Consul General Paynor signs agreement with the office of the District Attorney

Consul General Marciano A. Paynor, Jr. and San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón.

 Consul General Marciano A. Paynor, Jr. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today with San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón to institutionalize the working relationship of the Consulate General of the Philippines and the Office of the District Attorney to assist Filipino nationals.
The signing ceremony, witnessed by the media and community advocates against domestic violence, was held at the Library of the Office of the District Attorney.
Through the MOU, both offices agreed to work together towards the larger goal of creating an accessible and coordinated system of comprehensive services for Filipino victims of violent crimes in general, and domestic violence, trafficking and hate crimes, in particular.
Consul General Paynor congratulated the work done by both offices to have this agreement come into fruition.
“This document is significant for us and our Kababayans as we fulfill the mandate of the Department of Foreign Affairs under the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act (RA 8042) to protect the rights and welfare of Filipinos abroad,” Consul General Paynor remarked.

Community Pictures

Macaella Mary Antonette Mendoza received the sacrament of baptism last Saturday October 8, 2011 at  the San Agustin Church in South San Francisco, CA. With the proud parents were Tommy Mendoza and Jovy Moratto with son Tre. The reception was held at the Broadmoor Community Center.

World Muay Thai Team USA Group  during the exibition fights at Unlimited MMA at Milpitas CA. headed by
Kru Sam Phimsoutham.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Manila Mail's President and Publisher Ruben P. Bunag (left) who celebrated his 61st birthday last October 9th,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Manila Mail’s Photographer Gary De Guzman who will celebrate his birthday on Oct 23rd, 2011.

25 YEARS of Unparalleled Service in Northern California

Mon Cargo owner Agnes Singh (standing) with Marketing Director, Fe De Los Reyes (right seated)

Photos taken at the Adobo Festival in Milpitas last Sept. 3 & 4, 2011. MON CARGO’s  staff gave away free shipments, t-shirts etc.

MON CARGO SERVICES, INC., the pioneer in door-to-door delivery services to the Philippines in the Bay Area, celebrates its 25th Year Anniversary.
As they celebrate their 25th year, they always attribute their success from the patronage of their customers, old & new, for their extensive & loyal support and that they will always continue to improve the quality of service their customer’s deserve and to even surpass their expectations, committed to a dependable and dedicated Service.
Established in 1986 by Mr. Mon V. Singh, Mon Cargo has always been consistent with his prime objective to reach out to the needs of his fellow Filipino US immigrant with excellent service.  MON CARGO sticks to its belief to maintain an outstanding track record of being the most Honest, competent and steadfast enterprise of its kind.
In line with its goal, the management and staff of
MON CARGO is known to be responsive, empathetic, very accommodating and very polite in dealing to its valued customers. They always make themselves available to inform their customers on the status of their balikbayan boxes in the Philippines. 
Agnes Doniego Singh, President says, “In all our dealings, we make it a point to be friendly, courteous, fair and compassionate to everyone.” Since then, Mon Cargo has remained true to its slogan:  “ Hanggang doon mula dito, kahon niyo’y selyado ,Walang Bawas, Walang Kulang,Delivery Intact.”.     “Para Sa Serbis Na Walang Kaparis”
MON CARGO offers the following services:
Container Shipments for Returning Residents, Crating, Home Appliance/ Furniture, Vehicle Shipments,Airline Tickets, FREE Replacement Box, Free Strapping, Insurance up to $500. Visit their website http//moncargoservices.com for photos, testimonies from their very satisfied customers and more informations.
To avail of Mon Cargo’s promotions, please call  1-800-432-4300.

COMELEC Officials Meet with the Filipino Community to Discuss Overseas Absentee Voting

Rodel Rodis (left, standing) explains that the ‘06 Supreme Court decision allows dual citizens to vote while not requiring US residence should also extend to permanent residents under the principle of equal protection of the law.

 

Commissioners Lucenito Tagle and Christian Robert Lim of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) met with the Filipino American community on October 5, 2011 to discuss the Overseas Absentee Voting Registration and provide updates on preparations for the May 2013 National Elections.  The meeting was held at the Social Hall of the Philippine Center.

Consul General Marciano A. Paynor, Jr. remarked that at the Presidential elections held last year, 41,512 Filipinos registered for Overseas Absentee Voting in the US and 12,554 actually voted.  He cited the following numbers which clearly described the level of participation of Filipinos in the US during the 2010 elections:  the percentage of actual registrants versus potential registrants is 5.41%, the percentage of voters versus actual registrants is 30.24% and the percentage of voters versus potential registrants is 1.64%.
It was noted during the meeting that the target number of registrants for Overseas Absentee Voting worldwide is one million Filipinos.  Currently, the number of registrants is 351,273.

