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UP alums in Toronto tee off for scholarship, professorial chair

 General
Aug 212015
 
UP alums in Toronto tee off for scholarship, professorial chair

INQUIRER.net U.S. Bureau/Toronto Correspondent By: Marisa Roque, August 22nd, 2015 02:35 AM Champions again! Last year’s Best Foursome grab the honors again this year. Alice Herrera hands out trophies to winners Thong Du, Andrei Bernabe and Dickson Lau (Solomon Amoako not in photo). PHOTO BY MARISA ROQUE MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Last year’s Best Foursome at the TeeUP High Golf Tournament did a repeat on the July 26 tourney at the BraeBen Golf Course in Mississauga. The now two-time champions, Andrei Bernabe, Dickson Lau, Solomon Amoako and Thong Du bested a field of 58 players. Runners up for Best Foursome were Anisur Salim, Michael Manaois, Don Murphy and Dave Vannus. The other winners were Fred Drake (Closest to the Hole–Men), Evelyn Krakauer (Closest to the Hole–Women), Andrew Milne (Longest Drive–Men) and Evelyn Krakauer (Longest Drive–Women). According to Alice Herrera, current president of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Toronto, “All monies raised at this tournament will be used to set up the second UPAA Toronto scholarship.” UPAA Toronto’s first major project to raise funds supporting an endowed professorial chair was set up in 1992.  Interest from the endowment provides the stipend to fund a professor’s work in research and creative pursuits. A second endowment project was launched in October 2003, with a special committee co-chaired by Dr. Mario Andres and Dr. Victoria Santiago, to raise funds for a scholarship. By December 2005, through the efforts of the co-chairs and support from the council and association members, a check for C$25,000 Read More …

Filipino with drug history nabbed in Disneyland for carrying gun

 News
Aug 202015
 
Filipino with drug history nabbed in Disneyland for carrying gun

Associated Press August 21st, 2015 02:02 AM Percival Aguilar Agoncillo ANAHEIM, California — Anaheim police say an armed man, Percival Aguilar Agoncillo, 44, was arrested last month in the Esplanade area between Disneyland and California Adventure, after park security found him with a loaded gun and additional ammunition. Agoncillo was nabbed shortly after 9 p.m. on July 9, booked, then released on $20,000 bail. However, he was rearrested in Northern, when a post-arrest background check found that the San Francisco resident was on probation in San Mateo County for carrying a loaded gun. After learning of Agoncillo’s arrest in Orange County, San Mateo County probation decided to search his residence on July 12. Agents found methamphetamine and a loaded Colt .45 in the kitchen, San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen M. Wagstaffe said Wednesday, August 19. San Mateo prosecutors charged Agoncillo with felony possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of drugs while in posession of firearms and possession of ammunition. He also is charged with two misdemeanors of being under the influence of drugs and possessing a small amount of meth. He remains in custody in San Mateo County in lieu of $150,000 bail. An arraignment for the Orange County charges is set for August 27. Like us on Facebook Latest LeBron James dazzles ‘unbelievable’ fans in 2nd Manila trip Asian shares slump on China worries, oil falls NBA star Ricky Rubio arrives in Manila PH universities tapped to support local startup industry Recommended Comparing Dr. Jose Rizal and Read More …

Comparing Dr. Jose Rizal and Ninoy Aquino

 General
Aug 202015
 
Comparing Dr. Jose Rizal and Ninoy Aquino

By: Rodel Rodis, August 21st, 2015 02:01 AM Dr. Jose Rizal and Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino In all of Philippine history, no two national heroes were as similar in how they lived and in how they died than Dr. Jose Rizal and Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., whose 32nd death anniversary we mark this week. Both came from similar class backgrounds. Their families were just below hacendero level landed gentry; both studied at the elite Ateneo school; both traveled extensively, wrote prolifically, and returned to the Philippines from safety abroad despite warnings that they faced certain death upon setting foot on native soil. Both were tried on sham charges by kangaroo courts, which sentenced them to death. Both were executed by Filipino soldiers following the orders of the powerful forces who feared their return. Each of their deaths sparked revolutions that overthrew the tyrannies that caused their martyrdoms. Rizal and Aquino both fit the textbook model of a “tragic hero” — born of privilege, imbued with heroic qualities and fated to endure great suffering. In the classic mold, Prof. Ronald Santora relates, “the hero struggles mightily against this fate and this cosmic conflict wins our admiration.” Why did Dr. Jose Rizal in 1892 and Ninoy Aquino in 1983 return to the Philippines knowing of the certain death that awaited them upon their arrival? Was it fate or free will? Dr. Jose Rizal lived and studied in Europe for almost a decade, obtaining advanced degrees in fine arts, medicine (ophthalmology), and even a Read More …

