by : Myrna Aquitania On Friday, April 26, 2013, the Filipino American Press Club of Los Angeles (est. 1978), Inc. presented the awards to the winners of the Essay-Writing Contest during award ceremonies held at the Rizal Hall of the Philippine Consulate General.The essay-writing contest for 11th graders, awarded nearly $2,000 to six contest winners. The On-The-Spot […]
by Myrna Aquitania In the mid-80’s our company, MCJ Media Network, produced Orlando Nadres’ play called “Hanggang Dito Na Lamang At Maraming Salamat,” here in Los Angeles and San Diego, featuring Manila Filmfest Best Actor awardee, Dennis Roldan, along with Dindo Reyes, Sonny Madera and Cora Ugalde. Directed by Fellino Tanada, the original version of the story didn’t […]
Los Angeles 16 April 2013, The Philippine Consulate General successfully launched the first day of elections for Overseas Absentee Voters (OAV) on 13 April 2013 at the Rizal Hall of the Consulate. The Consulate General invites all registered Overseas Absentee Voters (OAVs) in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas to cast their […]
Los Angeles, 01 April 2013 – The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, led by Consul General Maria Hellen Barber De La Vega conducted a three-day consular outreach program at the West Oaks Plaza in Houston, Texas, U.S.A. on 22-24 March 2013. The consular outreach program was undertaken in cooperation with the Philippine American Chamber of […]
Garcetti legislation to hel p immigrants become residents and citizens Los Angeles City Council member Eric Garcetti LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles City Council approved legislation introduced by Councilmember Eric Garcetti to move Los Angeles immigrant residents to the front of the line when it comes to citizenship and fully participating in L.A. civic life, which would benefit the entire city and our economy. The legislative package, authored by Garcetti, reestablishes the city’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and creates the nation’s first local initiative to help immigrants through the legal process of becoming a resident and citizen as proposed by President Obama’s federal immigration reform effort. “Immigration reform is coming, but any federal program can be daunting to navigate, particularly for immigrants,” Garceti said. “This office will help L.A. immigrants cut through the red tape so they are at the front of the line when it comes to President Obama’s new pathway to citizenship. Helping deserving immigrants earn legal status will build stronger L.A. communities and a stronger L.A. economy.” In addition to offering services to immigrants to help their residency and citizenship requirements, the legislative package aim is to help immigrants learn about city services – for example preventative care so that immigrant Angelenos get help they need and taxpayers don’t incur higher costs driven by emergency room visits.
Yellow Revolution during February 22–25, 1986(photo by Roberto Verzo) THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL In cooperation with THE OVERSEAS FILIPINOS FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE (OFGG) Invite the Public to a Holy Mass to be celebrated by Fr. Manny Gacad, MJ: When: Monday, 25 February 2013, 7:00 p.m. Where: St. Kevin Church, 4072 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90004 Let Us Unite in Prayers and Re-Live the Spirit of EDSA People Power of 1986!
