Echo Park Community Coalition
Dec. 8, 2008
Contact Person; Arturo P. Garcia
(213)241-0906

Newly FACLA Board Elects New Set of Executive Officers, Dec.7

Los Angeles- The Coalition for A Better Community (CBC) led by former FACLA vice-president Rizalino Manuel of Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) board of directors met last Sunday, December 7 and elected a new set of executive officers.

Elected executive officers were Rizalino Manule, President: Adolfio Aguayon -1st Vice Pesident; Terry Herrera as 2nd Vice President; Gloria Resureccion as 3rd Vice President; Darlene Salvador as Secretary; Cris Florendo as Treasurer and Romy Jaravate as Auditor.

The rest of the board received chairmanship of different committees. They were Letty Reyes-,Alice Parino, Luz Garcia, Arturo Garcia, Senen Dela Torre, Teresita Eligino, Perfecto Tobias and Ricky Songalia.

Smooth transition

FACLA has been under the leadership of its President Dr. Jose Baldonado for the last six years since 2001. Under his leadership FACLA has shaped up and have improved a lot the infrastructure and the involvement of FACLA in the community.

FACLA is the oldest non-profit community organization in Los Angeles. Formed in 1945, it constructed its building in 1965. Under the Baldonado’s leadership, the smooth transition into thre new board of director is assured. FACLA has been mired into legal cases and intrigues since 1997 under a formal elections was held in 2001.

Also present during the first FACLA board meeting were Atty. Lorenzo Miranda, Jay Valencia, UHW Vice President; Dr Jose Baldonado- outgoing FACLA president and , Atty, Ben Basilio, outgoing FACLA vice-president.. Sid Galace. Office manager FACLA friends and relatives of the BOD and members of FACLA.

FACLA is the oldest non-profit community organization in Los Angeles. Formed in 1945, it constructed its building in 1965. Under the Baldonado’s leadership, the smooth transition into thre new board of director is assured. FACLA has been mired into legal cases and intrigues since 1997 under a formal elections was held in 2001.

A case was initiated in court by Cynthia Gatus and Erlinda Guerchoum, members of the organization, questioning the election of officers you mentioned in the news item. It was alleged that the former FACLA president, Jose Baldonado, and his co-defendants “ignored the Bylaws and the FACLA Election Code, and conducted a fraudulent and improper "election" on Nov.16, 2008.”

In a decision promulgated April 16, 2009, Judge James C. Chalfant of the California Superior Court Dept. 85 invalidated the results of that election and the members of the Board of Directors who have assumed office were removed from office.

FACLA was ordered to hold a new election for the 15 members of the Board of Directors on Sunday, May 31, 2009. Only those members registered as of Aug. 15, 2008 will be permitted to vote and Rizalino Manuel, one of the directors you mentioned, is barred from running in the new election. In effect the court upheld the decision of the FACLA COMELEC headed by Al Aquino that the extension of registration to Sept. 19 that netted 1,072 "new" members was improper and the candidacy of Manuel in violation of term limits. Instead, FACLA reversed that decision and the said COMELEC was dissolved.

On that aspect the court earlier maintained that the decision of COMELEC on issues related to the conduct of an election is final and not appealable.

"This means that the Board of Directors had no authority to overturn COMELEC's decision concerning voter registration. If any Board member or FACLA member disagreed with COMELEC, its only remedy would have been mandamus review by a court," the court said.

Pending the holding of new election, Judge Chalfant ordered “that Defendants, their agents, servants, officers and directors and those acting in concert with them ARE HEREBY RESTRAINED AND ENJOINED FROM:

1. Acting, continuing to act, or purporting to act as a Director of FACLA unless they are so elected at a future election of the membership.

2. Meeting as a Board of Directors or taking any actions as a Board of Directors of FACLA.

3. Incurring any expenses on behalf of FACLA or spending any monies belonging to FACLA.

4. Interfering with, or otherwise preventing the new election for the 15 members of the Board of Directors of The Filipino-American Community of Los Angeles, Inc. (FACLA) from being held on May 31,2009.”

LOS ANGELES -- The Filipino American Communities of Los Angeles (FACLA) celebrates the first Philippine Independence Day under the auspices of its newly elected officers.

