The Filipino Friends Blog

A Tribute to Filipino American World War II Veterans

If you are near to this event, do go and let’s all pay homage to all the Filipino-American WWII vets! I am a Navy Veteran and feel honored to be and I want to Thanks them for what they have done to help the war. This article is from here

To commemorate Filipino American History month in October, the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program presents a panel discussion to honor the history and campaign of Filipino and Filipino American veterans for recognition and equity.

Time:
Friday, October 23, 2009
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Location:
Rasmuson Auditorium
National Museum of the American Indian
4th Street and Independence Avenue

Metro:
L’Enfant Plaza (Yellow or Green lines)
Maryland Avenue/Smithsonian Museums exit

In July 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt drafted 140,000 soldiers of the Philippines to fight alongside American soldiers against invading Japanese forces. In 1942, Congress passed legislation allowing Filipino veterans to become U.S. citizens, but, in 1946, President Harry Truman signed bills rescinding those citizenship and veteran benefits. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed a law allowing Filipino veterans to come to the United States and to become citizens but without the veteran benefits. For more than 60 years, Filipino veterans are still fighting for their rights.

Rick Rocamora, a Filipino American photojournalist, documented the plight of these elderly veterans as they try to start new lives in the United States. Rocamora will discuss his documentary photography and sign books at the end of the program. He will be joined on the panel by local Filipino American World War II veterans.

This event is free and open to the public.

“LOVE THE PHILIPPINES BY HEART” by Jaeyoun Kim

This was sent to me from my family’s email list and I’ve read it thru and its what I’ve been saying all along, we need to all stand together and love our country and help each other out. Will only then the Corruption stop, sure we go to Church, but then what? We are all around the globe, if each of us, just love our country, our neighbor…we can change it! If you read thru this from another person eyes and tells you what is missing, let’s all open our eyes and start changing it!! 🙂 Thanks Aunt Mary for sharing this and Thank you Jaeyoun Kim for letting us know what is lacking.

SUBJECT: KOREAN ESSAY WORTH READING

Please pass it to all Filipinos you know. The message goes:

As you know, we have plenty of Koreans currently studying in the Philippines to take advantage of our cheaper tuition fees and learn English at the same time.

This is an essay written by a Korean student i want to share with you. (Never mind the grammar; it’s the CONTENT that counts) Maybe it is time to think about this in the midst of all the confusion at present.

MY SHORT ESSAY ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES
Jaeyoun Kim

Filipinos always complain about the corruption in the Philippines . Do you really think the corruption is the problem of the Philippines ? I do not think so. I strongly believe that the problem is the lack of love for the Philippines .

Let me first talk about my country, Korea . It might help you understand my point..After the Korean War, South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world. Koreans had to start from scratch because entire country was destroyed after the Korean War, and we had no natural resources.

Koreans used to talk about the Philippines , for Filipinos were very rich in Asia . We envy Filipinos. Koreans really wanted to be well off like Filipinos. Many Koreans died of famine. My father & brother also died because of famine. Korean government was very corrupt and is still very corrupt beyond your imagination, but Korea was able to develop dramatically because Koreans really did their best for the common good with their heart burning with patriotism.

Koreans did not work just for themselves but also for their neighborhood and country. Education inspired young men with the spirit of patriotism.

40 years ago, President Park took over the government to reform Korea . He tried to borrow money from other countries, but it was not possible to get a loan and attract a foreign investment because the economic situation of South Korea was so bad. Korea had only three factories. So, President Park sent many mine workers and nurses to Germany so that they could send money to Korea to build a factory. They had to go through horrible experience..

In 1964,   President Park visited Germany to borrow money. Hundred of Koreans in Germany came to the airport to welcome him and cried there as they saw the   President Park . They asked to him, “President, when can we be well off?” That was the only question everyone asked to him. President Park cried with them and promised them that Korea would be well off if everyone works hard for Korea , and the President of Germany got the strong impression on them and lent money to Korea . So, President Park was able to build many factories in Korea . He always asked Koreans to love their country from their heart.

Many Korean scientists and engineers in the USA came back to   Korea to help developing country
because they wanted their country to be well off. Though they received very small salary, they did their best for   Korea . They always hoped that their children would live in well off country.

My parents always brought me to the places where poor and physically handicapped people live. They wanted me to understand their life and help them. I also worked for Catholic Church when I was in the army. The only thing I learned from Catholic Church was that we have to love our neighborhood. And, I have loved my neighborhood. Have you cried for the Philippines? I have cried for my country several times. I also cried for the Philippines because of so many poor people. I have been to the New Bilibid prison. What made me sad in the prison were the prisoners who do not have any love for their country. They go to mass and work for Church. They pray
everyday.

However, they do not love the Philippines . I talked to two prisoners at the maximum-security compound, and both of them said that they would leave the Philippines right after they are released from the prison. They said that they would start a new life in other countries and never come back to the Philippines

Many Koreans have a great love for Korea so that we were able to share our wealth with our neighborhood.. The owners of factory and company were distributed their profit to their employees fairly so that employees could buy what they needed and saved money for the
future and their children.

