Filipino-American Mixed Martial Arts Fighter Mark Munoz Makes Professional Debut June 1st in Sacramento, CA

Pro Pinoy MMA Fighter Debuts
By Joseph Pimentel Asianjournal.com

FilAm Mark Muñoz wakes up at 7 am like any family man to start his day. He cooks breakfast for his family. He drives his four kids to school.

After he kisses them goodbye, the other Muñoz comes out. Like a superhero, Muñoz has an alter-ego - a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. Standing an even 6 feet and weighing 205 pounds, the 30-year-old Vallejo resident is bigger than most typical Filipinos. And come Sunday, June 1 at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, Muñoz will do something that only one other Filipino has done - step into the octagon. "I’m bringing the Filipino culture to MMA," he said in an exclusive interview with the Asian Journal. Muñoz makes his professional debut for the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) organization as a light heavyweight. He faces Charles Grigsby, a 6’6" behemoth with a 13-3 record. The show will be aired on the Versus Network. The odds are against Muñoz but that’s something that he’s used to.

Early Rise

Born in Japan, Muñoz grew up in Vallejo, CA. He dreamt of playing professional football but had to reconsider after he broke his leg in a freak accident during a high school summer camp. After recovering, he found solace on the wrestling mat. He won two California State Wrestling Championships in high school and earned a full scholarship at wrestling powerhouse Oklahoma State University (OSU).

Read more here at AsianJournal.com....

Alec Mapa From ABC's TV Show Ugly Betty Talks About Gay Marriage Equality In California

Same-sex marriage has just been declared legal in California. Did you have a ceremony?

Yes, we did, and now it's legal. As of an hour or so ago. I just got (on) the phone with him right before I talked to you and he was yelling at me for not picking up the phone too. We've been together for six years; we've been married for two.

Did you get married in Canada?

No, we had a marriage ceremony here in our house. We figured, fuck it, we're not going to wait for the law. There's no law against making a public commitment to your, you know, spouse. So we did it and we registered for gifts. I've been saying that the people in retail are at the forefront in the fight for marriage equality, because we registered at Williams-Sonoma, Crate & Barrel and Macy's and nobody batted an eyelash. On the registration forms at all three of those stores, it now says, not just "bride or groom"; it also says "registrant or co-registrant." I predict that in a couple of years it's going to say "top or pig bottom."

What of those folks who are neither?

Then we will have to come up with different distinctions.

So are you going to remarry?

I don't know. We're kind of on the fence this morning. I'm so ... I don't know what to expect. I've come to expect either thing: I would have been disheartened if the ruling hadn't passed, but I wouldn't have been surprised, because I've seen the political pendulum swing back and forth so many times; I'm thrilled that it has.

My partner and I talked about it. We've been registered as domestic partners, for I don't know how long. We've been together for 29 years in November.

Holy shit. What's your secret?

Short-term memory on my partner's part. I wake him up every morning and introduce myself.

That's good. Kind of like Drew Barrymore in "Fifty First Dates."

I did the Atlantis Cruises all last year; I did about seven of them and I met a lot of couples who have been together 20, 30 years and there just seems to be this kind of genius compatibility and the ability to forgive. The ability to kind of not ... My mom would always say when we were growing up and we were fighting, "Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?" So I asked my husband the other day, when we were having a spat, "Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?" And he said, "I want to be right!"

Read more here at Gay.com....

Arnel Pineda From Journey Appears On Ellen Degeneres Show

Arnel Pineda from Journey finally appeared on the Ellen Degeneres Show. Arnel has an awesome voice. Some parts give me goosebumps just by listening to his high notes.

Rob Schneider Appearance on Jay Leno - Hillarious!

Rob Schneider recently made an appearance on Jay Leno's The Tonight Show. It's really hilarious because he doesn't hold back with his graduation class of 2008 congratulatory speech. If you watch the whole video towards the end he mentions his Asian heritage. Normally he refers to himself as a Filipino.

Eskrima Grand Master in the US

Doce pares eskrima kali
by hiholdac

By SANNY LEVISTE
Filipinas Magazine

Alfredo "Fred" Bandalan is the first Filipino American to become a Doce Pares Grand Master.

The legacy of Bandalan’s grandfather

The old man was so predictable. He would walk through his vegetable gardens, the pineapples and the fighting cocks on his way to the barn. In the barn, the young boy, Fred, would surreptitiously watch his grandfather attending to the animals. He would then pick up a stick, sneak up on the old man and poke him on the side. His grandfather would instantly spin to a defensive/offensive stance, do some intricate moves then shout at the laughing boy, "demonyo ka (you devil)!"

Fred’s grandfather, Pedro Blanco, was doing eskrima, a martial art form indigenous to the Philippines that uses sticks or swords as weapons. Though he would proudly do demonstrations during family gatherings, the old man felt that it was too dangerous for his young grandson to learn.

Little did he know that Fred was already picking up on the techniques from watching his grandfather and other Filipinos in Hawaii, young and old, who would often engage in play skirmishes using rolled newspapers as simulated weapons.

Bandalan was born in Lanai, Hawaii in 1936. His father was from Leyte and his mother, like his grandfather, was from Mandaue, Cebu.

Read more here at ABS-CBN....

Where Was the Filipino Flag First Unfurled?

By Augusto de Viana, Chief History Researcher, National Historical Institute

May 28 is National Flag Day, honoring the glorious banner that inspired our heroes and heroines in the Great Revolution against colonial Spain and during the seven-year Filipino-American War. The tricolors were first unfurled on May 28, 1898, in Cavite Viejo and formally raised at the proclamation of independence on June 12, 1898, in Kawit, Cavite.

One of the historical errors being perpetuated in history textbooks and commemorative rites is the place where the Philippine flag was first displayed. One signboard in Cavite claims that the national standard was first raised in Alapan, Imus, Cavite, on May 28, 1898.