The June 12 event started with a flag ceremony inside the compound of the organization fronting the mounted bust of the homeland’s national hero, Jose Rizal, with Roger Dagdag and Primitivo Cula as flag bearers of the American and Philippine flags, respectively. The anthems of both nations were sung by Babes Gutierrez.

The morning then echoed with excitement as celebrants bearing mini Philippine flags whooped it up when “Freedom Baloons” were released and lively music played in steps with an Independence Day parade led by new FACLA President, Greg “Meng” Gatus, and the First Lady Cynthia Gatus.

The parade was also graced by the presence of Ms. Independence Day Linda Nery, Ms. Luzon Desiree Salazar, Ms. Visayas Joy Alegre, Ms. Mindanao Irina Jamolod, and Ms. FACLA Carmen Cordero. It ended inside the social hall of the organization where a cultural program was held and free lunch served to the full capacity crowd.

The program opened with an invocation by Pastor Nace followed by speeches about the significance of the day in our history, historical tidbits, and robust cultural performances. The Dancing Queens consisting of Rose Rallos, Tita Gawat, Nonitte Geronca, and Norma Yaris performed “La Jota Moncadena” and “Subli”.

Romy and Precy Jaravata did Pandanggo sa Ilaw. Also much applauded was a theatrical interpretation of “Bayan Ko” featuring “Mother Philippines” Maila Sudio and friends. Capping the day’s events was ballroom dancing. Program emcees were Al Aquino and Armee Serrano.

It may be recalled that Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant in Los Angeles removed the 15 members of the board who had assumed office by virtue of last year’s election. The results of that election was invalidated in the aftermath of a case brought to court by FACLA members Cynthia Gatus and Erlinda Guerchoum, alleging that the previous officers of the organization “ignored the Bylaws and the FACLA Election Code, and conducted a fraudulent and improper ‘election’ on Nov.16, 2008.”

Gatus was standard bearer of Ideal Party whose candidates swept the new election ordered by the court last May 31. The other newly elected directors are Gabriel Arellano, Austin Baul, Andrea De Guzman, Toni Sheryll De Quiros, Venerando Digal, Purita Dinsay, Mandy Francisco, Erlinda Guerchoum, Marcelina Jensen, Apolonio Julian, Patricia Kegtey, Abelardo Lopez, Rosalinda Nery, and Eufemia Nieva.

Those affected by Judge Chalfant’s order were Rizalino Manuel, Adolfino Aguayon, Terry Herrera, Gloria Resureccion, Darlene Salvador, Cris Florendo, Romy Jaravate, Letty Reyes, Alice Parino, Luz Garcia, Arturo Garcia, Senen Dela Torre, Teresita Eligino, Perfecto Tobias, and Ricky Songalia.

The previous FACLA officers were Adolpino Aguayon, Jose Baldonado, Bienvenido L. Basilio, Basilisa Bigornia, Teresita Elegino, Sally Jamorabon, Francisco Rongavilla, Fender Santos, Enrique Songalia, Flor Cadiente, Senen dela Torre, Dick Digal, Bobby Reyes, Roy Padre, and Jesus Prado.


PHOTO CAPTION: A theatrical interpretation of “Bayan Ko” garnered much applause during the Independence Day celebration of the Filipino American Communities of Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES -- It’s called “LA’s oasis under the stars,” and appropriately so. The John Anson Ford Amphitheatre is nestled amid trees and vegetation in the hills of Cahuenga Pass. It is nature at its best even in an urban setting: beautiful and intimate.

Sometimes we hear of our events associated with or being held at The Ford. However, to most of us speeding along adjacent Freeway 101, Ford Theatres appear mysterious and intimidating up there in the hills. In fact it was not until recently that this writer had the opportunity to see the place close up.

The occasion was a press briefing regarding “Dream Dance II: East West Fusion,” a presentation of the Dream Dance Contemporary Arts that blends traditional Chinese dances with contemporary movements. Ting-Ting Chang, founder and choreographer, gave a backgrounder of the company while Ford’s Managing Director Adam Davis spoke about the theatres and their Asian Community Arts Initiative, now on its second year.

