Filipino News sa Abroad (need your opinion)

[pocahonta]

from Balita.com

24,000 Filipinos now have dual RP citizenship

January 8, 2007

MANILA—Since the Dual Citizenship Law was passed three years ago, nearly 24,000 former Filipinos have reacquired their Philippine citizenship, according to the Bureau of Immigration.
As of Jan. 2, 2007, a total of 23,946 applications for dual citizenship had been approved, Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr. said Thursday.
These successful applicants could now enjoy their rights and privileges as Filipinos, Fernandez said.
The bureau receives an average of 10 to 20 applications for dual citizenship per day, according to Arvin Santos, head of the BI task force on dual citizenship.
The dual citizenship law was passed in 2003 but was only implemented in 2004 after the BI was tasked as lead agency for its implementation.
Under the said law, former natural-born Filipinos who became naturalized citizens of other countries could apply for Philippine citizenship.
The law was enacted to encourage former Filipinos living in other countries to return here and invest or buy property, the BI said.
The number of applications surged in October 2005, Santos said, when the bureau decided to relax the requirements for dual citizenship.
Under the new rules, applicants are no longer required to submit their National Statistics Office-authenticated birth certificates. Instead, they can submit their birth certificates from the local civil registrar in their birthplace or other documents proving that they were natural-born Filipinos, like a Philippine passport, a voter,s affidavit or a marriage contract.
Fernandez earlier said he decided to ease the rules for reacquiring Philippine citizenship after receiving complaints from applicants who said they could not meet certain documentary requirements like their NSO-authenticated birth certificates. (Inq7.net, Leila B. Salaverria)

===================================================


1. What is your personal opinion about this issue ?
2. Is having a dual citizenship good or bad ?
3. What are the complications involving having dual citizenship, specially dealing with the USA side of the issue ?
4. Which do you prefer, having a usa passport or phil. passport ?
5. Pros and Cons of this issue .

This are for pinoys living abroad who are already citizen of the country where they are currently living now. Give us your viewpoint, thanks.....Poca 

[pocahonta]

This is an example of a success story of a pinay immigrant in USA.
Nice reading material....we should be proud of our kababayan making history in USA politics....enjoy reading the article  !!

Source: Basta Pinoy News - Miami

RP Born Lawyer Aims for Circuit Court Judge

A Filipina-American senior assistant Florida state attorney general in the staff of Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth is running in the coming September judicial election for the position of Circuit Court Judge for Broward County (Group 26).

Mariza de Guzman Cobb decided to run for the position to increase her support in curbing juvenile crimes, many of which were caused by broken families. "I believe if we don't intervene early enough these troubled children will commit crimes and will get into trouble. And this is going to continue to that point that all of us are at risk," she said.

As a civil lawyer representing Florida, Cobb dealt with cases of abused, abandoned and neglected children with the goal of separating them from their abusive parents by terminating parental rights over them.

When parents themselves are molesting and endangering their children, Cobb said she prosecutes these cases until the parents lose their authority over their children. "Terminating parental rights will enable these children to be placed with loving adoptive parents," she said.

If her quest for the judiciary becomes successful, Cobb wants to look into the cause of the break down of personal supervision on the children at home, in school and other places they stay. She said these may deter children from getting into trouble and work to promote their future.
Cobb is running against two other candidates but she believed she has an even chance despite her younger age compared with her oponnents. At 36, Cobb has enough experience to even surpass a regular civil lawyer when it comes to the number of cases handled.

"Being an attorney general puts me on an accelerated track . So I feel I have the advantage, and besides, I have seen people in their reality being a lawyer. I have practiced law in dirtiest areas, the so-called street law," she said.

Cobb's work with children somehow corresponds with her upbringing in rural USA where her parents practiced medicine rather than stay in big cities."I was only 10 when my parents came to the US," she said adding that her father hails from Binmaley, Pangasinan and the mother from Cavite.

Her older brother, also a doctor, practiced in Alabama and Kentucky. Her younger sister s is connected with the Royal Caribbean Lines.