The source of this claim is Proclamation No. 374, issued by then-President Diosdado Macapagal on March 6, 1965. One of its “whereases” states: ”Our flags was (sic) first raised and received its baptism and victory in the Battle of Alapan, Imus, Cavite on May 28, 1898.” Alapan is a barrio in Imus.

Read more here at Manila Times....

A security guard of the Aguinaldo museum in Baguio City checks the original Philippine flag brought to the country from Hong Kong by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo on May 19, 1898 before it was unfurled for the first time in Kawit, Cavite during the Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898. The original flag is still being kept at the museum. At left is the wheelchair of Aguinaldo.

HOT FIL-AM PRIDE EVENT! - Fiesta Filipina 2008 San Francisco Bay Area June 7-8

• When: Saturday, June 7 2008, 10:00am - 6:00pm
• Where: Civic Center Plaza, San Francisco, CA
• What/Why: Philippine Independence Day Celebration. Come Celebrate our 14 year with us. Savor the Culture, Feel the Vibe, Get into the Fiesta! Fiesta Filipina 2008 Catch the Excitement of Dancing, Singing, Comedy, Cultural Shows, Food Festivals, Arts & Crafts and much more at the Grandest Filipino Event in the Nation's Entertainment Capital.
• Featuring:
• Charice Pempengco
• Randy Santiago
• Jake Cuenca
• Lani Misalucha
• Rachel Alejandro
• Gabe Bondoc
• Joey Guila
• Duncan Ramos
• and more..
  

Read more here....

HOT FIL-AM PRIDE EVENT! - Filipino Fiesta 2008 Sacramento California June 8th Jose Rizal Community Center

• When: Sunday, June 8, 2008
• Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• What: An outdoor/indoor summer festival with food and vendor booths, cultural dancing, singing, exhibits, parade, entertainment, and more. Commemorates Philippine independence and celebrates Filipino American culture.
• Where: Jose Rizal Community Center, 7320 Florin Mall Drive, Sacramento, CA 95828
• Who: The Pilipino Youth Coalition (PYC) Sacramento and Sacramento Filipino Theatre and Performing Arts Association (SFTPAA), both of whom I have worked with before, will have booths.

Here's some video from the 2007 festival

HOT FIL-AM PRIDE EVENT! New York City Philippine Independence Parade June 1st

INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE

June 1, 2008 12:00 pm kick-off

Madison Avenue from 41st Street heading south (downtown)

The Parade is led by 2008 Grand Marshal Reverend Monsignor Oscar A. Aquino, JCD, PIDCI President and Independence Day Parade Chair - Raul S. Estrellado and Honorary Adviser Consul General Cecilia B. Rebong and honored guests as spearhead with contingents of marchers from Filipino-American Associations, marching bands, floats as parade participants. The Philippine Independence Day Parade commemorating the 110th anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence then passes in front of the reviewing stand on the east side of Madison Avenue, between 29th and 30th streeets, before turning on to 27th street for dispersal.

Read more here....

Watch MTV Cribs Episode Featuring Filipino-American WWE Wrestler Batista

Check out Filipino-American WWE Wrestler Batista's house on MTV Cribs.

Filipino Success in California Public Schools

On Friday, May 23, 2008, State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI) Jack O'Connell released Academic Performance Index (API) scores, which are used as a measure of how well different schools and different groups are doing academically.

Overall, all API scores improved, and Filipinos in particular rose to 813 statewide, which corresponds with the second best score among the ten measured subgroups. The target score is 800 for schools.

It would be interesting to see the enrollment and retention rates of Filipino Americans in postsecondary schools.

HOT FIL-AM PRIDE EVENT! - Gary Valenciano 25th Anniversary Concert With Apl.De.Ap and the Jabbawockeez

Who would of thought this would happen. Old school meets new school. Lots of things have changed in the past 25 years. Gary V will be performing for his 25th anniversary show in the United States with special guest performances by Apl.De.Ap from the Black Eyed Peas and the Jabbawockeez champions on MTV's competition show America's Best Dance Crew.

Tour schedule:

• June 7, 2008 in Los Angeles, CA @ the Nokia Theatre with special guests Martin Nievera, Apl.De.Ap and Jabbawockeez
• June 13, 2008 in Stockton, CA @ the Stockton Arena with special guests Martin Nievera and Jabbawockeez

Check out www.allaccessconcerts.com for more information and to buy tickets.

Little Manila Foundation - Stockton California An Epicenter of Filipino America

Since April of 1999, a potent core of Filipino Americans and allies have been working hard to preserve what is left of Little Manila, where many prominent Filipinos lived and worked during the 1920s through the 1960s. I heard before that, outside the Philippines, Little Manila contained the largest population of Filipinos. Now reduced to a few city blocks, the organization has been able to bring national attention to the area, designated the Little Manila Historic Site by the City of Stockton, a listing of the site in the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 2003 list of America's Most Endangered Historic Places.

This June 12, 2008, just in time for Philippine Independence Day (celebrating the declaration of independence from Spain), and until June 30, 2008, a lobby display will be put up in the California Department of Education building located at 1430 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814-5901, entitled "Stockton, California-An Epicenter of Filipino America". The display will measure 12.5 feet wide and 7 feet tall and cover various facets of the Filipino American community in Stockton, CA, and why it is an important part of American history. We hope that you can see the display in person, and we will be sure to get detailed images of the display for your edification as soon as they can be released (after the display is taken down).

Long live Little Manila!