More information was provided by Linda Chiavaroli, director of communications; Adeline Yoong, member of the board; the tour leaders (I was in Group 2 under Bill Berry); and the ever present volunteers, among them, Heather and Lizzet. Two lady dancers provided a sneak peek performance of the October 10 Chinese show.

The John Anson Ford Amphitheatre is notable for its 1200-seat open-air experience and a claim to history. It was built as the Pilgrimage Theatre in 1920 to provide a dramatic outdoor setting for a popular religious play.

According to its web site, the present concrete amphitheatre replaced the original wooden structure, which was destroyed by a brush fire in 1929. The theatre reopened in 1931 and ten years later the land was deeded to the County of Los Angeles thereby opening the Pilgrimage Play to a lawsuit -- and subsequent closure -- because of its religious nature. There is also an 87-seat stage the structure, which in 2006 was replaced with a flexible modular steel structure capable of withstanding future floods. The outdoor stage was also resurfaced.

The venue was renamed after the late County Supervisor John Anson Ford who obtained funding when the structure was gradually deteriorating in the past. More funds were infused later to make the facility completely ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant and for some amenities such as public and pocket picnic areas.

The Los Angeles County Arts Commission had established programs called the Ford Summer and Winter Seasons. The current 23-week season opened June 6 with the City Ballet of Los Angeles’ Peter and the Wolf Jump Cool and ends October 10 with the “East West Fusion”.

PHOTO CAPTION: Partly hidden by trees and vegetation in the hills of Cahuenga Pass, the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre is notable for its 1200-seat open-air experience and a claim to history. Inset: A dancer provides a sneak peek performance of the October 10 Chinese show.

FROM EDITH MONTELIBANO:

Join us on October 11, 2009, from 4 pm to 9 pm at the Celebrity Centre International in Hollywood, for a Marathon Benefit Concert in support of relief efforts for the victims of typhoon "Ondoy."


We need your help in promoting this event in an effort to help our kababayans in our own small way.


Admission is FREE, donations are welcome.


Donations by attendees to their preferred charity will also be accepted and forwarded: Philippine National Red Cross through Xoom.com, ABS-CBN Foundation/Sagip Kapamilya, Ayala Foundation, GMA Kapuso Foundation. We received such tremendous and overwhelming response from the many wonderful artists in California, some traveling from as far as San Francisco, just to join this cause. The challenge now is to make sure the people come -- to support the artists, support the charity organizations, and join the massive call for help through "Handog sa Bayan."


Please forward to your friends and colleagues and help us spread the word.


Thank you!


--------
Edith Montelibano
Executive Director
Creative Concepts Intl.
323-788-8911
EdithMontelibano@gmail.com


Edith Montelibano
Creative & Technical Director
Creative Concepts Intl.
323-788-8913
JetMontelibano@gmail.com


www.CreativeConceptsIntl.com


----------------------------


"HANDOG SA BAYAN"
A Marathon Benefit Concert in Support of Relief Efforts for Victims of Typhoon Ondoy
October 11, 2009

4:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Garden Pavilion, Celebrity Centre International
5930 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood CA 90028


Please join us in a marathon benefit concert in support of relief efforts for typhoon "Ondoy" victims.



Donating 100% of their time and talent to this wonderful cause are the following performing artists:


Florante de Leon
Ms. Kevyn Lettau
Bernardo Bernardo
Louie Reyes
Cesar de la Fuente
Mon David
Jet Montelibano
Fe de los Reyes
Joni Feliciano
Jannelle So
Tateng Katindig
Ner de Leon
Patricia Javier
Michael de Mesa
Djhoanna "Giji" Garcia
Jessica Casas
Fulton Montoya
Maricar Cabasag
Kit Navarro
Cory Key
Malou Toler
Ciamara Morales
Ava Johnson
The Asian Dolls
Sarah Lazatin
Daryl Ogalino
Gabriel Lambirth
Reginald Johnson
Ellona Santiago
Dion Santos
Claire Rodriguez
Edd Evidente
Abe Lagrimas, Jr.
Odette Quesada
Bodjie Dasig
Eddie Coligado
Mon Concepcion
Aaron Concepcion
Michael Walker
Bong Paderna
Cleer Band
Anapolis Band
Kit Navarro
Lou Sabas
Miguel Vera
Ms. Pinky de Leon


"HANDOG SA BAYAN" is a presentation of Creative Concepts International


Directed by Jet Montelibano


XOOM.COM, an online money transfer company, will be on hand to process "fee-free" online donations transmitted directly to the Philippine National Red Cross.