When I was in Korea , I had a very strong faith and wanted to be a priest. However, when I came to the   Philippines , I completely lost my faith. I was very confused when I saw many unbelievable
situations in the Philippines . Street kids always make me sad, and I see them everyday. The Philippines is the only Catholic country in Asia , but there are too many poor people here.
People go to church every Sunday to pray, but nothing has been changed.

My parents came to the Philippines last week and saw this situation. They told me that   Korea was much poorer than the present Philippines when they were young. They are so sorry that there are so many beggars and street kids. When we went to Pasangjan, I forced my parents to take a boat because it would fun. However, they were not happy after taking a boat. They said that they would not take the boat again because they were sympathized the boatmen, for the boatmen were very poor and had a small frame. Most of people just took a boat and enjoyed it.
But, my parents did not enjoy it because of love for them.

My mother who has been working for Catholic Church since I was very young told me that if we just go to mass without changing ourselves, we are not Catholic indeed. Faith should come with action. She added that I have to love Filipinos and do good things for them because all of us are same and have received a great love from God. I want Filipinos to love their neighborhood and country as much as they love God so that the Philippines will be well off..

I am sure that love is the keyword, which Filipinos should remember. We cannot change the sinful structure at once. It should start from person. Love must start in everybody, in a small scale and have to grow. A lot of things happen if we open up to love. Let’s put away our prejudices and look at our worries with our new eyes.

I discover that every person is worthy to be loved. Trust in love, because it makes changes possible. Love changes you and me. It changes people, contexts and relationships. It changes the world. Please love your neighborhood and country.

Jesus Christ said that whatever we do to others we do to Him. In the Philippines , there is God for people who are abused and abandoned. There is God who is crying for love. If you have a child, teach them how to love the Philippines . Teach them why they have to love their neighborhood and country. You already know that God also will be very happy if you love others.

That’s all I really want to ask you Filipinos.

October 12th,2009 Interesting Facts | tags: aunt mary, corruption in the philippines, countries in the world, country korea, email list, famine, filipinos, grammar, jaeyoun kim, korean student, korean war, koreans, love, midst, neighbor, open our eyes, poorest countries in the world, scratch, short essay, south korea, tuition fees | 10 Comments

White House chef, banker & artist win BPinoy Awards

This award mean so much to all the pilipinos that lives abroad and to be recognized for their hard work and sacrifices these people have risen above the obstacles and made good! So I say to all the winners of the BPINOYS awards.. WELL DONE TO ALL OF YOU…and may it continue to inspire all other pilipinos around the world! Thank you Good News Pilipinas for such wonderful articles to all of us living abroad! 🙂

Three overseas-based Filipinos were awarded for their world-class skills at the 4th BPinoy Awards in Manila.

White House executive chef Cristeta Pasia-Comerford, Eli Remalona, chief representative for the Asia and the Pacific of the Bank for International Settlements, and renowned painter Anita Magsaysay-Ho, were chosen by the Bank of the Philippine Islands as this year’s 4th BPInoy Awardees.

The recognition is given to outstanding Filipinos all over the world who have served as excellent examples of how to “Be Pinoy” even when one is working outside the Philippines.

The BPInoy Awards is an annual initiative of BPI to encourage nationalism among Filipinos abroad and to communicate BPI’s commitment to excellence in the service of overseas Filipinos.

Former BPinoy awardees include world-renowned musical theater artist Lea Salonga, US-based technology entrepreneur Diosdado “Dado” Banatao, internationally-known fashion designer Monique Lhuillier, famous heart surgeon Dr. George Garcia of Asian Hospital & Medical Center, International Fashion designer Josie Natori, and BBC World News Anchor Rico Hizon.

Both Comerford and Remalona despite facing discrimination in their work in the past, either because of their race and or their stature, said that they remained focused on doing their jobs.

“You can’t let it put you down. Deal with it and move on when someone’s picking on you,” Remalona said.

Comerford, on the other hand, said that although one can not control other people, Filipinos can always control themselves and how they would respond to any mistreatment.

The Filipina chef, who was handpicked by former first lady Laura Bush in 2005, said every dish she serves to the United States’ first family always carries that distinct Filipino quality.

Comerford remained as executive chef when US President Barack Obama assumed office this year.

“It’s not necessarily serving them ‘adobo”, but there’s always that sense of family, sense of community. In the Philippines, it’s good to be part of the community. That’s the ‘Pinoyness’ in what I do – having that “Bayanihan Spirit”,” she said.

Remalona, on the other hand, said he is most proud of the Filipinos’ “combination of hard work and good humor.”

“I’ve never met any group of people who face hardship and adversity and still have a sense of humor. Despite ill conditions, Filipinos can still laugh,” he said.

Comerford said like most families, the Obamas are just simple people who ask for simple meals and that the Obama couple just want to have food that is healthy and good.

“It’s more a circular thing for me because I came from a huge family. We were 11 in our family. I think it was in the second or third grade when I volunteered to take care of preparing my family’s food. Back then, for me, it was just a fun thing to do. Right now, I don’t take it as a career but a calling,” she said.

She said Michelle Obama’s kitchen garden, where the first family gets the vegetables served on their table, was reminiscent of her childhood summers spent in the houses of her grandparents either in Bulacan or in Batangas, where vegetables abound.