Watch this video on Little Manila

Filipino-American Chef Dale Talde Eliminated From Reality TV Show Top Chef

Chef Dale Talde Makes Halo Halo On Top Chef

Filipino cuisine sometimes is not too appealing to the eye. Some dishes take an acquired taste for example balut (unborn duck egg) or diniguan (pigs blood with meat). However, times are slowly changing with the mainstream influence of restaurants that have made it to the United States like Jollibee, Chowking, Max's Manila Chicken, Goldilocks and Jerry's Grill. We even have a Filipina as the main chef at the White House under President Bush.

Recently, we lost one of our own on Bravo's Reality TV Show Top Chef. Filipino-American Chef Dale Talde was eliminated from the competition. He was one bad ass chef with lots of drive and compassion. He even made halo-halo as seen in the YouTube video above.

During his recent interview on Chow.com his statements hit close to home because I could relate to his feelings. Talde is a proud first-generation Filipino-American. He owes his drive and compassion to his parents. As a typical Filipino he has so much respect for his elders and felt like he let them down when he was eliminated. Talde stated, "I wanted to show them I could have won this. I know in my heart that I am more talented than a lot of people that are still on the show. I’m very competitive at sports and to be honest with you, I never really won any championships or anything like that. This would have been a nice one to pull out and say, hey, I actually won this.”

Read more here....
Listen to his interview here....

What are your thoughts? Please comment below....

Former Philippines President Fidel Ramos Visits National City, CA

Ex-leader discusses diversity's benefits
Philippines' Ramos addresses group
By Erin Bridges
UNION-TRIBUNE

NATIONAL CITY – As he walked into the National City Chamber of Commerce courtyard this week, it immediately was clear this former president is not your typical politician.

A camera-wielding crowd of businessmen and businesswomen formed around Fidel V. Ramos, former president of the Republic of the Philippines, who smiled, engaged in light-hearted conversations and posed for a picture with anyone who asked.

Ramos was invited to speak to the group at a business reception Wednesday night. His talk was titled “Win-Win Through Change,” an appropriate topic for the man credited with successfully reforming his nation's economy during his presidency from 1992 to 1998. But in true Ramos style, he had to kick it off with a laugh from the audience. While standing behind the podium, he pulled out a small white comb from his pocket and began straightening his hair.

“I'm not accustomed to public speaking, but I hear you must fix your hair first – in front of the cameras,” he said.

Read more here at SignOnSanDiego.com...

For your viewing pleasure watch Former Philippines President Ramos singing Sec Yuchengco night

Filipinos are a Great Contribution to the US Healthcare System

The stereotype that many nurses in the United States have Filipino heritage is a good one to have. Not only is it true, but they are the back-bone of the American healthcare system. So if you're hurt by the comments made on Desperate Housewives...get over it. Read the article below from the AsianJournal.com. Be sure to write your comments below.

Filipinos Integral Part of US Healthcare Workforce - FCC
By Cynthia De Castro Asianjournal.com

LOS ANGELES – “The Filipinos have been meeting the demands of a nationwide personnel shortage in the American healthcare industry. They are an integral part of the healthcare workforce,” said Commissioner Michael J. Copps of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), an independent United States government agency, directly responsible to Congress.In a recent press interview organized by the Filipino American Leadership Council (FALCON) and Mabuhay Alliance, FCC Commissioners Copps and Jonathan S. Adelstein affirmed the Filipinos’ great contribution to the health care industry. They did not agree with the disparaging remarks made about Filipino doctors in the TV show, Desperate Housewives, and wanted to affirm to the Filipino community that the FCC recognizes the Filipinos’ significant contributions to American health care.

"America relies heavily on the Philippines to solve the country’s nurse shortage," said Commissioner Adelstein. "For decades, the Philippines is the number one source of foreign-trained nurses in the US. They have truly made significant contributions to the country’s health care industry. In fact, the LA City Council called them the back-bone of the American healthcare industry," he added.

On a personal note, Adelstein revealed to Asian Journal that his mother had Parkinson’s Disease and a friend of his brother referred them to a group led by a Filipino who worked with Filipino nurses. "We were enormously satisfied, " Adelstein said. "They are wonderful people. Devoted. You know when it’s a member of your family, you don’t want just anybody to take care of your mother. They took good care of my mom. This experience has been multiplied in many cases across the US. The high quality of care people get from Filipino nurses are just not truly reflected in the media," he said. (AJ)

FIL-AM PRIDE BLOG SHOUTOUT! Congratulations to the New Core Officers of Filipinos In Liberal Arts & Humanities at University of California Davis

Filipinos In Liberal Arts and Humanities (FILAH) is a college organization from the University of California, Davis. They recently elected their new leaders also known as core. The Filipino-American Pride blog would like to congratulate the new inductees.

President: Lauren Dimapasoc
Internal Vice President: Courtney Lorca
External Vice President: Jo Anne Lasola
Treasurer: Christian Borgonia
Secretary: Kaye Caburnay
Publicity: Leoangelo Cristobal
Historian: Christine Erfe
Kinabukasan Editor: Marc Balderama
Banquet Coordinator: Emily Chan

About FILAH:

FILAH was created to provide political, social, academic, cultural, and personal support to fellow students in the various liberal arts and humanities and social science fields. As part of this support, FILAH's purpose will be to provide students with a forum for expression. FILAH's program will always adhere to this mission, allowing artistic and social outlets to its members while contributing to the community at large with events that preserve Filipino heritage and challenge current sociopolitical issues.

FILAH was started by a group of undergraduate students who felt the need for an organization that served the Filipino liberal arts community. As a university that is primarily scientific research based, the history of the existence of FILAH up until around 2000 has always been shaky.

Read more about FILAH here...

Filipino-American Association in Iowa Reaches Out With Community Events

A group of residents fairly new to Charles City, Iowa has reached out and tried to become more involved in its new community in the past with a booth at the annual Fourth of July celebration and a community potluck. Now, the Filipino-American Association of Charles City is inviting the community to “play ball.”

