San Jose State University Akbayan Pilipino Club From California Wins 2008 Friendship Games

Spartan Daily - 10/28/2008
Danielle Torralba

SJSU's Akbayan Pilipino Club won the first place trophy in the 2008 Friendship Games this weekend at Cal State Fullerton.

The Friendship Games is an annual event that gathers about 50 Filipino-American student organizations, mostly in CSU and UC systems.

"Friendship Games is a highly anticipated event hosted by Cal State Fullerton's P.A.S.A. (Pilipino American Student Association) Kaibigan," said Austin Toloza, SJSU Friendship Games' head coach. "This event celebrates SPUF (Spirit, Pride, Unity and Friendship) with over 7,000 individuals and over 50 colleges and universities across the nation.

"The Friendship Games began in 1985 to bring together cultural clubs from various college campuses across Southern California," he said.

John Castillo, a junior business management and member of the Akbayan Pilipino club, said the actual preparation for the Friendship Games starts weeks and months beforehand.

"On paper, we have around 250 people, but for the Friendship Games 2008, we brought 150 people with us down to LA," Toloza said via e-mail.

Media Credit: Courtesy of Adrian Ricalde / SJSU’s Akbayan

Members of San Francisco State's P.A.C.E. (Pilipino-American Collegiate Endeavor) move quickly against Akbayan, SJSU's Filipino Club, during the tidal wave event at the 2008 Pilipino Friendship Games held at Cal State Fullerton on Saturday.

All the physical activities of the Friendship Games happened on Saturday of the three-day event, said Kevin Irabagon, the social chair and head coordinator for the Friendship Games.

"Our purpose of going down there was to represent SJSU and to show that SJSU is one of the most spirited schools in the entire West Coast," he said.

Toloza, a senior kinesiology major, explained how the events are divided over the weekend.

"In our team, there were three groups: Roll Call, Games Team and SPUF," he said. "The Roll Call group was the one who would rep SJSU during our one-minute routine. The SPUF team showed how much spirit they have as individuals, how much pride they have as a team, how united they are as an organization, school and, most importantly, how much friendships they develop between other schools and organizations throughout the day. They would try to out SPUF each school through the whole day, which means from 5 a.m. all the way through 6 p.m. Game teams competed in the actual games against other schools. All the groups came together and helped one another out in order for SJSU to be known that day."

The club won the first place trophy in the games event and placed third in the overall event, according to Castillo.

"Each year, this event continues to grow in size and scope," Toloza said. "Friendship Games has come to represent more than just Filipino-American college students. It has given a significant identity to individuals no matter what ethnicity. This is a time when old friends reunite and where new friendships form, ultimately coming together to celebrate the Filipino heritage."

Filipino-American Jon Irabagon Wins the World's Most Prestigious Jazz Competition International

The Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition is the most prestigious jazz competition in the world. It has launched the careers of a number of major jazz greats including Joshua Redman, Jane Monheit, and Joey DeFrancesco. This year, a Filipino-American, Jon Irabagon, won the competition. In addition to a $20,000 scholarship, Irabagon was also awarded a recording contract with Concord Music Group. The label plans to release Jon's album in mid-2009.

Jon Irabagon grew up in Chicago and began playing the saxophone at age eight. He received his master's degree at the Manhattan School of Music. He received two Downbeat awards and has participated in Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead and the Henry Mancini Institute. Since moving to New York, he has performed with Billy Joel, Wynton Marsalis, Lou Reed and Debbie Gibson. But tonight this illustrious list expanded: he shared the stage with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, George Duke, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Cassandra Wilson, Terence Blanchard, The Edge and Bono of U2, and the legendary B.B. King.Representatives from The Jazz Society of the Philippines, USA were there during the semifinal and final competition at the Kodak Theater on October 26, 2008 to support this hugely talented Filipino-American. Irabagon has made history by being the first Filipino to hold this most prestigious title. He is scheduled to appear at the 4th Annual Filipino -American Jazz Festival, at Catalina Bar & Grill, in Hollywood, on December 27th.

HOT FIL-AM EVENT - National Federation of Filipino-American Associations (NaFFAA) 8th National Convention September 26-27, 2008

SEATTLE — Filipino-American community leaders from all over the U.S., including Hawaii and Guam, will converge here when the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations (NaFFAA) holds its 8th national convention.

The city will play host from September 26-27, 2008 to a gathering that is projected to exceed 500 Filipinos from all over the U.S. and other countries. Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama are invited to speak to the delegates.

“Forging a New Filipino-American Agenda for the 21st Century" is the theme of the three-day national conference that will be held at the Westin Hotel in the heart of downtown Seattle.

In line with the theme, workshop/panel discussions and break-out sessions will be offered throughout the conference and will focus on political empowerment, community human and health services program development, community economic development, youth educational and cultural programming and media and the arts.

