist, when they conquered the Philippines from 1898-1916 was able to control Mindanao by the use of arms and diplomacy. By concluding treaties and using the divide and ruie tactics, they were able to colonize Mindanao..

Using Christian settlers by the 1920’s they were able to penetrate the island and using the Christian enclaves became economically dominant. Landgrabbing, massacres and national oppression became prevalent from this times.

When the American gave the Philippine nominal independence in 1946 , they continued to use the government to expand in the islands and continue the Christian Chauvinist and divide and rule tactics to control the islands.

TIME LINE

1968—The Mindanao Independence Movement (MIM) was formed in Mindanao as an off-shoot of the Jabidah Massacre in Corregidor Island of 68 Muslim Trainees of the AFP.

1969. With the formation of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), organization and formation of the New People’s Army (NPA) started in Mindanao among the Christian and Lumads.

1972- The Moro National liberation Front (MNLF) was formed and fought the Marcos Dictatorship when martial law was declared on September 21, 1972. MNLF was recognized the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC)
NPA guerilla units and guerilla fronts started to grow despite hostilities from some MNLF and Muslim forces in Mindanao mostly among Lumads and Christian areas.

1976. Tripoli Agreement was signed in Libya. MNLF entered a ceasefire with the Marcos government. Marcos promised an Autonomous Government (AG) but used the ceasefire and the AG to bribe MNLF commanders to surrender.

1978- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was formed under Hashim Salamat opposed to the Tripoli Agreement of 1976 and continued the armed struggle, Had a tactical alliance with the CPP.

1981-the NPA guerilla fronts in Mindanao grew by leaps and bounds and have attracted more 2/3 of the AFP forces nationwide. They were at par with the MILF forces while the MNLF grew weaker and was based outside Mindanao.

1986-When Marcos was deposed and the new Aquino Government was installed the Aquino government has a ceasefire and peace negotiations with the MNLF and the MILF. The Cory Aquino government recognized the MNLF and let Misuari returned to Mindanao.

1996- The MNLF surrendered to the Ramos Government and Misuari became the Governor of ARMM and the President Southern Philippines Community Development (SPCD). The MNLF armed forces integrated with the AFP.

1996-2000- The MILF became the sole Moro Resistance Force in Mindanao with the surrender of the MNLF. Other MNLF forces were formed outside of the Misuari faction. MILF in tactical alliance with the NPA.

2000–President Estrada launched an all-out war against the MILF bases in Mindanao.

2001-President Arroyo assumed power . Launched peace talks with the MILF while order the arrest of Musuari when he launched attacks during the 2001 elections Sulu. Musuari was arrested in Sabah and was jailed but was released later.

2008. The MILF and the Arroyo Government signed a peace agreement called the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) –Ancestral Domain (AD) but was declared illegal by the Supreme Court. Two brigades of the MILF launched attacks against the AFP and formed the Bangsa Moro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and refused regional autonomy and clamored for independence or secession

2010- The Noynoy Aquino III was elected in May 2010 assumed power in June 2010. He started the talks with the MILF, The President met personally with MILF Chairman Hadji Morad in Tokyo in August 2011.

2012- The Framework Agreement between the GPH and the MILF was signed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The MILF accepted the regional autonomy under the Aquino Government with the promise that the ARMM will be a Bangsa Moro Political Entity or a sub-sate.

2015- With the Basic Bangsa Moro Law (BBL) to be discussed in Congress, the Mamasapano Incident occurred on January 25, 2015 where 44 police troopers were killed.

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EPCC NEWS
March 26, 2015

THE US ROLE IN COUNTER-INSURGENCY OPERATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

By Jerry Esguerra,
Bantay Pilipinas-USA

For Satur Ocampo, former Manila Times journalist, NDF Negotiator and CPP leader and Sonny Melencio as well as publisher Dante Ang, the US role and hidden hand in the Mamasapano raid is as clear as the bright sunshine.

For them, They (The Americans no matter what agency that took charge of the operations against Marwan and Basit ) planned, funded, and closely monitored the execution of “Oplan Exodus” carried out last Jan. 25, 2015 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao by the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) they had trained and equipped.

For the trio, “ The objective was to arrest or kill Malaysian Zulkifli bin Hir alias “Marwan” and his alleged local bomb-making associate, Abdul Basit Usman. The US government had offered a $5-million bounty for Marwan and $2 million for Usman.”

For them, downplayed in media reports for almost two weeks, the American role has been confirmed by two recent disclosures:

1. A statement issued Wednesday by David Bowdich, assistant director in charge of the FBI in Los Angeles, saying the FBI had “a full partnership” with the PNP which he categorized as “one of the strongest [partnerships]in the world.” He added that the FBI would continue to work with the PNP “to identify, disrupt and dismantle terrorist networks.”

