IT has been another year and even though 2010 came by faster than we expected it, looking back at our previous issues made us realized how much talent and empowerment we Filipinos have here in the United States. Here are some of Asian Journal-Northern California’s SF Magazine cover stories last year.
In the spotlight
Hayden Kho (June 4). Recently, the courts dismissed the case against controversial ex-celebrity doctor Hayden Kho, and many people are expecting that he will soon regain his medical license. Through the past two years of his life, Hayden lived a nightmare. His much talked-about sex video scandal shattered his entire career and reputation. He lost his license, his credibility, good image, and many friends.
For over a year, Dr. Hayden Kho stayed away from the limelight. But, after recuperating from his “wounds,”Hayden determined to rise up from his fall, and put the pieces of his life back together again.
Last May 20, Dr. Hayden Kho, together with Dr. Vicki Belo, gave an exclusive interview to Asian Journal in LA. They admitted that they’re together again, proving that “love conquers all.” Kho is also working again as the brand manager of Beauty and Butter, a retail store in Manila that offers beauty services.
Jackie Castillejo-Guingona (August 6). This former Philippine national tennis champion (with equally successful sister Dyan) gave up a successful career in the Philippines to move here in the Bay Area. She, along with sisters Dyan and Nina conceptualized Sports Unlimited, a weekly travel and adventure show on ABS-CBN 2 where she was the head writer (and sometimes part-time host) and director for 10 years. However, Jackie Castillejo-Guingona does not have a tinge of regret, as she did it all for love, when she married Daly City Mayor and lawyer Mike Guingona, and be a stepmom.
Jackie still embraces life with passion and continues her love for acting. Just last August she produced, directed and acted in L3 Dream Productions’ New Yorker in Tondo which went onstage at the Serramonte Del Rey High School Theatre in Daly City.
Robyn De Guzman (August 13). The stage is her life and performing is her passion. Born in Vallejo and raised in Alameda, Fil-Am stage actress Robyn De Guzman was trained in martial arts, gymnastics, music and dance. Her journey to the stage was not an easy one, passing through college as a dance major at the UC Irvine, learning about the industry in New York City and starting professionally as a dancer in the ensemble of Annie Get Your Gun which was staged by Arizona Broadway Theatre in Peoria, Arizona.
Since then, Robyn has auditioned and worked in productions like Guys and Dolls, as “Yvonne” in Miss Saigon, and just last August, she played one of the “Silly Girls” in the San Francisco staging of Beauty and the Beast at the Golden Gate Theatre.
Michael Copon (November 5). Born in Virginia to a Filipino father (who is from Cavite) and a German-American mother, Michael Sowell Copon began his career appearing in commercials and print ads for popular clothing brands such as Old Navy, PacSun, Sketchers, Nike, Reebok, Gap and American Eagle. His first big step in acting was when he landed a role on the Fox Kids Network playing the Blue Power Ranger, Lucas, on the television series Power Rangers: Time Force. He then appeared in shows like CSI and the remake of Hawaii 5-0.
From sleeping in his truck for six months to dealing with shady execs, Michael shared that his share of challenges when he was starting in the business taught him to adapt to everything around him. At present, Michael has just finished the yet-to-be-released drama A Forgotten Innocence.
Power of the pen: Books,writers/authors
Javy Galindo (February 5). Javy Wong Galindo wrote The Power of Thinking Differently, a humorously enlightening book that reminds us how to access our brain’s creative capacities by using fun language, and by the rational lenses of psychology, neuroscience and popular creativity literature. Also, the book exercises the imagination using analogy, fable, jokes, and puzzles.
Born in Chicago, Illinois to a Filipino father from Culasi, Antique and a Chinese mother from Zamboanga City, Javy’ family moved to Sunnyvale, California where his father, Reuel Galindo worked as an accountant. His mother, Teresa Wong worked as a registered nurse. While growing up in the heart of Silicon Valley in the 80s, Javy found himself as one of only a handful of Asian Americans in his school and neighborhood. This, he said, may help explain his fascination with diversity and his appreciation for thinking differently.