Both Commissioners recognized the factors negatively affecting voter registration:  requirement to execute Affidavit of Intent to Return; geographical location of voters; apathy; high mobility of overseas Filipinos; limited manpower of embassies and consulates; working conditions; insufficient information campaign; incorrect addresses provided by the voters; and lack of novelty.

Among the factors, the requirement to execute an Affidavit of Intent to Return is the most significant obstacle.

Rodel Rodis (US Pinoys for Good Governance/ USP4GG) explained that the 2006 Supreme Court decision to enfranchise dual citizens by removing the residence requirement should also extend to permanent residents under the principle of equal protection of the law.

The Commissioners responded that they encouraged concerned Filipinos to raise this issue with the Supreme Court so that a clear ruling could be obtained.

Victor Barrios (Global Filipino Nation) and Tony Villegas (USP4GG) recommended registering and voting via internet to save on costs and to address the challenges of high mobility of the Filipinos and the physical distance of the embassies and consulates.

The Commissioners agreed with these suggestions and said that they would present these suggestions at the next en-banc meeting of the Commissioners.

Joyce Diloy (Filipino Mental Health Initiative) asked the Commissioners on how the community could help and be updated on developments on Overseas Absentee Voting.

The Commissioners would like the Filipino community leaders to help in encouraging their friends and family members to register and vote.  They also announced that they will launch a campaign called “Sulong OAV,” using Facebook and other media.

Esther Chavez (Inquirer.net) also offered the use of the Philippine Daily Inquirer website to provide a link to the official website of COMELEC. 

The Commissioners thanked Ms. Chavez for this offer.

The resumption of continuing registration for qualified Overseas Absentee Voters begins on October 31, 2011 and ends on October 31, 2012.  All citizens of the Philippines who intend to vote abroad and are at least eighteen (18) years of age may register. 

Visit your nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate and bring a copy of your Philippine passport OR dual citizenship Identification Certificate and Order of Approval to register.

ISSUE 41: October 12, 2011

“No Other Woman” breaks box office records
(No other movie has made audiences feel this way)

Anner Curtis is Derek Ramsey's other woman in "No Other Woman" - now showing UA Stonestown Theater and soon in Union City & Milpitas (Oct 14-27)

SEEN IN THE CITY
Arriving at around 5PM at UA Stonestown Theater in San Francisco, I meant to watch the 7PM show of “No Other Woman” – Star Cinema and Viva Films’ movie latest collaboration starring Cristine Reyes,  Derek Ramsey & Anne Curtis. The 7PM show was sold-out, so I ended up hanging around for 5 hours to watch the last full show at 10PM.  What unfolded on screen is a totally new experience in Filipino movies for me.  The dialogues are crisp, witty & intelligent.  The performers are not only very good looking (bikini bodies, parade of cleavage, butt crack tattoos, low-waist pajamas) but also very competent (even the restaurant receptionist stole some scenes during the crucial very first wife/mistress confrontation scene).

Washington Hospital celebrated their 25th anniversary at a lavishly-decorated The Tent (aka parking lot) in Fremont, CA last Sunday and seen attending are: May Lacson, Sola Zapien & Maribel Bartos of Fremont Health Care Center.

The Owner & President of  of Nursing Resources (Fremont-based Medicare-certified & CHAP-Accredited Home Health Agency), Emmie Malazgirt (2nd right), Cleofe Alejandro, Director of Nursing (right), Freida Policarpio, Case Manager (left) & Sandy Baker attended Washington Hospital's Silver Anniversary Party last Sunday.

Silver Creek's Christine Pacifico Paul (5th left), Lead Make Up and Instructor & Liza Santa Ana (4th left) from Marinello Shcool of Beauty - San Mateo led a team of make up and hairstylists that successfully provided services at the Bay Area Fashion Week models last Saturday, September 24, 2011 in San Jose.

 It is hard to describe the good entertainment effect of the movie without citing some of the dialogues that jolted the senses, namely: “Ang kaibahan ng fotahng mayaman versus fotahng mahirap – yung mayaman ay original yan…yung mahirap binili lang sa Greenhills!”…”Ang buhay ay parang Quiapo – maraming snatchers (mother giving advice to daughter whose husband she caught with a mistress)”….”I pack-up mo na yang Lucy Torres at ilabas mo yang Gretchen Baretto!” (mother encouraging her daughter to fight back for the man she loves and married)…and there’s a lot more. 

Lani Misalucha will be at Ichiban on Friday, Oct 14th.

Charito Benipayo of Alameda celebrates her birthday on October 13th, 2011.

