And here are additional reports from other Tsismosos about recent embassy happenings:

 “This Tsimoso does not know if it was a boycott or collective amnesia but prominent members of the Filipino-American community and reporters who regularly cover embassy events were nowhere to be found when Police Deputy Director Gen. Avelino Razon held a Pulong Bayan at the Philippine embassy on March 22 to rebut allegations by human rights groups that the military was responsible for a wave of unsolved killings in the Philippines.

“Gen. Razon, the embassy’s Defense Attaches and other key embassy people were obviously disappointed at the poor turnout especially after they spent days preparing for the event with Q&A rehearsals and fine-tuning of power point presentations. The embassy ordered enough food to feed a small army, but other than the embassy staff which turned out en mass for the presentation only a handful of outsiders were spotted at the event.  At least the food didn’t go to waste.  There were a lot of ‘pabalots’.

And here is another one, obviously from a member of the Filipino American press:

“Speaking of food, Filipino reporters are being left out in the cold when White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford and Filipino-American Cliff Wharton, Chef de Cuisine of the top rated Ten Penh restaurant, team up for a cooking demonstration to showcase Philippine culture and cusine on May 19 at the Ten Penh restaurant on Pennsylvania Avenue.

“Cultural attache Joy Quintana a key organizer of the food fest apparently decided it was better to invite American reporters only. Why the discrimination?  Colonial mentality? Or is this symptomatic of the lack of coordination and direction at the top.

 “Could it be that the reporters did not turn up for Gen. Razon’s presentation because of the shabby treatment they seem to be getting from Joy Quintana?  Their main complaint is “when we’re needed we’re called. When we’re not needed, we’re ignored."

Tsimoso hopes this is not the start of a “war” between the embassy and the Filipino reporters. Maybe it’s time for Ambassador Willy Gaa to step in and show leadership.

Shhhhh...Although Sen. Barbara Boxer explicitly prohibited the Philippine military to be present at her hearing in the Senate recently because their presence might intimidate the witnesses. Yet, some Tsismosos say they saw some members of the Defense Attache’s Office at the back of the room furiously scribbling notes.  And that Gen. Razon was also seen by others peeping in the room. Were the military men (in plainclothes) listing the names of people inside the hearing room to be included in their ‘black list’?

Filipino American community leaders have been heard grumbling about the lack of charisma and PR (public relations) by Ambassador Willy C. Gaa. More than a year after he assumed his post as Philippine representative to Washington D.C., some community leaders now say he is a far cry from the way his predecessor, Ambassador Albert del Rosario, captured the hearts and minds of the community.

Except for his willingness to pose with every Pedro, Juan and Jose for a picture he has not done anything to endear himself to Filipino Americans, particularly now that his boss, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is being pilloried by human rights activists in the US. Perhaps he does not need our support, they add.

Some press people say they have ceased asking the ambassador any question. They claim that after the departure of Deputy Chief of Mission Evan “The Sphinx” Garcia, the ambassador had assumed his role and adopted the famous motto of Sen. Genaro Magsaysay, bother of the late President, who said: “No comment, no mistake.” One reporter said that when told that his demeanor would not help communicate his thoughts and endear him to the community, the ambassador reportedly said: “I am just doing what I am supposed to do.”  

And here’s an email from Virginia Beach where the ambassador recently attended a Filipino American meeting. “The Filipino American community was very happy that Ambassador Willy C. Gaa attended out meeting. But they were disappointed that he did not show any enthusiasm in meeting with them. Except for the photo ops, he was mostly tight-lipped about anything that was of interest to the community.”

Joke of the Month in Manila:

“St. Peter asked the Lord why the Philippines was spared from the devastating effects of the 2004 Asian Tsunami. The Good Lord said that an even worse fate has already befallen  the Filipinos. They have a “TSUNANO!”

TSUNANO" is a play on the Filipino word “unano” which means dwarf.

Tsunano cleverly alludes to the little woman with a huge penchant for creating political tsunamis - Madame Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Another joke going around DC, including the Philippine embassy in Washington D.C. How do you use “kauntingplate” in Taglish (Tagalog-English)? The host served served pagkain with kauntingplate. (The host served food with a little plate.)

An observant Tsismoso sent in the following observation about the recent awards given by Philcentral, a website for Filipinos: “I read in your last issue about Ambassador Willy C. Gaa being picked as one of the 12 outstanding Filipinos in the world by Philcentral, an internet website. I wish to congratulate him. I also want to congratulate his fellow awardee, Rep. Satur Ocampo and deplore his recent arrest by the Arroyo military. I don’t know what standards have been used in the selection process. I think a few of the other awardees are not worthy of any award at all.

Now, a new website, Global Website, is seeking nominations for the 20 most outstanding Filipinos in the world. At least in the case of Global Website, it is a twin of Nonoy Mendoza’s 20 most Outstanding Filipino Americans, first in the United States and later North America. Nonoy’s Global now makes it around the world.