The kickoff to a new outdoor basketball league for anyone ages 14-and older was held Saturday afternoon at Sportsmen’s Park. The Association, which is sponsoring the league, provided music for the event and then hosted an open potluck at the park afterwards.

Read more here at Charles City Press...

Clinton, McCain and Obama Reach Out to Asian-Americans

by Anam Siddiq and Daniel Johnson
New University, May 19, 2008

Students, congressmen and community members from all over California gathered for the first-ever Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote Presidential Town Hall meeting at the Bren Events Center. The May 17 conference included both entertainment as well as serious discussion. It was hosted in hopes of encouraging more votership amongst the Asian community and to spread awareness of the presidential candidates’ views on issues they would find relevant.

The event, which was streamed live on 15 Web sites, was not advertised far in advance, but nevertheless hyped the appearance of one, if not all, of the three presidential candidates at the forum. New York Senator Hillary Clinton’s attendance seemed like a sure bet until a few days before the meeting, but all three senators were absent on the day of.

Instead, Clinton appeared on megascreens via satellite feed to answer previously formulated questions regarding topics such as immigration reform and hiring Asian American staff members. Shortly thereafter, Illinois Senator Barack Obama participated in a live telephone conversation in which he responded to similar questions asked by concerned Asian-American community members.

Arizona Senator John McCain, who was last to be represented, was not able to attend because he was in New York taping “Saturday Night Live.” California State Assemblyman Van Tran spoke on McCain’s behalf and encouraged the audience to watch the program later that night.

Actress Tamlyn Tomita, who has appeared in such films as “The Day After Tomorrow” and “The Joy Luck Club,” played the lively emcee for the forum. She introduced the government officials who were part of each of the candidates’ respective campaigns in California, and who would be presenting the senators to the audience that day.

Read more here at New University...

Josie Natori - The 100 Most Inspiring Asian Americans of All-Time

One confusing aspect of the Josie Natori story is the conflict between her Filipino ancestry and her unusual surname. It comes from her Japanese American husband Kenneth. The House of Natori was born in 1977 when Josie Natori, who had married Ken the year before, became bored in her job as an investment banker. The energetic 92-pounder decided to start her own business, something that would tap the resources of her native Philippines. Investing her savings, and with a good deal of help from her wealthy parents, she started by selling blouses adorned with embroidery and appliques, a noted craft of the Philippines and one of its most popular exports. She switched to lingerie when a retailer suggested that she turn the blouses into a nightshirt.

The world had been treating lingerie as sleepwear for women. Natori saw it as fashion. "A woman needs alternatives," she declared and set about creating lingerie that a woman could enjoy. She took risks. Her first collection was in orange. What may have initially ignited the success was simply that Natori had no preconceived notions and operated from her own aesthetic sensibility. She describs the concept of lingerie as sophisticated, luxurious, feminine and sensual, based on the philosophy that a woman buys it as a gift to herself. According to the company's promotional literature, the concept derives from "a deserved pleasure that sets the mood for the precious moments in a woman's crowded life... that creates an oasis in a woman's world and achieves a symmetry between her public image, her private desires and her actual and fantasized view of herself."

Read more here at Goldsea.com

Black Eyed Peas Allan Pineda aka Apl.De.Ap FHM Interview

INTERVIEW: CHARMAINE CHANCO
PHOTOGRAPHY: CARLO BANDOQUILLO

Apl.De.Ap means what exactly?
The first part are my initials; my real name is Allan Pineda Lindo. De means ‘of’ and AP is Angeles, Pampanga. So that’s what it is. A short abbreviation for Allan Pineda Lindo of Angeles, Pampanga.

Do you really call each other in the Black-Eyed Peas by stage name?
Yeah, we really do. It even gets shorter: they call me Ap. We call Taboo, Tab. Fergie, Ferg and Will, Will. Being famous and all, can you recall the craziest thing a fan has done to get your attention? The ladies sometimes flash their boobs at me. That happens in almost every show during the Warped tour event we did. It’s like a rock tour but we’re the only hip-hop band. So, that’s the craziest so far.

Ever considered hooking up with a fan, maybe?
Well, I can’t say since I haven’t hooked up with a fan yet. But there are local celebrities that I find very pretty and interesting. There were times when I get tongue-tied. Ha ha ha!

Read more here at FHM Philippines...

Filipino Heritage Night

Thousands of Americans with a Philippine heritage attended Filipino Heritage Night at AT&T Park, where the San Francisco Giants played against the Houston Astros. First of all, unfortunately, the Giants lost 3-6, but it was a close game until the top of the seventh inning.

The night was actually part of a series of nights for Asian Heritage Week, where Koreans, Chinese, and Japanese individuals were also given a "theme" night. May 14, 2008, however, was a night for Filipinos, an often hidden group. Others say forgotten, but I believe that we have not been forgotten, only hidden from the public eye.

But I digress. Whoever went was bound to see someone from their past. I myself saw people from college (Go UC DAVIS!) as well as brothers from Chi Rho Omicron, Inc. A lot of other groups went, decked out in uniform clothing bearing their logos and icons. Of course, a lot of fans donned their Filipino Heritage Night t-shirt. It was a family affair and one could see children, parents, and grandparents all rooting for their beloved Giants.

Considering how the Giants are doing, it was a good idea to have such an event. Anytime that there is a group of Filipinos together, it is bound to be fun. This night was no different. Hopefully, the Giants saw the financial benefit to doing this and will repeat the event again next season.

Kudos to the Giants organization and thanks for having us!

Fil-Am Ernie Reyes, Jr. In The Red Canvas and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Filipino-American Ernie Reyes, Jr. joined the elite ranks of martial arts when he was eight years old. He made history as the first and only child to achieve a national top-10 ranking in the adult competitor ratings of a national magazine. He even taught martial art seminars at the age of ten. Under his father Ernie Reyes, Sr. he earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He currently competes as a Muay Tai Kickboxing fighter.