The confrontation scene and the dialogues where Anne & Cristine wore the same violet outfits and trying to buy the same bag in a store is a gem. And then the following scene where Derek saw them together, for the 2nd time, at his home, wearing almost identical dresses is also amusing. That is a very stressful dinner that followed after.

All 3 lead actors delivered, but the most challenging role (a sophisticated, liberated heredera who’s allergic to seafood but eats them anyways, because as she says “masarap ang bawal”..oh my..oh my) went to Anne Curtis and she essayed it like second skin.

Lion Pat Ancheta was installed as the 91st President of San Francisco Host Lions Club in an Installation Dinner Ball held at Elks Lodge of So. San Francisco last Oct 1st, 2011.

Ms. Tateetz Palomo of San Rafael celebrates her 63rd birthday this week.

My curiosity also got aroused by the scenic location of the resort that is being built in the story,so I stayed until the final credits to obtain the information so I can go there next month, hehehe.
The movie is not perfect, though.  The Anne Curtis scene in the beginning where she lost her bikini top trying to avoid hitting Derek Ramsey, needs a little editing to make it more effective, in my opinion (it’s a little long and confusing). I think Ron Morales as Derek’s best friend is also a miscast (something doesn’t match between the two).

The Perkins Twins - Jesse Perkins (left) & Christian Perkins (right) graced the Grand Opening of AGELESS ELIMINAGE as the medical spa's official endorsers, last Saturday at the Season's Market Place in Milpitas, CA.  Also in the picture are husband/wife owners Jim & Mary Anne Laurel (center) with their Marketing Annette Velasco (2nd right).

Melissa Oribio (the only child of Merlvin & Riza Oribio) celebrated her 2nd birthday at the Yummy Buffet in San Jose last Sunday.

Nevertheless, no other movie has made this so much impact and the movie going public has rendered their verdict - they loved the Rated-A movie as it is now breaking box office records in the Philippines and other places outside the country.

In the local front, it is bound to break even bigger box office records as it is scheduled to open this week in Union City & Milpitas.  Here’s the complete schedule of showing, as culled from their latest trailer on TV:
October 14-27
Union City
Century 25 Theaters
32100 Union Landing
Union City, CA 94587
Milpitas
Century Great Mall
1010 Great Mall Drive
Milpitas, CA 95035
October 7-13:
SAN FRANCISCO
UA Stonestown Twin
501 Buckingham Way
San Francisco, CA 94132
LOS ANGELES-CERRITOS
Cerritos Stadium Cinema
12761 Towne Center Drive
Cerritos, CA 90701

For more information, please visit www.abs-cbnglobalmovies.com.  Check also the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5fydoOJIok

If you’re only going to watch one Filipino movie this year, make it “No Other Woman,” folks!
Incidentally, Anne Curtis & Cristine Reyes will be performing live with Aljur Abrenica & Mark Herras in “Night With The Stars (Kapamilya na, Kapuso pa!)” on Friday, November 18, 2011 at 8PM at the Koffman Auditorium of the Alameda High School located at 2200 Central Avenue, Alameda, CA. For tickets & sponsorships,  please call (925) 812-4249.

TO-BE SEEN IN THE CITY
Meet & Greet Lani Misalucha at Ichiban Oct 14th!
Lani Misalucha will be in the Bay Area this coming Friday, October 14, 2011 and will be available to ‘meet and greet’ his friends and supporters at around 8:00 PM at Edna’s Ichiban Library located at 2236 Westborough Blvd, South SF, CA 94080.

For tickets, please call (650) 737-9716.
Briefs & Shorts
“Happy Birthday” greetings to Ms. Tateetz Palomo (Oct 12) who will be celebrating this Saturday at the  Seafood Peddler in San Rafael,  Ms. Charito Benipayo (Oct 13) & Mr. Von Cruz (Oct 15). May your birthday wishes all come true.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Do not lose your heart. For when you sing, you will need to sing from the heart.” – by Talent Manager Par Excellence Boy Abunda to his former talent, singer Erik Santos, who moved out of Abunda’s Backroom, Inc. to be managed jointly by both Star Magic & Cornerstone’s Erick Raymundo.  Abunda & Santos had a falling out after reportedly, Santos badmouthed the talent manager for not doing anything to save his sagging career. Somebody tell Erik Santos that “Dah’ling, nobody can go against nature. What’s up must come down, eventually.”

This article also appears online at www.FilAmnation.com and  http://sites.google.com/site/adkinsmmcevents/Home/ with readership in 147 countries now (& still counting!) according to the latest Google Analytics report.

Do you have any personal or community events you want announced or published? Just email them to bradford_adkins@yahoo.com

Follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/bradford_adkins)