Discover and experience why ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’ By MANNY V. ILAGAN The Los Angeles contingent from last year’s 7th Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour poses with President Benigno Aquino III at the Malacañang Palace. The 8th Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour is set for July 9-15 this year. (Malacañang photo by Gil Nartea) LOS ANGELES – Filipinos in the United States will experience and discover for themselves why “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” when they join the 8th Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour of the Philippines on July 9 – 15, 2013. Launching ceremonies for this year’s Tour is scheduled for Thursday, February 7 at the Philippine Consulate General Office, located at 3600 Wilshire Blvd., 5th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Highlight of the Tour is the Special Visit to Malacanang and an audience with President Benigno S. Aquino III. Moreover, participants can expect more fun, more adventures and lot of exciting activities as they experience a grand welcome and reception, explore business and investment opportunities, and delight in onsite bazaars and mini-trade fairs. For only $1,933 per person on double occupancy, with fuel tax and surcharges included, the BASIC TOUR features the following: • Round-trip ticket from Los Angeles to Manila via Philippine Airlines (departing on July 7, 2013) • 3 nights stay at the EDSA Shangri-la hotel in Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City • Daily buffet breakfast and 2 lunches • Dinners with cultural show and entertainment • Historic Read More …
By Rene Ciria-Cruz INQUIRER.net US Bureau 9:47 am | Thursday, February 14th, 2013 LOS ANGELES—Philippine diplomats and tourism officials are offering a modestly priced tour package that includes an audience with President Benigno “Noynoy” III at the presidential palace. The 8th Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour of the Philippines is set for July 9–15, 2013. For just $1,933 per person on double occupancy, the package features “a grand welcome and reception,” visits to onsite bazaars and mini-trade fairs, introductions to business and investment opportunities and a photo-op with President Aquino at the Malacanang Palace. Since it was first launched in 2005, the Ambassadors, Consuls General andTourism Directors Tour to the Philippines has attracted thousands of participants from various cities in the United States. Also included in the basic tour package are the following: • Round-trip ticket from U.S. departure points to Manila via Philippine Airlines (departing on July 7, 2013) • 3 nights stay at the EDSA Shangri-la hotel in Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City • Daily buffet breakfast and two lunches; dinners with cultural show and entertainment • Historic wreath-laying ceremony at Rizal Park • Intramuros Tour (Fort Santiago, Manila Cathedral, San Agustin Church and Bahay Tsinoy) • Pasarap (Spa treatments), Paganda (Beauty Salon) and Pasaya (Studio Tour and Audience to Variety Shows) • Out of Town Day Tour to Tagaytay with lunch and fun activities For those who want to experience more of the sights and other adventures in the Philippines, optional extension tours are also available Read More …
Consul General Maria Hellen M. Barber-De La Vega (left) and Mr. Jan N. Stein, Vice President and Executive Director, St. Vincent Foundation signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Los Angeles, 05 February 2013. – Consul General Maria Hellen M. Barber-De La Vega signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mr. Jan N. Stein, Vice President and Executive Director of St. Vincent Medical Center (SVMC) Foundation, at a ceremony held this morning at the Conference Room of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles. The MOU established a broad framework for cooperation between the two organizations in providing and improving access to health services for Filipino immigrants and expanding its services to the underserved Filipino community. St. Vincent Medical Center has similar partnership agreements with ten Consulates General in Los Angeles, two of which are from ASEAN, namely Philippines and Thailand. The project is an initiative of the ATN Section of the Consulate under Consul Charmaine Serna-Chua. Consul General Maria Hellen M. Barber-De La Vega (left) exchanging the Signed Memorandum of Understanding with Jan N. Stein, Vice President and Executive Director, St. Vincent Foundation.
By Nimfa U. Rueda Philippine Daily Inquirer 3:22 am | Tuesday, February 5th, 2013 LOS ANGELES—First, he made history as the first Filipino to become bishop in the United States. Now, he scores another first—this time as the first Catholic bishop in America to perform in a theater musical. Oscar Solis and members of the Filipino Priests of Los Angeles—also the first group of priests to perform on stage—have joined the cast of “Fides Ecclesiae (Faith of the Church),” a musical about the lives of Pedro Calungsod, a newly canonized Filipino saint, and St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American saint. “Bishop Solis is the first member of the (US) Conference of Catholic Bishops to sing on stage,” said Fr. Robert Victoria, who wrote the script. “Fides Ecclesiae” is also the first Filipino production, as well as the first musical about the Catholic faith, to be staged at the Pantages Theater, a famous Los Angeles landmark known as the go-to venue for blockbuster Broadway entertainment. Victoria said the musical was not only historic but had also been marked by so many “miracles,” which were attributed to Saints Calungsod and Kateri—the two youngest among the seven saints canonized by Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican last October. He cited the stories of a lupus-stricken cast member who experienced a miraculous recovery and the mother of a production crew member who was healed of cancer. “The fact that we were able to get people from different nationalities—Filipinos, Chamorros, Chinese and Americans—to come Read More …