As a child, he moved into acting and was casted in Teenage Mutant Turtles, The Last Dragon, Sidekicks, Surf Ninjas and other martial arts oriented roles.

Back in 2006 he had a reality show on MTV called The Final Fu where contestants competed in head to head battles to see who had the best martial art skills. Now in 2008 Reyes is starring in The Red Canvas as Johnny Sanchez a mixed martial arts expert.

Reyes is also casted in the new blockbuster movie Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. His role will be a cemetery warrior.

Chelsea E. - Video Game Eye Candy

Rising Filipina-American solo artist Chelsea E. makes a special guest appearance on maniaTV's hit show Arcade. Her appearance makes perfect marketing sense. Hot pinay playing video games. She has guys around the world drooling.

More info on Chelsea E. here

Watch video here on maniaTV Episode 7

Watch Ramiele Malubay Live - American Idol Tour Starts July 1st

Show your Fil-Am pride and watch American Idol contestant Ramiele Malubay (far left). She will be going on a summer tour with other contestants starting July 1st. Tickets for the summer tour went on sale on Saturday.

More info on Ramiel Malubay

Tour dates:

July 1: Glendale, AZ, jobing.com Arena — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
July 2: San Diego, CA, San Diego Sports Arena — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
July 3: Fresno, CA, SaveMart Center — May 17, 2008 @ 11am
July 5: Las Vegas, NV, Thomas & Mack Center — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
July 7: Los Angeles, CA, Staples Center — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
July 8: San Jose, CA, HP Pavilion at San Jose — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
July 9: Sacramento, CA, ARCO Arena — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
July 11: Portland, OR, Rose Garden — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
July 12: Tacoma, WA, Tacoma Dome — May 17, 2008 @ 11am
July 14: West Valley City, UT, The "E" Center — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
July 18: St. Louis, MO, Scottrade Center — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
July 19: Rosemont, IL, Allstate Arena — May 17, 2008 @ 12pm
July 20: Columbus, OH, Schottenstein Center — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
July 22: Indianapolis, IN, Conseco Fieldhouse — May 17, 2008 @ 11am
July 23: Cincinnati, OH, US Bank Arena — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
July 24: Detroit, MI, Joe Louis Arena — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
July 26: Toronto, ON, Air Canada Centre — May 16, 2008 @ 10am
July 27: Rochester, NY, BlueCross Arena — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
July 29: Pittsburgh, PA, Mellon Arena — May 17, 2008 @ 11am
July 30: Newark, NJ, Prudential Center — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
August 2: Atlantic City, NJ, Boardwalk Hall — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
August 4: Long Island, NY, Nassau Coliseum — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
August 6: Albany, NY, Times Union Center — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
August 8: Hartford, CT, XL Center — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
August 9: Worcester, MA, DCU Center — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
August 10: Manchester, NH, Verizon Wireless Center — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
August 12: Baltimore, MD, 1st Mariner Arena — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
August 13: Philadelphia, PA, Wachovia Center — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
August 14: Washington DC, Verizon Center — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
August 16: Lexington, KY, Rupp Arena — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
August 17: Charlotte, NC, Time Warner Cable Arena — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
August 18: Duluth, GA, Arena at Gwinnett Center — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
August 20: Sunrise, FL, BankAtlantic Center — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
August 21: Tampa, FL, St Pete Times Forum — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
August 24: Houston, TX, Toyota Center — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
August 25: Dallas, TX, American Airlines Center — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
August 26: Bossier City, LA, CenturyTel Center — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
August 28: Oklahoma City, OK, Ford Center — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
August 29: Kansas City, MO, Sprint Center — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
August 31: Minneapolis, MN, Target Center — May 17, 2008 @ Noon
September 2: Green Bay, WI, Resch Center — May 17, 2008 @ Noon
September 3: Grand Rapids, MI, Van Andel Arena — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
September 4: Cleveland, OH, Wolstein Center — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
September 6: Bridgeport, CT, Arena at Harbor Yard — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
September 7: Providence, RI, Dunkin Donuts Center — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
September 8: Wilkes Barre, PA, Wachovia Arena — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
September 10: Ft. Wayne, IN, Allen County Memorial Coliseum — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
September 11: Evansville, IN, Roberts Stadium — May 17, 2008 @ 10am
September 13: Tulsa, OK, BOK Center — May 17, 2008 @ 10am

FIL-AM PRIDE FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR! - Bobby Roy

The Filipino-American Pride Blog would like to welcome aboard our newest contributor Bobby Roy.

Bobby Roy is Filipino-American and currently living in Sacramento, California. He is an activist and member of many Fil-Am community organizations, such as, Chi Rho Omicron aka XPO and the Filipino American Historical National Society aka FAHNS. In addition, he is a huge supporter of WWII Veterano rights and youth organizations. His current occupation is with the California Department of Education where is also an avid mentor and role model for our next Fil-Am generation as seen in the picture above.

Bobby Roy's fraternity XPO

FIL-AM PRIDE FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR! - Oscar Penaranda

The Filipino-American Pride Blog would like to welcome writer, teacher and philanthropist Oscar Penaranda as our newest contributor.

Oscar Peñaranda was born in the seacoast town of Barugo on the Island of Leyte, Philippines. His family moved to Manila when he was five years old, returning to Barugo almost every vacation time - Christmas, Easter, Summer. In Manila he absorbed Tagalog (from the streets) and English (from the schools). He was trilingual and tricultural at a young age. With Waray as his first language, then Tagalog and English his second and third. When he was twelve years old, his family moved to Vancouver, Canada (1956) because his father (a foreign service officer) was one of about ten other officers assigned by the Philippine government to open the first Philippine Consulate in Canada. The families of these Filipino officers would be the only Filipinos they would ever know in Canada. He lived in Vancouver, Canada for five years, between the ages of 12 to 17. On his senior year of high school his family was transferred to San Francisco where he went to St. Ignatius High School. From this time on, Peñaranda has pretty much called San Francisco home. Yet, not really. He explores, among other themes, this ambiguity in his works. He earned his B.A. (in Literature) and M.A. (Creative Writing) at San Francisco State University where he became part of the struggle to establish Ethnic Studies in the schools.