DFA responds to columnist on ‘overpriced’ OFW evac ship rental

 News
Aug 192015
 
DFA responds to columnist on ‘overpriced’ OFW evac ship rental

INQUIRER.net U.S. Bureau August 20th, 2015 12:38 AM INQUIRER.net columnist Rodel Rodis SAN FRANCISCO – A spokesperson for the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs sent a response to INQUIRER.net columnist Rodel Rodis (Global Networking), whose Aug. 13 column questioned the cost of evacuating 766 OFWs from strife-torn Libya to safety in Malta (“Questionable $1.8M rent of ship to evac 766 OFWs from Libya”). Rodis questioned why the government paid so much when a different shipping company could have done the job at the cost of only “Lumpsum Euros 345,000” (quote from Virtu Ferries Ltd.). The price quote was sent by Virtu Ferries to Mr. Kevin Attard in Malta. Attard had reportedly been requested by outgoing Ambassador to Rome, Virgilio Reyes, to help the Philippine government find an evacuation ship. Attard stated that his search led him to Virtu Ferries’ offer, but that he never heard back from Philippine diplomatic officials. The next thing he knew, he said, the OFWs had been evacuated to Malta on a ship that was rented for $1.8 million. Below is the letter to Rodis signed by DFA spokesman Charles C. Jose: 17 August 2015 Dear Mr. Rodis, With regard to your recent article on the evacuation of Filipinos from Libya via Malta, I wish to inform you of the following: With the worsening condition in Libya in 2014, the Philippine Government undertook an urgent and mandatory evacuation procedure of our countrymen from that country, utilizing the safest land, air and sea routes. In deciding on Read More …

Calif. courts to firms — misclassfying workers will cost you

 News
Aug 192015
 
Calif. courts to firms — misclassfying workers will cost you

INQUIRER.net U.S. Bureau August 20th, 2015 12:37 AM SAN FRANCISCO – Two recent legal victories for California workers send a strong message to employers nationwide: Misclassify your employees, and you will face the consequences. Misclassification is a practice used by some employers to cut costs by declaring their workers to be independent contractors – ducking their obligations to pay at least the minimum wage and overtime pay, and legally required contributions to unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation funds. These employers also fail to remit payroll taxes, resulting in huge losses to state treasuries, and the federal Social Security and Medicare programs. The U.S. Department of Labor, which has made combating worker misclassification a major focus of its enforcement efforts, has announced that federal courts have ruled against two San Francisco Bay Area companies. The courts sided with the companies’ employees after investigations revealed that the companies deliberately misclassified the workers as independent contractors to cheat them out of their wages and other critical workplace benefits. Courier firm to pay $5 million National Consolidated Couriers Inc., based in San Leandro, California, but with clients across the country, has agreed to a court judgment requiring it to pay $5 million in back wages and damages to more than 600 drivers it misclassified as independent contractors, having cheated them out of minimum wage and overtime pay. The judgment reveals that, during the course of the Labor Department’s investigation, the employer tried to destroy records showing an employment relationship with its drivers, and had Read More …

At last, California school renamed after Fil-Am labor heroes

 News
Aug 192015
 
At last, California school renamed after Fil-Am labor heroes

INQUIRER.net U.S. Bureau By: Jun Nucum, August 20th, 2015 12:35 AM Filipino American labor heroes Larry Itliong (left) and Philip Vera Cruz.  UNION CITY, California — Finally, after a long wait, the first U.S. school to be named after two Filipino American labor leaders will become a reality after major stakeholders finalized the timeline and the work plan for the renaming of the Alvarado Middle School to Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School in Union City. “The good news is that renaming is sure to take place and there is no more problem,” announced Union City council member Pat Gacoscos. “Now we are just making sure that there also will be no more problems with funding because the proponents like us are supposed to take care of that,” she added. Alameda County District 2 Supervisor Richard Valle and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 595helped a lot with this commitment, Gacoscos reported. Union City Council Member Pat Gacoscos District 2 Supervisor Richard Valle “We welcome Supervisor Valle’s and IBEW’s efforts because they will augur well for the renaming efforts coming not only from Filipino proponents but also from non-Filipinos like them,” she explained. Based on merits That will also make clear that the renaming of the school is based on the merits of Itliong and Vera Cruz, who were with Cesar Chavez in the labor movement, and “not just because of the lobbying efforts of fellow Filipinos, which constitute a big part of Union City,” Gacoscos clarified. She also reported that funds raised Read More …

New video on how wage thieves cheat human trafficking survivors

 News
Aug 192015
 
New video on how wage thieves cheat human trafficking survivors

INQUIRER.net U.S. Bureau August 20th, 2015 12:27 AM WATCH VIDEO SACRAMENTO, California – A new video showing the link between human trafficking and wage theft was released by the California Fair Paycheck Coalition and the Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST). Three workers tell stories of how they were brought to the United States on false pretenses, forced to work seven days a week without pay, mistreated and ultimately escaped with the help of good Samaritans. When each worker went out and found jobs in the “legitimate” economy, they were victimized again—this time by employers who refused to pay them for all of the hours they worked. Just like those who engage in human trafficking, employers who commit wage theft target those who they will believe will be most vulnerable: immigrants, women and people of color. “Silence is bliss for traffickers and abusers,” said one worker, Flor. She described being locked in a factory, escaping, then going to work for an employer who disappeared before payday. “They know how to manipulate the system,” she said. They are going public with their stories to push for passage of SB 588 by Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles). The legislation would greatly improve enforcement of California’s wage theft laws by allowing the state to pursue the money with levies and bonds. Currently, most workers who win wage theft claims are never paid. Like us on Facebook Latest DFA responds to columnist on ‘overpriced’ OFW evac ship rental Calif. courts to Read More …

