Maniolas

Winners all: Filipino-American elected officials in the San Francisco Bay Area at celebration with Consul General Henry Bensurto Jr. PHOTO BY ARNOLD PERDIGAL SAN FRANCISCO — Led by Consul General Henry Bensurto Jr., the San Francisco Philippine Consulate General on December 15 feted Filipino- Americans who were successful in their bids for elected office in the last November 14 elections. It was certainly a night to remember at the consulate’s Philippine Center Kalayaan Hall as winners gathered not just to be acknowledged but also, in the words of third-termer and only Filipina in the San Francisco School Board Hydra Mendoza, “to inspire one another.” The first Fil-Am in the California State Assembly Rob Bonta of the 18th District who now also chairs the health and purse committees, was “inspired, invigorated and very energized with so many Filipino American elected officials around.” “I am very excited to be with all of you because Filipino political empowerment is so very important to me and every one of us elected to office represents that empowerment and its future,” Bonta stated. “We will encourage the others who may not be sure who are on the sidelines thinking about serving and not be served to step in to step forward and submit themselves for the service of our community. And for that I want to thank you as we don’t get thanked enough in going through our daily work,” he added. For the consulate, the night was very important considering the long struggle that Filipino Americans Read More …

MARKHAM, Ontario — Marlene Mogado, who won in last October’s municipal election, is on an impressive third term as York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) Trustee for Markham’s Wards 4, 5, 6 and 7. She has plenty of achievements to buttress the voters’ thumbs-up of her performance. Third-termer on her district school board Marlene Mogado. PHOTO BY MARISA ROQUE “The term is for another four years,” Trustee Mogado says, “I consider that a huge vote of approval for my work.” She is most proud of the San Lorenzo Ruiz Elementary School, which she lobbied for and named in honor of the first Filipino saint. “This school is now a landmark in York Region as a leading progressive multicultural learning center, while at the same time proclaiming our Filipino presence in these parts,” she adds. Mogado also introduced the popular French Immersion programs in two of her elementary schools, and in September 2014 a new four-year music program for elementary schools began implementation. A particular feather in Mogado’s cap is bringing the highly sought-after International Baccalaureate program into one of the high schools in her area. This program is not only academically rigorous for high school students handpicked on the basis of overall excellence, but it is also touted as an assured path to acceptance at a university of the student’s choice. When asked what made her decide to run for public office, Mogado says, “Since we moved to Markham in 1980, we (Marlene and her husband Mogi) were among the few Read More …

SAN FRANCISCO – The Philippine coconut will take the spotlight at the coming 40th Winter Fancy Food Show slated at the Moscone Convention Center in here on January 11-13, 2015. The healthy and natural coconut and its various applications and food by-products will be the focus of Philippine promotion by Food Philippines, a branding initiative that unifies the overseas promotional efforts of CITEM, the export promotions arm of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). This national brand positions the Philippines as one of the world’s top exporters of fresh fruits and marine products. Famous for its coconuts with a distinct flavor and texture, the Philippines is considered the world’s leading supplier of coconut products and the second top coconut-producing country. Food Philippines will also bring specialty food products with approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), fair trade, organic, kosher and halal certifications at the Winter Fancy Food Show, the West Coast’s largest specialty food and beverage event. The Philippine coconut fits the global need for 100-percent healthy and natural food products, attracting both trade and businesses from around the world. The palm’s food and non-food uses diversified over the years, enabling this palm to gain the distinction of being called the “tree of life.” Among the food products from the coconut are the virgin coconut oil, coconut water, coconut sugar, coconut fiber and coconut meat (copra), among others. Export statistics show that coconut products are consistently among the country’s top 10 merchandise exports. Volumes of coconut-based products exported from the Philippines averaged 1.8 million metric tons Read More …