Rina Ayuyang (April 23). Cartoonist Rina Ayuyang started drawing at a very early age, relying on imagination and creativity. She also said that she loved to stare at the illustrations in children’s books and was very addicted to the Sunday funnies like Peanuts, Nancy, Doonesbury and Dick Tracy. But it was her growing up Filipino in the East Coast that made her book, A Whirlwind Wonderland, different.
A graphic novel collection of autobiographical stories and old favorites from various anthologies and the mini-comic series called Namby Pamby, Whirlwind Wonderland is more than Rina’s tales of growing up Filipino in the United States—it also contain humorous reflective tales about seemingly ordinary moments in life, as well as the importance of getting in touch with one’s roots.
Eve Evangelista (September 10). Many of us feel that it is too late to fulfill our dreams. For new writer Eve Evangelista, her book Rise of the Sea-Landers is the first step of fulfilling hers.
Although a Certified Public Accountant by profession, Eve’s passion has always been to have the time to write and to use her creative side. The opportunity came, and she left for the islands of Tahiti to write Rise of Sea-Landers, the first book in the Sea-Landers Trilogy about eternal love and the ancient story about Aurora, a goddess from the planet Venus, who reunites with her twin sould Todd, a pilot with the United Planets Coalition (UPC).
Gel Santos-Relos. (February 19). She is the voice of the Filipino-American community.
As lead anchor in The Filipino Channel’s Balitang America news broadcast, Gel Santos Relos is a staple in viewers home.
Like many high profile personalities in the Philippines, moving to the US has been a difficult transition for Santos-Relos. She experienced this firsthand, going from popular broadcaster to marketing director for a healthcare company and realtor.
Prior to her move to the US, Santos-Relos was a very well known broadcaster appearing in several top rated ABS-CBN programs including Tatak Pilipino, Pulso, and Hoy Gising. She was also an instructor in Broadcast Communication at the University of the Philippines where she graduated with honors.
Santos-Relos immigrated to the US in 2001, following her husband’s career Dr. Rene Relos, who was completing his surgical residency that time.
Life had its ups and downs for Santos-Relos, who bounced from job to job and place (East Coast) to place (West Coast). But she finally found her way home—at least career-wise when her family moved to San Francisco.
In 2007, after accepting a co-anchor position with lawyer Michael J. Gurfinkel’s Citizen Pinoy Show, she became the news anchor of TFC’s Balitang America program.
She’s received several awards for her work including being named as one of the Filipina Women’s Network 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in America.
Santos-Relos also writes her own column in the Asian Journal.
In the arts
2010 was a busy year for Filipino and Fil-Am artists too. Last October 8, SF Mag featured the Kulayan Arts Program who partnered with the Filipino Community Center. The program curriculum was created by artists James “GaNyan” Garcia and Christopher de Leon (who joined as co-instructor) and included projects that integrate foundation building skills and incorporated Filipino folklore. Classes were offered free, with students ranging from 15 to 32 years old.
In June, the 32nd Annual San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival (SFEDF) gathered nearly 600 performers, 37 top Bay Area dance companies to represent over 20 cultures. Founded to present the diverse ethnic dance companies in the Bay Area. Over the years, the Festival has expanded its reach to include performers from throughout Northern California and marked performances from Parangal Dance Company, Barangay Dance Company and Likha Pilipino Folk Ensemble.
The San Francisco Fil-Am Jazz Festival also had their Jazz Appreciation Month in April, and celebrated with a free concert at the Koret Auditorium of the San Francisco Main Public Library. Artists who performed included vocalists Jo Canion, Kenny Washington, Anna Maria Flechero and Ann Marie Santos along with renowned musicians Boy Palacio, Vince Gomez, Bo Razon, Melecio Magdaluyo, Danny Kalanduyan and the jazz-fusion band Little Brown Brother.