In the summers, he held many odd jobs including hotel help in Las Vegas. He was there when Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay) won the heavyweight championship of the world. He worked in the fields of California picking all sorts of x fruits. He also worked in Alaskan fishing canneries for 15 consecutive summers. Some of his farmworker colleagues joined him in Alaska. His work clothes and gear are still there waiting for him.

From San Francisco State University, he received his B.A. in Literature and M.A. in Creative Writing. He taught at San Francisco State for 12 years, Everett Middle School for 10 years, and is currently teaching at James Logan High School in Union City, California.

He helped found the San Francisco Chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) as its first president. He also belongs to the Filipino American Educators Association of California (FAEAC). He advocates for the teaching and creation of Filipino Heritage Studies and Filipino (language) in all his educational efforts. He now lives in San Leandro, Califrnia, with his wife Luisa and daughter Milena.

He has also written a collection of short stories -

Seasons by the Bay

Full Deck (Jokers Playing)

Filipino-Americans in Virginia Flexing Political and Economic Power

By RODNEY J. JALECO
ABS-CBN North America News Bureau

VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia – They're among the fastest growing ethnic groups in the region, also among the best educated and highest paid wage-earners. Meet the Filipino-Americans of Hampton Roads.

Hampton Roads is composed of Virginia's southeastern region that includes Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News and Williamsburg. Most of the Fil-Ams are retired US Navy servicemen and their families, who've decided to settle near Norfolk, home of the US Navy Atlantic Fleet.

There are 34 Fil-Am organizations here, representing the various ethnic and geographical divisions in the Philippines, as well as professional groups.

Julius Aspa is president of the Cebuano-Speaking Association of Tidewater (CSAT). "CSAT was formed 20 years ago because our countrymen needed help, and of course we also wanted to help each other here," he told ABS-CBN's Balitang America.

"During natural calamities, we always try to send help back home like what happened after the Leyte landslide," Aspa said.

Olongapo City Association of Tidewater (OCAT) president Joseph "Joe" Ortega said their group is sending several college and high school students to schools in the Philippines.

These groups come alive in spring when Saturday night parties and dance-alongs, featuring the latest "line dancing" hits, become a staple for the growing, dynamic Fil-Am community here.

There are now about 50,000 Fil-Ams in the area, mostly in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. A study released by the Old Dominion University (ODU) showed that over 20% of foreign-born residents in Hampton Roads came from the Philippines. It is the sixth biggest concentration of Filipinos in the US (Hawaii, California, New York City, Chicago and Seattle).

Read more here...Nurses, servicemen

Bruce Lee's Goddaughter Diana Lee Inosanto Debuts New Film, The Sensei, Pussycat Dolls Nicole Scherzinger Shows Support

Actress-filmmaker, Diana Lee Inosanto (L) shares a moment with supporter and Pussycat Dolls’ frontwoman, Nicole Scherzinger at the post premiere after-party following the SRO World Premiere of Ms. Inosanto’s poetically touching feature narrative, THE SENSEI, Sunday, May 4 at the prestigious Directors Guild of America (DGA) in Hollywood. The film marked Ms. Inosanto’s directorial debut and was one of a remarkably large representation of cinematic works by Filipino and Filipino American filmmakers including an amazing nine World Class feature films in: FOSTER CHILD and TIRADOR (Brillante Mendoza), SANTA MESA (Ron Morales), PISAY[PHILIPPINE SCIENCE] (Auraeus Solito), NEO LOUNGE (Joanna Vasquez-Arong),TRIBU (Jim Libiran), BLOOD BROTHERS (Alexi Tan, produced by John Woo) and John Torres’ magnum opus, YEARS WHEN I WAS A CHILD OUTSIDE which featured a live accompanying musical score.

Inosanto, one of Hollywood’s top stuntwomen and a practicing Martial Artist, is the daughter of renown Filipino Martial Artist/actor, Danny Inosanto and the Goddaughter of her father’s best friend, the late Bruce Lee. Among her sold out screening guests included Entourage’s Rex Lee, actors Dustin Nguyen and Costas Mandylor and MMA legend, Bas Rutten.

The 24th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival presented by Honda was produced by Visual Communications, the nation’s premier Asian American media arts resource and was supported by a host of community organizations including FilAm ARTS and SIPA.

Watch this video which shows her Filipino Arnis Martial Arts skills


The Sensei Trailer

Filipina-American Fashion Designer Josie Cruz Natori Set To Debut New Line of Fragrances

The Natori Company and Parlux Fragrances, Inc. (NASDAQ: PARL) announced today the signing of a global licensing agreement to launch a luxurious new fragrance.

The fragrance line will debut in September 2009, in the U.S., with an international roll-out shortly thereafter. "Natori is a total concept; a way of life. And fragrance is a natural, sensual expression of that sensibility," says Josie Cruz Natori, President and CEO of the Natori Company.

"Josie Natori is a visionary designer. She is in perfect sync with the mindset of modern women as she transforms simple elements of daily life into sensual, luxurious experiences. The allure and romance of the East-into-West spirit her designs express will make this a timeless introduction," observes Neil Katz, Chairman and CEO of Parlux Fragrances, Inc. "The Natori brand's versatility and effortless sophistication translates beautifully to a fragrance we believe will truly have global appeal."