2. A detailed narration by an anonymous source, most probably a PNP official, to another daily, citing the specific places where the Americans drew up “Oplan Exodus” and where they trained the SAF 84th and 55th companies for the operation.

3. Notable among the disclosures was that the US operatives had taken measures to ensure that the surviving 34 members of the 84th SAC (Company) that raided

Marwan’s hideout (they lost 8 commandos) were safely extricated from further harm, but “did not do anything” to help the 36-man 55th SAC, the blocking force that was wiped out (save for one man) in a “mis-encounter” with the MILF fighters.

4. “We can’t take this anymore,” the anonymous source confessed after unburdening the load off his chest. “I hope my colleagues would get the justice they deserve.”

For this writer, these data confirmed my worst fear that the ‘command paralysis’ that plagued the SAF contingent, the 6th Army Division that came to reinforced the SAF, the Air Force and other AFP and PNP commands came from direct intervention of the “hidden force” behind President Aquino. • “

The command paralysis happened because of the Americans’ obsession to get Marwan, many SAF men died” was his damning conclusion. He pointed out that the Americans focused only on securing the 84th SAC “because (the latter) ha(d) what they want(ed) – Marwan’s tissue sample.”

5. Ocampo cited the following: “The Americans used a drone in monitoring the movements of the 84th SAC. “This is why even if the 84th SAC men were located deeper in the area, only a few were killed. But the 55th SAC lost all but one of its men because no help from the Americans arrived.”

Not disclosed was how the Americans secured the safe retreat of the 34 officers and men of the 84th SAC. Why didn’t they do the same for the 55th SAC? Did they sacrifice the blocking force because intervening in the “mis-encounter” could have imperiled the lives of Americans and exposed their direct involvement in the operation?

6. The AFP wasn’t informed of the operation because four previous operational plans, to which the military were privy, failed to get Marwan. Alleged reason: the operations were to have been in MILF-controlled areas and the AFP coordinated with the MILF (as required under protocols of the GPH-MILF ceasefire and peace agreements). “When the plans were implemented, Marwan escaped.”

7. The Americans used a secret facility inside or beside the La Vista del Mar Resort in Zamboanga City, reportedly owned by the family of Rep. Celso Lobregat. However, Lobregat claimed he didn’t know about the facility, which allegedly accommodated a big number of 84th SAC men.

Following are some quotations and factual information from the anonymous source who expressed fear for his life and those of “others” should he provide more details. He urged Congress to look deeper into the Mamasapano tragedy.

8. For barangay chair Joel New of Upper Calarian Village, who used to work at the resort, said it was really an SAF camp, where “they do tactical operations training and swimming, including speedboat operations…” The American trainers would also stay at La Vista, he said.

9. The training program was “no joke, especially for the 55th SAC,” the anonymous source observed, “All their equipment were funded by the Americans. When they go to Maguindanao, an American, a supervisor of the La Vista facility, goes with them. All the expenses were shouldered by the Americans.”

These disclosures can further be confirmed and followed up through an independent and impartial investigating body, which has yet to be constituted.
10. The big question is: Does President Aquino know about these covert activities of the Americans? If he doesn’t, it’s a big problem. If he does, how has he acted on them? The issue of his accountability to the nation comes to the fore.

Thus the command responsibility ends with Aquino as he admitted it in his latest nation wide address. But it begins with his “hidden masters” who were directing the destiny of this young republic ever since 1899 to the present.

The role of the US and its operatives in the Counter Insurgency operations against the so called”terrorists” is clear, defined and is being implemented by the puppet government of the Philippines

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Komunidad
March 25, 2015

The Bridge Too Far

By Arturo P. Garcia

While a sector of society in the Philippines calls on the President to apologize or accept his command responsibility on the Mamasapano misencounter, I deemed it wise for him not to.

Even former President Fidel Ramos who is prodding President Aquino III to apologize seemed to conveniently forget that he never apologized when the Abu Sayaff burned and pillaged several towns in Zamboanga De Sur in 1995. It was enough that he sacked the military commander then.

I still wonder why he wanted Aquino III to apologize. Is this coming from his military experience or he just seem to hold the President is such a low regard like others who belittle Aquino’s capabilities as a commander in chief because he has no military experience?

Again, I would like to point out, Aquino III is the Commander in Chief> And as the CIC he has to prerogatives to send his men to battle no matter what the cost is.

My unsolicited advice for the relatives and families of the SAF44, it time for them to stop bellyaching and accept the fact that it was a soldier’s choice to accept the results of the battle. This is harsh but this is true.

These soldiers or police commandos accepted the responsibility “not to reason why” but to “do or die” as Lord Alfred Tennyson has written as homage to the “Charge of the Light Brigade.”in the Battle of Crimea in Russia during the War of 1850.