The film The Hidden Dream by Shiela Duenas-Imme and Jon Imme, and hosted by Charmaine Clamor, reveals the little known stories of the Filipino community in America. Survivors of the Bataan Death March—a forced exodus of 60 miles under the tropical heat—relates first-hand accounts of the ordeal which claimed the lives of more than 10,000 Filipinos and at least 1,200 Americans. The documentary premiered on PBS-KCET in LA last May 13 and PBS-KQED World in San Francisco on May 16 and 17. There had been many stories and films made about the history between the United States and the Philippines. But only a few have showed a different perspective on the issues and concerns of Filipino-Americans like The Hidden Dream.
Good deeds
Tony Meloto (January 15). What a banner year it was for Gawad Kalinga (GK) founder and Chairman Antonio P. Meloto.
Born in Bacolod, Philippines, Meloto studied in Ateneo de Manila on a academic scholarship program and graduated to lead a successful business career before founding Gawad Kalinga.
Launched in 2003, GK has set a template for nation building—helping organize poor, landless and homeless people to acquire land to build their own homes.
Meloto’s original goal was for GK to build 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities by 2010. Now it is to help some 50 million Filipinos move out of poverty by 2024.
This year, Meloto has received several praises for his work. In March, Reader’s Digest hailed him among the top trusted persons in the Philippines. In October, he received an award from The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship; and recognized by Ernst & Young as a leading social innovator.
Throughout the year, he traveled and spoke in different forums around the world—championing social transformation for the marginalized and the poor in the Philippines.
The GK model is already being applied in parts of Indonesia, Cambodia, East Timor, and Papua New Guinea.
The 60-year-old Meloto continues to encourage Filipinos to make a difference in their homeland.
Soulciety.org (October 22). Soulciety.org believes that they are on the right track when it comes to their mission. Founded in 2008, Soulciety’s purpose is to empower youth and young adults by helping them develop their creativity and to harness the leadership within. On focus now is The Bridge, a program to give talented young adult mentors from the Bay Area the opportunity to provide guidance, resources and inspiration to impoverished youth. Soulciety has traveled to the Philippines where it has reached over a thousand youth and has provided arts and sports workshops.
Balikbayod (November 19). With Balikbayod, kids can borrow boards provided that they are currently attending school or in an Alternative Learning System (ALS). Because of these parameters, local teachers support their program. A partner in Siargao, also known as “the surfboard librarian” checks with the teachers that the kids follow the requirements of the program. Balikbayod is also purposely made as an after-school-program wherein boards can only be borrowed after school hours, school holidays and weekends. The Balikbayod program has been running for almost 3 years now, and started with a group of 10 kids or so. At present, there about 30 plus kids with the project—all done through personal funds by the founders and volunteer work.
Empowerment
Faith Bautista (October 15). “I was not named ‘Faith’ for nothing,” said Faith Bautista, President and CEO of the National Asian American Coalition (NAAC), formerly known as Mabuhay Alliance. And this is true.
Having served with the community since 1987, Bautista established Mabuhay Alliance, a national HUD-approved homeowner, small business and consumer advocacy organization serving the Pan Asian community. Starting in San Diego in 1987, Mabuhay Alliance is now known as National Asian American Coalition and since then opened five new offices in the past year, giving them a presence in San Diego, Daly City/San Francisco, Milpitas/Silicon Valley, Reno, Las Vegas and a regulatory office in Washington, DC.
She advocates in the halls of Congress, in the California legislature and in front of key federal legislators such as the Federal Reserve, FDIC, FTC, FCC and SEC and among America’s Fortune 500 corporations, as a major voice for the Asian American community. She is a member of the San Diego Gas & Electric Community Advisory Committee, Office of Thrift supervision Minority Depository Institutions Advisory Committee and sits on the Low-Income Oversight Board for the California Public Utilities Commission. Through her leadership, she has gained the support of Corporate America in reaching out to minority groups and has been a leading advocate for low-income and underserved communities.
(With reports from Joseph Pimentel and Cynthia de Castro)
(www.asianjournal.com)
(SF Jan 7-13, 2010 SomethingFilipino pg.2)
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