MANILA FORWARDER, a local cargo company, will ship "free of charge" all in-kind donations collected on site. (If you prefer to donate in-kind, please see below **List of Suggested Items)


Participate in a Silent Auction and bid on the many wonderful items courtesy of our generous donors and sponsors.


We will invite representatives from the following foundations to speak about relief efforts they are undertaking:


- ABS-CBN Foundation / Sagip Kapamilya
- Ayala Foundation
- GMA Kapuso Foundation


Donations to the above foundation groups will be received and acknowledgment receipts shall be issued. A tally of collected funds will be announced at the end of the concert.


We will also invite a representative from the Office of the Philippine Consulate General of Los Angeles to speak about relief efforts and directives from the Philippine government.


Admission is free. Donations are welcome.


Seating is limited at the Celebrity Centre.


To receive priority entry, please reserve your admission tickets by sending an email to CreativeConceptsIntl@gmail.com with the subject line "Oct 11 Ticket Request." Our email reply will provide you with instructions as well as driving directions to Celebrity Centre.


Part 1 of the show will run from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.


Part 2 of the show will run from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm


There will be a 30-minute intermission for refreshments at onsite concessions and to allow attendees to participate in the Silent Auction. You are welcome to donate items for the auction.


Members of the media are all welcome! Please proceed to our Media Check-in desk upon arrival.


Doors open at 3:30 pm. See you there!



Thank you to Xoom.com, Manila Forwarder, ABS-CBN Foundation & Sagip Kapamilya, Ayala Foundation, GMA Kapuso Foundation.


We also thank Ms. Ruchika Kohli and Julian King of Xoom.com, Manny Paez of Manila Forwarder, Manny Legaspi of FilAmNation, Regina Pinol of Walker Foods Inc, Mendrei and Cecile Leelin of Goldilocks Corporation, and our numerous volunteers for their invaluable help.


For additional information on HANDOG SA BAYAN, visit our website at www.CreativeConceptsIntl.com




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


**PROJECT OBJECTIVES


1. The primary purpose of this event is to raise awareness about the calamity that has struck the Philippines on September 26, 2009, when typhoon "Ondoy" aka "Ketsana" slammed the country and caused massive flooding, expansive devastation and death. Within a 6-hour period, Ondoy pounded the country with a month's worth of rain forcing people to seek refuge on their rooftops and to swim in neck-deep flood waters, while cars and property were washed away in ravaging waves. The flooding wrought major damage that more than one week after the tragedy struck, many folks, from all social classes, are without water, electricity, food, clothes, medicine, and basic needs. Due to limited resources, thousand are cramped in evacuation centers still waiting for relief and assistance, while many homes are still unaccessible due to the thick mud, murky waters, and debris preventing flood waters from completely subsiding. People, especially children and the elderly are suffering. The situation is dire and we need to do our share in helping alleviate the devastation and loss to many people in our country who already had very little to begin with.


2. This event is aimed at providing an opportunity for the various foundations and organizations to speak about their ongoing relief efforts so that civic-minded individuals and groups may know where and how to make donations to legitimate causes and receive reassurance that these efforts are truly worthy of support.


3. This event also aims to assist in the appropriate channeling of donations. For those who wish to donate to the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) we have sought the assistance of Xoom.com, an online money transfer company who will provide onsite laptop computers with internet access to allow attendees to donate directly from their bank account or credit card to PNRC without paying any transmission fees. For in-kind donations, we have sought the assistance of Manila Forwarder, in shipping to the Philippines "free of charge" any in-kind donations collected onsite from attendees.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



**LIST OF SUGGESTED IN-KIND DONATIONS:


CLOTHING: t-shirts, towels, sandals, underwear, also blankets, light sleeping bags


FOOD: canned foods, instant noodles, biscuits, no perishable items please


MEDICAL: pain-relievers like Tylenol, ibuprofen, paracetamol, multivitamins, cough and cold medicine


OTHERS: Baby stuff & feminine/sanitation products: wipes, diapers, sanitary napkins, hand sanitizers, soap,

Sometime in the past I received an e-mail from a colleague during my teaching days in the Philippines. The brief message had the unintended effect of bringing back reminiscences of when times were young and innocent and uncomplicated. Simple needs for simple lives lived then.

