Filipino Media in Jersey City
The Filipino Express...
Weekly Filipino Newspaper
published in Jersey City
Distributed Nationally
http://www.filipino.express.com
Radio Station-Filipino
The Multi-cultural radio
and new home of 500,000 Filipinos in the Tri-State Area
Present... "Magandang
Filipinas" News. Interview, Music, and professional commentary
Every Saturday 9:30 - 11:30 Evening
Hosted by: Fiorel Salvo
2711 Kennedy Blvd, Jersey City, N J. 07306
TV Program Cable Comcast TV of Jersey City Channel 63
Every weekend WCBM PINOY
TV
10 - 11 PM Starting Sunday
DEC 14, 1997
The Mayor of the City of Jersey City Bret Schundler will join in the celebration of December 30 as Dr Jose Protacio Rizal.
Did you know that in May 1888 Dr Jose Rizal was here in the Tri-State area. He was fleeing the Spanish Authorities after his first novel "Noli Me Tangere" was published. He sailed to San Francisco earlier and took the cross country train to Chicago. He arrived in New York City and stayed at a trendy Hotel at 200 5th Ave, near the Madison Park. The pride of the Malay Race left for London onboard an Ocean Clipper Malta. In Europe he wrote his second novel "El Filibusterizmo" that farther inflamed the Spanish Government. He was executed in Manila upon his return few years later.
Years later, his famous last farewell was read on the US Congress by the members who were advocating for the Philippines independence. This was to show to the members of the US Congress that any one could write with passion and intelligence has the capacity for self government. This might enhance the Commonwealth and independence that followed. A man of letter proved that the pen is mightier than the sword..
Jose Rizal was correct in pointing out in his essay, "The Philippines Within a Century" (1889) the distinct possibility, the only such possibility he discussed, that "the great American Republic, whose
interests lie in the Pacific and who has no hand in the spoliation of Africa may some day dream of foreign possession."
Eleven years later, Senator Alfred
Beveridge emphasized China's
illimitable markets for US goods just
beyond the Philippines. "The
Pacific is our ocean," he said, reminding
us of Rizal's own analysis
quoted above the previous paragraph.
Rizal's discussion on the possibility
of American conquest of
the Philippines ended with the assertion
that this would be "contrary
to her traditions." But the American
public accepted the following
assertion from Beveridge: "The American
Declaration of Independence
applies only to people capable of
self-government, not to a race of
Malay children of barbarism schooled
by Spaniards in the latter's
worst estate." As the American Anti-Imperialist
League put it, the
policy of the US government in the
Philippines sought "to extinguish
the spirit of 1776."
He was a very smart man that he foresaw
the American coming to the Philippines decade later.
I wonder if you knew that 100 years
later there will be half a million of his countryman settling alone the
banks of Hudson.
Picture of the Maria Clara Terno by..Genoveva
Q Sancho- Taculod of Jersey
City
Wearing the "Inang Bayan " (Mother Phil)
Crown in Oct 26, 1997 Sponsored by
Phil. Centenial Northeast US and Canada
Inc.
Subject:Filipino World War II Veterans gain support of Jersey City Council
- Filipino
veterans have found an ally in the municipal council of Jersey City, New
Jersey in their 50-year-old campaign for equity and compensation for their
heroism in World War II.
Voting
unanimously, the nine-member City of Jersey municipal
council
passed a resolution supporting the Filipino Veterans Equity
Bill
(U.S. Senate Bill 623 and U.S. House Bill 836) pending in the US
Congress.
The
Jersey City Municipal Council "offers its strong support in
favor
of the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill and urges all members of the
New
Jersey Congressional delegation to vote for the passage of this
important
and overdue measure," the resolution said.
A
copy of the resolution was given to President Fidel V. Ramos
while
he was in New York City last November 26.
The
council's approval of the resolution was published by the
Express,
a paper circulated in New Jersey and New York.
"Jersey
City is home to more than 20,000 Filipino-Americans and has
enjoyed
more than five decades of contributions to our community's
economic
and cultural vitality by Filipino World War II veterans," the
resolution
said.
The
city aldermen deplored the "unjust treatment of our Filipino
veterans
due to contradictory United States' government policies that
are
now the focus of corrective legislation being considered by
Congress".
In
June 1944, "in gratitude for the service of all US Armed Forces soldier,
the Congress passed the Serviceman's Readjustment Act, better known as
the GI Bill of Rights, a law providing a range of benefits to the men and
women who fought under the American flag without regard for race, color
or national origin," it added.
"Beside,
the Filipinos, over 116,000 other aliens from 66 countries
were
initially qualified for and have now received full or equal GI Bill benefits,"
the resolution stated.
Two
years later, it added, "the Congress passed two acts stripping
away
GI Bill entitlements from the Filipinos but not the other
countries'
veterans. Only service-connected disability or death
benefits
were left intact and those were injured received nothing at
all".
It
recalled that then US President Truman "acknowledged that these
Filipino
men were really American veterans. Philippine Army veterans are nationals
of the United States and will continue in that status until July 4, 1948.
They fought as American nationals under the
American
flag and at the direction of our military leaders, They fought with gallantry
and courage under the most difficult conditions during the recent conflict",
the resolution added.
"Today,
less than 70,000 elderly Filipino WWII veterans have
survived
- - - 28,000 are now naturalized American citizens and many are sick and
living in poverty," the resolution pointed out.
"The
Filipino Veterans Equity Bill would restore the benefits - -
pension,
health care and burial - - that American promised all of its
soldiers
in 1944 by repeating the 1946 Rescission Act," the Jersey
resolution
said.
The
resolution was signed by Robert Byrne, city clerk; Thomas A.
De
Gise, president of the Municipal Council, and Mariano Vega Jr.
Tales
of Two Cities
Early this year,
the Mayor of Jersey City and his staff visited the Philippines and China.
The highlight of the cultural and busines trip was meeting the President
of the Philippines.
The party included
the Filipino mayoral aide, Mr & Mrs Equipado and Mr & Mrs Cuaderno.
It must have been a joyous balikbayan for the couples and great experience
for the Mayor learning the roots of his political supporters. The Mayor
also met the other presidential candidates who are running for the seat
that Ramos will be soon leaving because of term limit.
Malacanan is the Presidential Palace of the Philippines. The word means "there Is a Chief there" (may lakan yan)
==============================================================================================================
HI NESTOR..
Mabuhay!
Casa
Victoria is very pleased to present in a concert at New
Jersey
Performing
Art Center, Newark, New Jersey, a group of distinguished artists
-
Lani
Mesinas, coloratura soprano; Aida Gamboa, mezzo soprano; Lisa Florentino,
coloratura
soprano; Ramon Acoymo, tenor; Victor Asuncion, pianist; The Musical
Connection,
chorale; and, Dennis Bernardo, musical director and pianist.
Dubbed TAGUMPAY (Triumph)
this concert, a musical offering to the world, is in
celebration of the 100th anniversary
of the Philippine Independence Day. May this
event enhearten our pride in ethnic roots and sensibilities.
You are cordially invited
to this concert to be held at the newly inaugurated
and beautiful New Jersey
Performing Art Center at Newark, New Jersey, on May 8,
1998,
Friday, at 7:30 PM.
Tickets will be available
soon at $35.00 each. In line with our cultural goal
for the youth, Casa Victoria
has special offer of $15.00 to students with IDs.
Please call 201 963-0455
for your reservation.
Please spread this good news
to your loved one, relatives and friends.
Salamat po!
Sincerely,
Romualdo
Ferrer
CASAVICTOR@aol.com
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nestor palugod Enriquez