Read more here...

HOT FIL-AM EVENT! Filipino Heritage Night @ San Francisco Giants AT&T Park

I want to go this event really badly. Not only am I Filipino, but I'm a huge San Francisco Giants fan. Check it out...

"Asians and Pacific Islanders make up 35 percent of San Francisco's population. We love baseball, and we love our San Francisco Giants! On a local level this is two of our city's great traditions coming together. On a global level, it's another example of why San Francisco is the gateway to the Pacific Rim," said Ted Fang, editor and publisher of AsianWeek.

A special $20 ticket package is available for each of the heritage games and includes a limited edition giveaway and guaranteed seats in the designated heritage seating sections. Tickets for all events can be purchased by calling (415) 972-2298 or visiting sfgiants.com/specialevents. Following is the list of giveaways (with special ticket purchase):

• Wednesday, May 14 vs. Houston Astros (7:15 p.m.) - Filipino Heritage Night. Fans with a special ticket will receive a Filipino heritage/Giants t-shirt. Entertainment will feature Hiyas Dance Group, SF Barangay and Likhas Pilipino Folk Ensemble.

Find out more here...

Cal State Fullerton Pilipino American Student Association 2008 PCN

Members of Cal State Fullerton's Pilipino American Student Association (PASA), acted and danced in a three-hour production entitled "Pieces" during the 21st annual Pilipino Culture Night (PCN).

The show highlighted centuries of Filipino culture and history as performers entertained and educated a crowded theater of 816 friends and family members.

"I loved it. It taught me something and I can walk away inspired," junior communications major Stephanie Cruz said. "It taught me a lot of [Filipino] stereotypes and how to get over them. [PCN] taught me about my past, my present, what we're living in today and how we can make it better."

The production starred freshman Selyna Arciaga as a 27-year-old Filipina-American woman named Kristina Reyes, who is given the opportunity to learn about her past. In "Pieces," five hooded visitors helped Reyes uncover truths about her Filipina culture.

Throughout the play, PASA members performed adapted versions of dances from the Philippines' long and storied history. The Reyes character experienced flashbacks that allowed her to experience Filipino culture. The dances had various influences from her history. Some dances expressed the culture of tribes and provinces while others had Spanish or Muslim influence.

Perhaps the most popular performance was the Philippine national dance, known as the Tinilking. Long bamboo branches were rhythmically snapped together, as the dancers jumped in and out of the colliding branches. The "Sayaw Sa Bangko" prompted the audience's ovation as couples demonstrated balance while dancing across narrow benches. As the dance ensued, the benches were stacked progressively higher until they reached four tiers high.

Junior engineering major Kirby Gonzales gave a lively performance as a Filipino American homosexual named Jon Bautista. Gonzales' character showed Reyes how Filipino American gay men are much different than those found in the Philippines. Gonzales' character showed that in the Philippines, gay men wear makeup and dress like women. In America however, they can look like everyone else.

Read more here...

De la Fuente a one-armed 'Dancing' bandit

LOS ANGELES (AP) — It may always take two to tango, but it apparently only takes one arm to tango and mambo.

Christian de la Fuente and his partner were the top-scoring couple after Monday night's "Dancing With the Stars" performance round, despite an injury to the Chilean television actor's left arm.

De la Fuente dropped partner Cheryl Burke last week when he ruptured a tendon in his bicep, but his doctor cleared him to continue in the television dancing competition. Burke choreographed their dances so that de la Fuente mostly used his good arm — including the lifts, which were allowed this round.

The couple pulled it off, using energy and precision (and a glittery support sleeve during the mambo) to overcome the injury. De la Fuente was clearly favoring his injured arm, which he used only as absolutely necessary and hung limp at other times.

They scored a 28 for the tango, and a near-perfect 29 for the mambo, to lead all contestants in judges' scores at the end of the night. Audience votes in conjunction with the judges' scores will determine who stays and who goes in Tuesday night's elimination round.

Watch the clip below

Filipino-American Matthew Libatique is Cinematographer for Iron Man Movie

Have you ever seen a movie's special effects and thought... "that looks totally fake"? The new blockbuster Iron Man movie is just the opposite.

Filipino-American Matthew Libatique is one bad ass Pinoy to thank. Everyone I talk to says, "Iron Man is hella tight man...you have to see it"! Little do they know, it's a Pinoy behind the scenes making their jaws drop with his cinematography skills.

Yes there's more people involved, but I just wanted to acknowledge the accomplishments of Libatique. Filipinos are beautiful people, but we can make movies beautiful too.

Pilipino Culture Night at University of Washington

Photo by Kristin Okinaka.

By Annie Atherton
The Daily of University of Washington

Senior Natida Sribhibhadh performs with SAYAW, a traditional Filipino folk dance group, at Filipino Night 2008 last Sunday. The Filipino American Student Association put on the event, which had performances ranging from dancing to a martial arts demo.

In its annual, two-day event last weekend, members of the UW’s Filipino American Student Association (FASA) hosted “Filipino Night” to celebrate cultural pride.

“We wanted to showcase performers from many different parts of the community — from high school all the way up,” said senior Sharla-Lianne Leonen Semana, FASA’s Academic Chair.

The name “Press Play: Filipino Night 2008” played off the idea of YouTube, with the intent that the acts would be so good you would want to keep “pressing play.” Also, YouTube works to build connections within the community, as FASA hopes to do.

Twenty performances, ranging from dances, skits, stand-up comedy, musicals, martial arts, spoken word, bands and singers, kept crowds entertained throughout the event. Rather than featuring one headliner, the many acts were divided and varied to keep up interest. In between, videos that fit into the theme served as transitions.

“This is the first year it’s been a variety show,” said Carmelita Mejino, senior and FASA’s Cultural Chair. “In past years, the Cultural Chair wrote a play and that would be the whole show.”

