“We are joining more than 12 national organizations in making a visible presence in Congress and in presenting a clear and unified call for humane and just immigration reform," Caoile said.

“We applauded the White House last year for continuing to push for more comprehensive reform," Kern recalled. “Now we are alarmed by this proposal which not only fails to expedite the existing backlog, but charges additional fees."

Kern urged instead the passage of a bipartisan comprehensive reform bill introduced recently by Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) and Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Az). Called the Security through Regularized Immigration and Vibrant Economy or STRIVE Act, it contains provisions that immigrants support. Instead of eliminating family-based preferences, it would reduce a 23-year backlog to six years, thus speeding up the immigration of adult children who will contribute to the national economy by bringing their skills and talents to that country.

Kern pointed out that it has a provision that would finally unify Filipino World War II veterans and their sons and daughters who have been waiting for many years to join their aging parents.

She also said that Rep. Ed Case (D-HI) and Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) had introduced measures in the last Congress to exempt children of certain Filipino veterans from the numerical limitation on immigrant visas. Akaka reintroduced it again last month, and NaFFAA has since advocated for its approval by the US Congress.

“We are urging all our NcFFAA affiliates to call their representatives and senators to pass the STRIVE Act. And we are also calling on President Bush to fulfill his pledge in his State of the Nation Address last year to show the character of America in our compassion and care for one another."

NaFFAA is among more than a dozen national convenors that are organizing the Asian Pacific American community to meet in Washington D.C. on April 30 and May 1 and hold community dialogues, legislative visits and a mass rally for “a more humane immigration reform."

@9PTCA = ***

GO’s coup de grace. The Genuine Opposition or GO has finally come out with its lethal political ads that could very well put an end to the tainted presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

None of the GO candidates are featured in the TV polimercials, since they already are far, far ahead in the senatorial race, as shown by the latest of public opinion surveys. Instead, the ads are focused on the gargantuan failures of Gloria and her administration to eradicate corruption, hunger, high prices, and human rights violations.

The 30-second lethal ads carry GO’s slogan of “Kontra sa Nakawan, Sagot sa Kahirapan" and are bolstered by film footages of the suffering poor masses, the violent dispersal of people’s assemblies and public rallies by Gloria’s police and military minions, and the billion-peso scams and election scandals as typified by the infamous “Hello Garci” tapes.

And, finally, “Malulunasan ang kahirapan pag natigil ang nakawan! Panahon na! Isang boto laban sa nakaupo!" Or, in English, “Poverty will end once corruption is stopped! The time has come! One vote against the incumbent (meaning Gloria Arroyo, of course!)"

Yes, indeed, the May 14 elections will clearly be a people’s referendum against Gloria’s illegitimate presidency.