"I have not forgotten my Filipina culture. I can understand Tagalog but I cannot speak it ,' she said admitting that she still eats Filipino food but not her husband, Jim, also a lawyer. Both of them used to work with Janet Reno in Miami.

Cobb is averse to racism. She said there were occasions when she was discriminated against because of her brown color. She said she considers this treatment as a challenge to work harder to show she is better than them.

The key to that is to let that guide your path., Keep that as a fuel to keep you moving forward," she said as she advised children not to give up so easily when confronted with the problem and " to keep on moving and show you're not inferior."

Cobb is the first Asian to run for Circuit Judge in Broward County. There are 77 judges in the county, four of them Blacks and two are Hispanics.
Being a mother and working woman, Cobb needs support for her candidacy. She can be contacted at (954) 929-5076

[pocahonta]

Another success story.....pilipino immigrants are doing well abroad:

Jess Santamaria  was sworn in as Palm Beach Commissioner
 
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Nov. 21 (Basta Pinoy News) -- Last Nov. 7th businessman Jess Santmaria coasted to victory over two other candidates for the Palm Beach County commission seat vacated by Tony Masilotti. 

Today the longtime Royal Palm Beach businessman and community activist was sworn into office at commission chambers on the 6th floor of 301 North Olive Street which was packed with community  members and supporters. 

Community members originally from the Philippines traveled by bus and cars to witness a historic moment.  Santamaria is the first Filipino American known to have been elected to public office in Florida.
Santamaria drew his support from a grassroots base who had known him as an advocate for honest government, environment, and maintaining the quality of life.  A philanthropist, Santamaria supported causes for the welfare of children and the less fortunate.
 

[pocahonta]

Sad Story of a Pinoy Immigrant who was a retired New York Police


9/11 responder succumbs to lung disease
Vanessa B. Ira, Jan 31, 2007
Philippinenews.com USA

NEW YORK — There was a moment in Cesar A. Borja,s life involving a split-minute decision that may very well have been the cause of his early demise at age 52. That decision, many will agree, has turned this ordinary man into one who died because he did extraordinary things in life.

Immediately following the infamous 9/11 attacks, the police officer volunteered his services at Ground Zero. It was a mere two years before his retirement from the New York City police force in 2003 and one may argue that he could have taken it easy from there. As many know now, the days that should have been marked as blissful retirement time with his beloved family of five have turned into a tense waiting game for government relief and, ultimately, a nightmare of senseless loss.

“First responder,” is how many New York dailies and major broadcast stations across the United States have called Cesar Borja, Sr. Yet, it was not as though he was just one of the first ones to rush down to help. He stayed on and took things as far as he could. Following his decision to serve, as they say, over and above the call of duty, he quietly toiled in the World Trade Center rubble for 16-hour shifts, three times a week, during the course of several months.

Five years later, he passed away at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan after being diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. His family, who believes that he contracted the disease from Ground Zero, is not sitting still. With the absence of some official acknowledgement of the WTC toxic fumes threat, the Borjas and many others believe that financial aid will be scant and slow in coming for other victims. The new head of the family, son Ceasar Borja Jr., has taken on the crusade to draw attention to the plight of surviving 9/11 heroes with similar ailments and who are now in need of government support.
“He wanted to be mayor,” Ceasar reminisced to Philippine News a day before his father,s Saturday morning burial in Bayside, Queens.
With his passion to serve and unquestionable sense of loyalty to family, work and country, Cesar Borja, Sr. may very well have been a good mayor had he headed down the political path. But the former paratrooper and city cop from Bicol journeyed an equally honorable path with the NYPD. While there, he did not miss a day of work. Moreover, along with his wife Eva, he instilled such an indelible sense of duty and honor in his children Caesar, 21; Evan, 16; and Nhia, 12, that the fruits of his deeds have taken a life of their own.

