PETER’S PINOY PATTER — JANUARY 2016
Bridge Generation News
Cebu”, the 1991 novel by Peter Bacho and winner of the American Book Award, may be made into a full length movie. A professionally made five minute marketing video based on the novel is now making the rounds of potential producers. “Cebu” tells the story of the conflict between Filipino and Filipino American cultures through the struggles of an American born pinoy priest. I found the book to be riveting and hard to put down. The marketing video promises more of the same. Click on lunaventure2@yahoo.com for further details and how you can help make the teaser video into a full length movie. In the meantime please pass the word. “Cebu” was Bacho’s first book. Since then he has authored an impressive collection of books of fiction focusing on the Filipino experience in America and abroad. Let’s wish the exciting effort to make “Cebu” into a movie becomes a reality……….. Abe and Rosita “Daday” (Adlao) Amen of Stockton recently celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary with family and friends. To add to the festivities, a few days later they celebrated granddaughter Melanie Amen‘s winning the Ori Tahiti Nui world dance championship. Competing against native Tahitians and other dancers from around the world on November 28-30 at the Hotel Le Meriden in Tahiti, Melanie’s impeccable dance routine earned the coveted first place prize. She was accompanied to Tahiti by proud parents Kevin and Yolanda Amen. Upon their return home, she was honored with a city celebration highlighted by a presentation by Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva……….. Speaking of dance, Tony Ogilvie, Sonny Tangalin, Angie (Quintero) Flores and their graceful partners — all of Seattle — dazzled party guests with a stylish tango exhibition. The event was Tony’s 70th birthday celebration………….. Salvatore Baldomar of SoCal is related to a diplomatic luminary. His niece, Dawn Liberi, currently serves as the U.S.Ambassador to Burundi — the only Filipino American to hold the high level post of ambassador……….. “It’s about time” was a oft-heard comment uttered after the official December 18 naming of the Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School in the East Bay community of Union City CA. “About time” was a fitting comment especially when you consider that Filipinos set foot in what is now California as long ago as 1563; when you consider that great numbers of Filipinos arrived in America more than one hundred years ago; and when you consider that the bill’s author was Rob Bonta, the first Filipino American to be elected — finally in 2012 — to the California Legislature. Among the many folks who led the prolonged naming effort were activist Joe Angeles, Filipino Advocates for Justice Executive Director Lillian Galedo, and the spirited students of James Logan High School……….. Also celebrating a renaming on December 18 were Filipino Americans in San Diego where the Woodman Overpass was renamed the Itliong-Vera Cruz Memorial Bridge. Located off Highway 54, the area surrounding the bridge is densely populated by Filipinos. Thanks to Judy Patacsil and the San Diego Chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society for spearheading the renaming………. My kid brother Joe Jamero is busting his buttons. After a rigorous application process, his granddaughter, Jillian Jamero, was officially notified of her acceptance to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs CO. She was judged on her academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, athletics, and character. She also had to pass a fitness test, undergo a thorough medical examination, and be nominated by her congressman. Upon graduation from the Academy’s four-year program, Jillian will receive a Bachelor of Science degree and be commissioned a second lieutenant…………. Congratulations to Ed and Beverly Ventura on their 23rd wedding anniversary……….. Wishing Jack Alpenia of La Palma a speedy recovery after being hospitalized for pneumonia. Jack was a mainstay at old timer reunions, particularly for his prowess on the golf course…………….. Also wishing a speedy recovery to another reunion regular — Pas Fidel of Rancho Cordova who is home adjusting to the recent implant of a pacemaker…………. Sad to report the passing of Al Florita of Torrance at the age of 93…………. Happy January Birthdays to: Hank Dacuyan, George Ramiriz, Beverly (Daquioag) Ventura, Nina (Dublin) Gonzalez, Larry Flores, George Jamero, and Franklin Ladaga.