Suspect in Fil-Am mauling nabbed; victim faces long recovery

 News
Apr 132015
 
Suspect in Fil-Am mauling nabbed; victim faces long recovery

Mauling suspect Troung Son Huynh. MILPITAS, California — Police has arrested one of two men in connection with the brutal assault last month on a Filipino American teenager, who sustained serious head trauma and brain injury and is still at the ICU at press time. Troung Son Huynh, 25, of San Jose was arrested at his home and booked into jail on suspicion of felony battery, San Jose police said. The other suspect is still at large. According to police, 17-year-old Christian Rasner of Milpitas was hanging out with a cousin at the Westfield Valley Fair Mall in San Jose on March 11 when two men approached him and asked if he was affiliated with gangs. Based on the cousin’s account of the incident, relayed to the victim’s parents Greg and Maria Rasner, Christian, a high school junior honor student, told the men he had no gang ties and tried to walk away, but the attackers followed him in the parking lot and beat him up. The elder Rasner, an IT manager at a leading Silicon Valley firm, said the force of the blows was so tremendous that his son actually got fractures in his eye sockets. He added that his son was in the Superintendent’s Honor Roll for 2014 and has absolutely no gang ties. Mauling victim, Fil-Am Christian Rasner. Speaking to FilAm Star by phone Tuesday, April 7, Greg said Christian is still in ICU but is very much better, and has started to talk, albeit with difficulty. Read More …

So wins his final game; Nakamura clinches US Chess top spot

 News
Apr 132015
 
So wins his final game; Nakamura clinches US Chess top spot

Wesley So is an interested spectator, along with members of the media, in the game between Hikaru Nakamura and Alexander Onischuk in the US Chess Championships. PHOTO BY LENNART OOTES. LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Wesley So ended the US Chess Championships with flourish, beating grandmaster Keyden Troff in the final round while Hikaru Nakamura and Ray Robson maintained their 1-2 finish with similar impressive wins in Saint Louis. So prevailed over the 16-year-old Troff in 42 moves for his second straight victory following a 9th round forfeit, while the issues that distracted him in the tournament went full blown into the open, with his mother, Lenny So, granting a no-holds-barred interview with a chess website. The 27-year-old Nakamura, the No. 3 in the world, prevailed over Alexander Onischuk and remained as the only unbeaten player in the 12-man tournament. He captured the $45,000 first prize, finishing the tournament with eight points while Robson, playing surprisingly strong, beat favorite whipping boy Timur Gareev, to finish with 7.5 points and won $30,000. So managed to finish third with 6.5 points, despite suffering four loses, including the 9th round forfeit to Varuzhan Akobian — his most losses in a tournament. The 21-year-old won $20,000 while Onishuck was fourth and won $15,000. Akobian and defending champion Gata Gamsky shared fifth and sixth, each with 5.5 points, winning $11,000 each. But while the on-board results were pretty much expected, the off-the-board drama was not. After a long silence, Lenny So fired some well-directed shots at Read More …

Hollywood fashion designer Oliver Tolentino, the mesmerizer

 General
Apr 132015
 
Hollywood fashion designer Oliver Tolentino, the mesmerizer

Oliver Tolentino’s El Paseo show opening gown with model Tutay Maristela. PHOTO BY HYDEE ABRAHAN SAN FRANCISCO – High up on the 31st-floor Windsor Suite of the Westin Saint Francis Hotel one sunny spring afternoon, we found ourselves at the exclusive trunk show of Hollywood fashion designer Oliver Tolentino, dapper in his own bespoke black and cream jacket. We looked at the gowns on display and we were impressed. It is well worth the wait for an anxious bride, debutante, or celebrity. He proudly explained the details of the beaded gowns and how it is all well worth the big bucks since it take the beaders six months to finish the intricate designs. Just on the fragile jusi fabric alone, the labor intensive weaving, he said, takes one day to produce a yard. The ever smiling Oliver has made himself at home in the glitzy red carpets and runways of America, showing off his gowns and cocktail dresses with intricate, hand-made embroidery on gossamer fabrics such as Philippine-made jusi, pina (made from pineapple fiber) and silk. And he has built quite a following among would-be brides and celebrities such as Sophia Bush, Mayim Bialik and Anna Paquin. A week prior to his San Francisco visit, Tolentino’s press agent reported that his collection “mesmerized” Palm Springs when he brought his talents – and Philippine fabrics – to the jet-set vacation town when he showed a limited collection as part of Fashion Week El Paseo’s 10th Anniversary show.  Eight past “Designers of Read More …

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