Beyond the confines of the working-class home of the Borjas, his spirit and sense of service is being witnessed by millions of Americans who have seen the front-page news items covering his work, his hospital odyssey and ultimate death.

It was his oldest son Caesar, a journalism student at Hunter College, who wrote many impassioned letters to newspaper editors until he got their attention, landing the front pages. One of those who took notice was Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY).

So it was that Sen. Clinton,s activities leading up to and following the 2007 State of the Union Address became largely marked by an acknowledgement of Cesar Borja,s contributions. She stated:

“Sadly, there was so much that the President left unsaid, including the need to help the thousands of responders, workers and others suffering devastating health effects from their exposure to the toxic fumes and dust at Ground Zero.

Tonight, we lost another one of our 9/11 heroes. [b]Cesar Borja was a retired NYPD police officer who  worked at Ground Zero

He started getting sick in the summer of 2002 with a cough that wouldn,t stop. After a series of misdiagnoses, in the fall of 2006 he was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis that tonight took his life. His son, Caesar Borja Jr., had traveled today to Washington as my guest to attend the State of the Union address as a reminder to the President of our continuing obligation to help those who sacrificed their lives and health in the aftermath of 9/11…”

Last week, as Caesar was on his way to the State of the Union Address to draw attention to his father,s condition, the old man,s severely damaged lungs and body gave up. Yet, ironically, it was during this very moment that the son would exhibit the same heroic instincts with split minute decisions.
With just a few hours to go before the Address, and while enveloped with grief that called for the immediate embrace of his mother and siblings in New York, the son chose to stay in Washington, D.C. to forge on with what he started.

===================================================

[pocahonta]

A pilipino immigrant Soldier  serving in USA Military Marine Corps in Iraq.....A dedicated  brave soldier ....a hero...


Single dad recalls combat, eager to go back
Andrea McPherson, Jan 31, 2007
source: philippinenews.com

WASHINGTON D.C. – Son, father, and soldier: three simple words that do not come close to defining the complexities of Marcus Vasquez, U.S. Marine Corps.

The amenities Marcus misses most while away from home, such as the hugs and kisses from his son, good laughs with close friends, and the love of a family, are all daily luxuries that we civilians take for granted.

Marcus Vasquez, a 24-year-old specialist and single father of one, recently returned home from fighting in Iraq and is preparing to return in another eight months. Meanwhile Marcus is spends his time also raising his son and enjoying the comforts away from the combat zone.

Life prior to the military was unpromising for Vasquez.

“I wasn,t really doing anything with my life; I was enrolled in school but never went to class,” recalls Vasquez. “I had started business but lacked the discipline to run it.”

The military not only provided a stimulus for a young man ailing from lack of motivation, but a platform to express his patriotism as well.

“I wanted to take a more active role (in the military), something that fits in line with my personality,” says Vasquez. “I wanted to take action rather than sit back and watch.”

He was 21 when he enlisted in March 2005 and knew right away that it was only a matter of time before he would be shipped off to Iraq. He knew that the 101st and the 82nd Airborne units were the ones that deployed troops most often; he was assigned to the 101st unit. He describes the month leading up to his departure as very uncertain.

“Sometimes, time went slowly, sometimes it went by fast,” explains Vasquez, “but those three or four weeks before I had to leave, there were nights when I didn,t sleep because of the anticipation.”

He didn,t know what to expect. Though Vasquez endured three months of basic training that involved intensive advanced artillery technology preparation, he still did not grasp the concept of combat until he was flying in a helicopter over the small country that would soon serve as his battleground.

At this time, Vasquez and the other troops in his unit were stationed in Kuwait in order to acclimatize to Iraq,s hot weather. The soldiers were flown over Iraq to get more familiar with its terrain. This routine flight, which began without incident, was quickly disrupted by gunshots aimed directly at the helicopter carrying Vasquez and his fellow soldiers.

“The war didn,t register in my head until I heard those shots up close,” states Vasquez. “It didn,t sink in that people were going to be dying.”