FASA did write a shorter play this year — a 10-minute production called “Filipino Night Musical” that satirized the popular movie High School Musical.

Mejino has known of UW’s Filipino Night since she was young.

“I watched Filipino night when I was thirteen,” Mejino said. “My mom brought me then, and here I am now directing it.”

Though UW students comprised much of the audience and made up a good portion of the performers, a number of acts came from groups in the broader Filipino community. For instance, Project F.A.M.I.L.Y. featured spoken word acts from high school students involved in FASA’s mentorship program. Another group, the FILHARMONY choir, brought in adults from the Seattle area.

One especially popular act was a ukulele show by Lorenzo Tautua, a half Filipino, half Samoan musician who writes his own songs.

“Anyone who hears Lorenzo — girls and guys alike — fall in love with him,” Mejino said.

Those who attended Filipino Night felt it was highly attended and successful. Mejino estimated about 600 total people came to watch.

“It was a big event and people had a good time,” FASA member Mark Butin said.

Though the intent of Filipino Night was not to fundraise, tickets were $3 for students and seniors and $5 for the general public, primarily to cover the cost of production.

FASA has about 120 members, with about 70 involved in organizing the event. They began planning for this year’s Filipino Night in October and are excited to begin planning again for next year.

Pinay From Paradise Hotel 2 Chelsea Emata Will Release Debut Album

By REYMA BUAN-DEVEZA
abs-cbnNEWS.com

Filipina-American pop star Chelsea E. will finally release her first full-length album entitled "Greenlight Girl" in June.

The sexy, outgoing, flirty and talented Chelsea E. is a rising star in the independent music scene and is ready to change the face of pop music.

Chelsea is a native-born Filipino with Spanish and Chinese roots. She was raised in California and has lived in Los Angeles since the age of five. She graduated from L.A. County High School for the Arts.

For her album Chelsea has mixed an infectious blend of pop, acoustic, and urban sounds to create a collection that showcases her superb talent as a total performer.

Her kind of music has been compared to the styles of English pop singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield, award winning crooner Nelly Furtado, Black Eyed Peas vocalist Fergie and Grammy award winner singer-songwriter Pink.

Chelsea's excerpts from her private journal inspire her lyrics. She also describes her debut album as "a musical diary."

"This is an extremely personal album, it reflects who I am, and I based it off of my true life experiences. When I am hurt, angry, or upset, I find the only way to regain sanity is to cry it off, and then add lyrics and melody to the situation. That is how 'Greenlight Girl' was born!" Chelsea said. The album's tracks tell stories of heartbreak, relationship problems, the thrill of love at first sight, and the pangs of romantic frustration's all presented in catchy melodies and touching lyrics.

Chelsea E. rose to fame with her appearance on Fox reality TV series "Paradise Hotel 2" and became known as the "tease" in the house.

She was also a member of the all-Asian female pop group "SX4" for five years. She already had three singles under international recording BMG in the "Gangland Album" by the legendary Kool and the Gang.

"Greenlight Girl" will be available soon on iTunes, CD Baby, and in select Best Buy stores.

http://www.chelseaemata.com
http://www.myspace.com/chelseaemata

Jazzipino Fil-Am Jazz Singer Charmaine Clamor

FIL-AM artist Charmaine Clamor is a rising jazz star in the United States, that critics can’t get enough of her.

LA Weekly’s Brick Wahl, for one, recommended her recent two-night gig at Hollywood’s Catalina Bar & Grill as his jazz event pick of the week this way: “She made a big splash with Flippin’ Out -- its hip mix of beautifully arranged standards and jazzed-up Tagalog love songs took the ‘Filipina Singing Sensation’ into the upper reaches of the jazz and world charts. And no wonder:

Her husky, sassy tone, languid moves and unpretentious Pinoy attitude that’s just a tad rebellious have the kind of natural appeal you can’t buy at any music school.”

This acclaim is typical of the critical plaudits that Charmaine, who grew in Zambales, has been getting since she released her first CD. “Her debut album, Searching for the Soul, announced the arrival of an impressive new vocal artist,” raved Don Heckman of the LA Times.

Striking while the iron is hot, Charmaine will simultaneously release two CDs later this year -- one, an album of harana (serenades) songs, and the other, a follow-up to the very successful Flippin’ Out (available on charmaineclamor.com) showcasing jazzipino, her hybrid of jazz and Filipino music and lyrics. The concurrent release of these albums will make Charmaine the first Filipino artist to have two recordings climb the American charts at the same time.

Read more about her here and buy her CD today...

HOT FIL-AM EVENT! The Filipino-American Library Children’s Reading Event Presents "The Monkey and the Turtle" Filipino Folktale

The first and largest Filipino library in the country continues to share Filipino children’s books to families around Greater Los Angeles. Through its new Children’s Reading Program and with the co-sponsorship of the County of Los Angeles Public Library, the Filipino American Library (FAL) will have its next two events on Saturday, May 31 at Carson Regional Library (151 E. Carson St.) and Saturday, June 7 at Artesia Library (18722 S. Clarkdale Ave.) They will both be held from 2:00-4:00pm and are recommended for children ages 5-10. To RSVP for these free events, please contact filamlibrary@sbcglobal.net or 213-382-0488.

The FAL Children’s Reading Program promotes the value of diversity to children in Greater Los Angeles through the reading of Filipino children’s books. The May 31 event in Carson will feature the Filipino folktale The Monkey and the Turtle and the June 7 event in Artesia will highlight the theme of “handing down through generations.” Admission is free and donations are accepted. Snacks and drinks will be provided. The program is coordinated by Celeste B. Diaz, the FAL Children’s Librarian, and funded by grants from Wal-Mart and Citigroup Foundation.

Find out more here...