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Ever since the Philippine government launched its “Balikbayan” program 30 years ago to attract Filipino expatriates to visit their homeland, millions of overseas Filipinos — particularly Filipino-Americans — have visited their ancestral land.

WASHINGTON-Susan Au Allen, national president and CEO of US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC), holding a noon staff meeting at her office near the District’s Dupont Circle, was talking about the organization’s excellence in business awards.

MANILA -Don’t listen to Raul Gonzalez and sycophants, Rep. Antonio Cuenco urges Mrs. Arroyo. Good advice.

With more than 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States, congressional leaders are finally seeing the real problem — America’s borders are not secure. But isn’t this what the American people have been saying for years? Yet, the politicians in Washington, DC are blaming the illegal immigrants for all the problems America is having. And so, before the US Congress recessed last December, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4437, known as the “Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005," buoyed with optimism that it would sail through the Senate without a storm.

The White House Internship Program is seeking candidates for internship in the Fall, Spring and Summer. The program offers an excellent opportunity to serve the President and explore public service.

ROXBORO, Canada – Filipino Canadian Associations this month held meetings with officials of the Commission Scolaire Marguerite Bourgeoys in an attempt to resolve what is claimed to be a racist act against a Filipino student because he ate with a spoon and fork.

Filipinos all over the world, including in the US and in the Philippines expressed outrage when 7-year-old Luc Cagadoc was reportedly told by a school official in Roxboro that his eating with a spoon and fork was “disgusting and yucky.” The Filipino Canadian community has asked for an apology from the school officials and threatened to file a human rights complaint against the school board which backed up the school’s decision.

On Sunday, June 4th during the Philippine Fair and Parade, on Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC between 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., the art committee of the PAFC Philippine Festival Committee will once again conduct an onsite art contest for children ages 3 to 16 years old. Children must interpret the theme, “100 Years: Creative Unity in the Community." Each age category has a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prize awarded. The age categories are:

+ 3 to 6 years old

LeRoid David, a second generation Filipino American born in Mountain View, California and raised in San Francisco, created this logo for the centennial of Filipino immigration to the United States. He has a BA in Visaul Communications (cum laude) at San Francisco State University. The logo depicts the Philippine sun rising in America. The red and white stripes are waves that brought a group of pioneering Filipinos and Filipinas a hundred years ago. Above the waves, three stars hang in the blue skies-representing the major islands of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The stars are derived from the American flag as well. The red, white and blue colors are a common connection between the Philippine and the United States flag and are traditionally associated with patriotism, justice and equality. And finally, the Philippine sun- a distinguished symbol of our history as a people. The Filipino American story is comprised of triumphs and tragedies, victory and defeat, life and death. We share a significant piece of the American tapestry.

WASHINGTON D.C. - The Philippine American war that started in 1989 prevented President (General) Emilio Aguinaldo from forming what was to be the first independent government to be established in Southeast Asia. It could also be likened, according to some historians, as America’s “first Iraq” in Southeast Asia at the turn of the century.

The difference, however, was that Aguinaldo was not a dangerous tyrant in the likes of Saddam Hussein. Neither was he or the Philippines a threat to United States. But he was a stumbling block to US President William McKinley’s decision to occupy the Philippines. The Philippine troops, after years of fighting the Spaniards, were not prepared or equipped enough to face a well-armed American army bent on carrying out McKinley’s directive to ‘civilize’ the Filipinos.

(Special to the Manila Mail)

As the Chinese saying goes, “When Monkey and Snake come together, their combined talent and intelligence brings victory.” 1944 was the Year of the Monkey. On July 26th of that year, the U.S. Commander in Chief, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, born in the Year of the Snake (DOB: January 30, 1882), had a critical decision to make.

On the occasion of the annual celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May, the census bureau issued these facts and statistics about this minority group. The census bureau said that in the past, the first 10 days of May were chosen to coincide with two important milestones in Asian/Pacific American history: the arrival in the United States of the first Japanese immigrants (May 7, 1843) and contributions of Chinese workers to the building of the transcontinental railroad, completed on May 10, 1869. In 1992, Congress expanded the 10-day observance to a month-long celebration.

The Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC) early this month joined the Fiesta Asia festival in Washington D.C.

The Philippines had the biggest contingent in the parade which included the Aklan Ati-Atihan group of Virginia and Maryland.

Oh say can you see by the dawn’s early light - nakikita mo ba sa bukang liwayway.

No one probably would have cared if a Pilipino rendition of the American national anthem went on the air. But not for “Nuestro Himno,” a Spanish-language adaptation. Its airing on Hispanic radio stations unleashed a wave of indignation all over the United States. Liberals and conservatives alike denounced the Latino version as a “desecration of a national symbol." President Bush himself said “The Star-Spangled Banner" should be sung exclusively in English. Not to do so, he warns, would endanger the national soul. Filipino American commentator Michelle Malkin dubbed “Nuestro Himno” the “Illegal Immigrant Anthem.”

Carlos Bulosan was the author of America is in the Heart. His works also include an essay on one of the Four Freedoms, a project commissioned during the time of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Bulosan was active during his time in the labor movement, promoting the rights of Filipino farm workers.

MANILA – Filipinos remain the most cheerful and happiest people in Asia despite all the financial troubles and perennial political squabbles hobbling them, a senior Catholic bishop said recently.
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, a vocal critic of the administration, said the Filipino people have kept their optimism and hospitality in the face of varied economic and socio-political crises.