In another near-death incident on Christmas day, a mortar exploded right outside Vasquez, room. “A window broke open, and an alarm sounded,” recalls Vasquez. “It was pretty intense, and I think that,s when reality finally kicked in.”

Vasquez was faced with a number of close calls. One was when two mortars hit, one about 100 meters away from him, the second only 30 feet away.

“A piece of shrapnel hit me in the chest, luckily it hit me on the flat side and I wasn,t injured badly,” he recalls.

Vasquez remembers how this sudden hit quickly changed his perspective on war.

“Ever since then I was a bit jumpy and very aware of my surroundings,” says Vasquez. “I found myself constantly looking over my shoulder.”

Vasquez speaks of his military experience with great humility, and after facing situations that produced casualties time and again, he considers himself to be “pretty lucky.”

Now two years later, Vasquez has recently reenlisted in the military for another five years. After losing too many friends as a result of careless mistakes, Vasquez has made it a personal mission to go back to Iraq and do things the right way.

“If American troops are going to remain in Iraq for a while, we might as well have people who are going to go in there and get the job done.” Vasquez knows that he,ll be part of the solution to the problem.

For the time being until Vasquez returns to his war zone, he takes an active role in raising his son, “Little Blaze,” as he refers to him, and finds time to enjoy a renewed relationship with his immediate family. He also has been “partying for all the nights that I couldn,t and pouring some (alcohol) out for all the buddies that didn,t make it home.”

He already looks forward to returning from another year in Iraq, to “go home and kiss my son, take off my boots that I,ve been wearing for a year, change into my civilian clothing and hang out with my friends and family.”

[d_palapuz]

here's a funny story...

Pinoy is the best .. wanna know why ? read this (:


The HR Manager at CISCO was given the task of hiring an individual to fill a job opening . After sorting through a stack of resumes he found four people who were equally qualified .. An American , a Russian , an Australian and a Filipino . He decided to call the four in and ask them only one question . Their answer would determine which of them would get the job . The day came and as the four sat around the conference room table the interviewer asked , " What is the fastest thing you know of ? " Acknowledging Dave , the American on his right , the man replied , " A THOUGHT " It just pops into your head . There's no warning that it's on the way ; it's just there . A thought is the fastest thing I know of . " " That's very good ! " replied the interviewer . " and now you sir ? " he asked Vladimir , the Russian . " Hmm .... let me see . A blink ! It comes and goes and you don't know that it ever happened . A BLINK is the fastest thing i know of . " " Excellent ! " said the interviewer . " The blink of an eye , that's a very popular clichi for speed . " He then turned to George , the Australian who was contemplating his reply . " Well , out at my dad's ranch , you step out of the house and on the wall there's a light switch . When you flip that switch , way out across the pasture the light in the barn comes on . Yep , TURNING ON A LIGHT is the fastest thing I can think of . " The interviewer was very impressed with the third answer and thought he had found his man . " It's hard to beat the speed of light " he said . Turning to Eleuterio ,  the Filipino , the fourth and final man , the interviewer posed the same question . Eleuterio replied , " Apter herring da 3 frevyos ansers sirrr , et's obyus to me dat the fastest thang known is Diarrhea . " " WHAT ?! " said the interviewer , stunned by the response . " O I can expleyn serrr . " said Eleuterio . " " YOU SEE SERR , DA other day I wasn't Peeeling so good and I run soo fast to the CR , but , before I could THINK , BLINK , or TURN ON THE LIGHT , ay ' tang ina , I already had a big tae in my pants . Eleuterio is now the new " Senior Lead Engineer " at CISCO .

[pocahonta]

Pinoy is the best .. wanna know why ? read this (:

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

darryl.....dapat ang title mo eh  -- pinoy are the best sa " kalokohan"

[d_palapuz]

ahahahahaha...
nakuha ko poh lng kc sa friend ko yan...
Pinay na born d2 sa Winnipeg..

[booba]

jajajaja
pasaway tlga yan.,,

[d_palapuz]

sinabi mo pa, lol!