For most folks in our barrio in my younger days, life revolved within a defined circle of friends and elders and traditions. On the younger set, mostly days of leisure with not much expected beyond the basics in school, church services on Sundays and an occasional hand in the farm and seas where most of sustenance were derived.

Entertainment was occasional forage into town, inside a rickety structure that passed for a movie house showing scratchy double features. There was the yearly fiesta when mostly unmarried adults of opposite sexes were afforded the opportunity to circumvent social stricture by dancing slow drag – melting into each other check-to-check; otherwise, they should not even be seen holding each other’s hand. And of course there was Christmas Day and some other traditional rituals such as, and especially, the day of the dead.

That brings back to mind the above-mentioned message from across oceans through the Internet. Dr. Linda Alburo, head of Cebuano Studies at the University of San Carlos, advised that they would have a work respite on the occasion of All Saints’ Day observance and, perhaps as an afterthought, asked: Would you be lighting candles, too?

It prompted the afterthought, a realization of how such a common denominator as death is perceived so differently among varied cultures? To my recall, in our part of the country the observance is mostly a sacred event, an occasion of remembrance for the dearly departed. For sure there were festivities, too, but had to be subdued, deferential and even with religious connotations, hence, the All Saints’ Day appellation. Additionally, among our people, there is a general trepidation regarding the dead and things connected with them such as, for example, the burial place. For one, you cannot make me walk past a cemetery or go near a mortuary alone on a dark night.

In glaring contrast, Halloween in this country, which approximates our day of the dead, highlights the traits of the morbid, the spooky, witchcraft, goblins and just about any scary stuff the market can think of. Coffins and skeletons, cobwebs and bats and other grim habitués suggestive of the dark side are adopted as some kind of momentary decor to titillate the appetite of the curious and the wallet. Kids at an early age are coached into wearing weird costumes, play pranks, and knock on doors collecting candies. Now this last act, knocking on strangers’ doors soliciting bites, is scary indeed considering how devious some people can be.

Actually it has not been always like that. A web site about ancestries mentions a ceremony Druids - priests in old Great Britain, Ireland and parts of France - conducted in appreciation for their ancestors. This Celtic celebration was based on the belief that on a particular night contact could be made with departed spirits, and guidance or inspiration received. Therefore, the dead were not feared but celebrated as loving guardians and guides. Ultimately, the days of Samhuinn – as it was called then - were renamed by early Christians to be Hallowe'en (31 October), All Hallows or All Saints Day (1 November), and All Souls Day (2 November).

Another version of the story is that on this particular night ghosts roam the earth and that people have to make them happy otherwise these nonliving creatures would create havoc. Thus explain the costumes and masks and the trick-or-treating as a sort of parade to lead the ghosts out of town.

In the U.S. the celebration supposedly connected with this holiday was the Pilgrims’ way of expressing gratitude for surviving a harsh winter in 1621. In the interregnum, corporate America took over and thus the masks and the celebrities/heroes’ attires, the party wares, the black cat and toad figures.

The movie people have to share in the bounty with their scary films, too; the pumpkin farmers have to get rid of the 17 trillion or so produced each year otherwise these will rot, and so on ad nauseam.

A day that has long been associated with the dispensing of usual inhibitions has to be tempered by the reality of present day America. The events of September 11 and the continuing threats of terrorist acts need to be kept in mind even in the observance of traditions. The element of security has to be a continuing factor to be considered especially when it concerns a popular event that generally throws caution to the wind.

More than in the way it is celebrated, Halloween Night also needs to change perceptions about what it stands for. As with everything else, there is a need for a celebration of caring, of understanding, and the strengthening of hearts and minds. There is a need to mend continuing recriminations caused by a divisive political exercise and help assuage the people’s negative image about their leaders who are largely blamed for the economic debacle. Finally, while there is reason to be be wary, it is also important to maintain calm and be engaged with the requirements of a healthy nation.

A pleasant, non-scary Halloween to you all!