Pinakbet — News Across the Country
Filipinos Americans are directly impacted by terrorism too. Remember Joseph Ileto, the Southern California postal worker who was among those killed by a white supremacist in 1999? The latest to be impacted is Trudy Raymundo, Director of the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, a survivor of the mass shooting at the hands of the married couple of Pakistani descent who killed 14 people and injured 21 on December 2. She hid under a table to escape the carnage. Still seeming a bit shaken the following Monday, Raymundo appeared at a press conference on nationwide television to discuss the terrorist shooting with the media…………The Marae Gallery of the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago opened its doors to ten Filipino artists to create a remarkable art piece inspired by the more than 10,000 archaeological and ethnographic artifacts in its collection of objects from the Philippines. The unveiling of the 28 foot long mural on November 7, titled “Deconstructing Filipino”, was the final collaborative work by ten artists — five Filipinos and five Filipino Americans. Thanks to Ed Diokno of Chicago for the story…………… It was good to see Veronica De La Cruz resurface as anchor for cable news MSNBC after serving in that capacity for years on other national and local television. In addition to her television work, De La Cruz, is also known for her work on the plight of migrant farm workers and features on Asian Americans, health care reform, and crackdowns of vice……… Also recently emerging on the national television scene was Francis Rivera when she took over co-anchor duties on cable news MSNBC in New York City. An Emmy Award winner as Outstanding Anchor in 2007, she was with WHDC-TV Boston for ten years……….. The Eighth Annual Filipino Heritage Night on November 14 saw a Golden State Warriors overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets at Oracle Arena in Oakland. The win was the eleventh in a Warrior regular season winning streak that would eventually reach 28 straight wins — the second highest in the history of the National Basketball Association. The capacity crowd was entertained at halftime by the American Center of Philippine Arts. A pregame tailgate party featured Filipino food trucks and live entertainment with DJ Romeo Reyes. The team wore special edition Filipino Heritage Night shirts during pregame shooting practice. The Warriors were well represented at the game by Filipino Americans: Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Cabalquinto; Franco Finn, the Warriors hype man and only Filipino serving in that capacity in the NBA; and several beautiful dancers with the Warrior Girls……….. Jordan Clarkson of the Los Angeles Lakers was named to the NBA All-Rookie first team as a guard……….In other sports: Cris Crisostomo, a karate teacher from Diamond Bar CA won five medals (4 golds and a silver) for Team USA at the World Unified Championships of Martial Arts on November 5-8 in Benidorm, Spain. The event drew 3,000 competitors from around the world. Doug Baldwin of the Seattle Seahawks joined Hall of Famer Jerry Rice as the only wide receivers in National Football League history to catch ten touchdowns over four straight games………… Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach‘s win in the Miss Universe contest on December 20 was the third victory for a Miss Philippines in the history of the competition. Gloria Diaz won in 1969 and Margie Moran took home the crown in 1973………….. On December 18 Dorie Paniza was named by the Daly City Council as Citizen of the Year……….. Jewel Allen of Grantsville, UT is the first Filipino to win a city council position in Utah State history………… Singer Charice Pempenco, now 23, has been drawing raves since she started performing at age 7. Dubbed by Oprah Winfrey as “the most talented girl in the world” and praised on the Ellen Degeneres show, she has performed with such international stars as Celine Dion and Josh Gorban and has a recurring role as Sunshine Corazon on the popular TV show “Glee”………. Mark Dacascos who plays Wo Fat on “Hawaii Five-O” on ABC-TV is said to soon be joining the cast of “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D”…………. A superior court judge ruled on December 21 that the San Francisco police officers who exchanged racist and homophobic text messages that included slurs against Filipinos in 2012 will keep their jobs and not face any disciplinary action. One message referred to Filipinos as “filthy flips” and “disgusting”. Police Chief Greg Suhr had recommended that 14 police officers be fired. But the judge’s ruling said that the police department failed to properly address the misconduct allegations in a timely manner. Vivian Zalvidea Araullo, executive director of West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center said, “The judge’s ruling will impact the reputation of the department and the trust of the community they serve. Its repercussions will be mistrust and anger towards the system which is the last thing that San Francisco needs right now.”…………. Filipino American History Trivia: (1) Name the UCLA Bruin basketball guard who went on to play for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association; (2) Who wrote “Makibaka: The Pilipino American Struggle”?; (3) Name the first National President of the Filipino American National Historical Society.