I believe this has no effect to the cashiered SAF Commander General Leo Napenas for he keeps on bellyaching about Oplan Exodus. And I can understand him because his superiors, most especially the President has been so harsh and unkind to him.

Yes. It was right that militarily, the mission was a success. They brought home literally the bacon . err, the finger of the Jihadist Marwan as a proof of his death. But for too high a price- 44 SAF Commandos who are now heroes of the Christian world, to the detriment of the Moros in Mindanao.

But Napenas committed the grave error any military men can commit. To make false assumptions. In an interview he admitted that the President was the “principal” and General Purisima was the “agent” thus he followed the instructions of Purisima who was suspended in the assumption that was the right chain of command.

But alas, to his detriment, he found out later that he is responsible for the break in the chain of command because of the false assumption. As they say as a lesson in the military that Napenas failed to fathom, “assumptions are the source of all fuck ups.”

Marshal Ney, the best marshal of the Grand Armee of Napoleon made this false assumptions when he saw the British army regrouping in the Battle of Waterloo. The Duke of Wellington made the order to consolidate his ranks after his cavalry was decimated in an earlier charge

They retrogade more than 100 meters to regroup and made a defensive position just to straighten their broken lines due to the heavy artillery of Napoleon’s army. Ney thought the British were retreating and order his cavalry to charge.

That was a wrong assumption that resulted into a wrong decision. The result, Napoleon lost the Battle of Waterloo that he was winning before Ney made that wrong decision to send the cavalry without the support of the infanry.

Hitler made another wrong assumption that they can take Moscow by the end of summer in 1943. Thus he did not prepare winter clothes for his army of millions, thinking that the Russian Red Army was a push-over.
Thus when the winter came, hundreds of thousands of German soldiers died of cold in the coldest winter in Russian History in 1941 and the rest was history.

During the greatest Allied airbone assault in Holland in 1944, the 1st British Airbone Division lost 90% of his men holding the bridge at Arbhem without any promised support from the mechanized armored division and infantry.

When General Erhaquart , the 1st Division commander asked his superior why. The answer was brief: “Just think of it as a bridge too far.”

Napenas should heed his lesson. He knows its Quixotic to fight his superior. He even talk about it as the lesson he learned in the PMA. So my advice to him is this;

“Just think that the lonely bamboo bridge in Mamasapano is just one bridge too far.”

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EPCC NEWS
March 25, 2015

NEW UBLA OFFICERS INDUCTED, MARCH 21, 2015 IN NORWALK

Norwalk, CA- The new set of officers of the United Bicolandia of Los Angeles (UBLA) headed by board chairman Antonio G.Martinez and President Lannie N. Berrie were formally sworn into office by DCG Imelda Panolong last March 21, 2015 at the Double Tree By Hilton in Norwalk, CA.

The new set of officers are to serve for two years term from 2015 to 2016.

UBLA’s 41st Founding Anniversary

The occasion also marked the 41st Anniversary of the UBLA that was founded on December 18, 1974 in Southern California. UBLA is one of the oldest non-profit regional organization in Southern California.

The UBLA is also gearing up for the annual Penafrancia Fiesta being celebrated by the organization in Lincoln Park every September for the last 41 years.

The Statue of Our Lady Of Penafrancia is to be paraded on the grounds and also aboard the boats at the Lincoln Park Lake as the culmination of the 9-day novena and festivities led by the UBLA.

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EPCC NEWS
March 24, 2015

ADVANCE REPORT TO THE CITY BY MAYOR ERIC GARCETTI IN HISTORIC FILIPINOTOWN

Los Angeles- Los Angeles City Mayor Eric Garcetti gave an advance report to the State of the City of LA to the hundreds who attended the Tree Planting Day last March 21, 2015 in Historic Filipintown.

He will make the traditional State of the City Report (SOLA) on April 14, 2015 but gave the residents a peek into his report at the tree planting ceremonies.

Mayor’s Projects

He mentioned his current projects like the mass transport, the best mass transport system in the US, He also reported on the railways project going to the LA Airport and to Santa Monica that will traverse West LA.

Garcetti also reported the increased of 70,000 jobs this year. If the City Council approved the planned wage hike by the Mayor, more than 48,000 jobs will be added to the city by 2016.

The Mayor also reported that District 13 is one of the 3 districts out of the 15 districts of the city that focused on basic services like repairs of dilapidated sidewalks, cleanliness, garbage disposal and delivering basic services to the people of LA.

He was the surprise guest at the Tree Planting Day at the Occidental Rounders sponsored by Rampart Village Neighborhood Council (RVNC) and DC 13 Office of Council Member Mitch O’ Farrel in Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles..

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