Various activities have been lined up for the conference delegates. On the first day, networking among delegates includes a golf tournament and sightseeing tours. Plenary sessions and workshops begin on Friday, September 26, following formal opening ceremonies that will be graced by Governor Christine Gregoire and King County Executive Ron Sims.

Workshops and networking continue until Saturday and will be capped in the evening with a gala night and awards presentation.

Sunday activities include an interfaith service at Westin and mass at the nearby St. James Cathedral that will be followed by brunch and the formal closing of the conference.

Registration fee of $195 per delegate includes all workshops, materials, meals and the gala night. NaFFAA’s official business schedule includes ratification of proposed changes to NaFFAA’s By-laws, approval of resolutions and election of national officers.

Reservations for booth exhibitors are in fill swing, organizers report. As in previous national conferences of this magnitude, sponsors and exhibitors from as far away as Manila, Canada and Australia are eager participants.

Visit www.naffaa.org for more information and to register.

Ohio Filipino American running for US Congress - Senator Stephen C. Austria

JOSEPH LARIOSA
CHICAGO, Illinois

A Filipino American running for US Congress may yet save the day for the Filipino Veterans bill pending before the US Congress.

Ohio State Senator Stephen C. Austria is running for US Congress under the Republican Party for the open seat of the 7th District in Ohio.

He will be in the best position to lobby at least 39 US Republican members of the House of Representatives into voting for passage of Senate Bill 1315 in the House.

Part of the bill grants full benefits for non-service disability pensions to Filipino World War II veterans.

His father, the late Dr. Clement G. Austria, was a “guerrilla under (American) Gen. Douglas MacArthur while studying medicine at the University of Santo Tomas," that was turned into prison camp by Japanese Invading Forces during World War II.

In an email to this reporter, Austria’s wife, Eileen, quoted her mother-in law, Jean Brockman Austria, as saying that her father-in-law was born in Tiaong, Quezon in the Philippines.

When he was still very young, Steve went to the Philippines three times in 1960 and 1961 and spent six weeks in the Philippines shortly after graduating from high school.

Steve’s folk wanted him to stay for good in the Philippines but his mother prevailed upon him to come back to the United States.

Armin M. Sayson, President, Philippine-American Society of Greater Dayton (Ohio), provided this reporter a brief bio-data of Steve Austria given to him by Steve’s wife, Eileen.

Eileen Austria said Stephen Clement Austria was born in 1958 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
His parents are Jean Brockman Austria of Cincinnati and the late Dr. Clement G. Austria who was born in the Philippines and came to Cincinnati, Ohio to attend Medical School.

“Jean was a nurse and he was a doctor and that is how they met," Sayson said. Steve is the eldest of nine children - all of whom have graduated from Catholic universities or colleges with their bachelor's degrees and several graduating from medical, dental or optometry schools.

Steve graduated from Marquette University in 1981 with a degree in Political Science. Marquette is a Catholic, Jesuit university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After graduation, Steve worked in politics for a couple of years before turning his professional interests in becoming a Financial Planner with the American Express Company for nearly 16 years.

When public service called, Steve successfully ran for state representative in Ohio in 1998, moving up to the Ohio Senate in 2000 and being re-elected again in 2004.

The family of Dr. Clement Austria was named one of the top 10 families of the year in the nation and was honored at the Reagan White House in 1985. Dr. Austria was a community leader and died unexpectedly at the age of 62 in November 1986.

Senator Steve Austria currently represents Ohio's 10th Senate District, which includes approximately 375,000 people and covers all of Clark, Greene, and Madison Counties.
Steve and his wife, Eileen, have three sons, Brian, Kevin and Eric.

Brad Mascho, Campaign Manager for Steve Austria for U.S. Congress said Senator Steve Austria is currently the Majority Whip of the Ohio Senate.

He is seeking election to the U.S. House of Representatives of Ohio’s 7th Congressional District, currently held by Congressman Dave Hobson, who announced his retirement late last year and has strongly endorsed Senator Austria’s election.

According to the Los Angeles, California-based Asian Journal, African American Congressman Robert C. “Bobby" Scott (D-VA-03) is the only member of the U.S. House of Representatives to claim Filipino parentage. His mother is a daughter of a Filipino, Valentin Cortez Hamlin.- GMANews.TV

HOT FIL-AM EVENT: 2008 Yerba Buena Gardens Festival Presents Pistahan - Filipino American Arts Exposition

Date and Time:
Sat Aug 9 (11:00am - 5:00pm)
Sun Aug 10 (11:00am - 5:00pm)

Location:
Yerba Buena Gardens Mission between 3rd and 4th Street
San Francisco, CA
district: SoMa

The two-day 14th annual Pistahan all family-friendly with an inimitable Filipino-American flair, is the largest festival of the season. Pistahan features seven pavilions and several stages highlighting music, dance, art, crafts, cuisine, artifacts, and a special trade expo featuring products unique to the Philippines: mother of pearl, bamboo, coconut, Philippine mahogany, marble, pineapple fiber and more.