Just a reminder...Celeste and I need to know by Thursday night an exact number of people going to the Bayanihan National Dance Company performance at the Robert D. Haugh Performing Arts Center in Glendora, CA on September 30. It's $24 for students + 3.50 service charge for ordering it online. We will be buying the tickets at one time so we can all sit together (it's reserved seating), so if you want to go, email us at culture@troyphi.com ASAP.
Here are a couple of videos on Youtube I found of the Bayanihan Dance Troupe - the national dance troupe of the Philippines (they haven't toured the US in 5 years):
Itik-Itik
Aray
Maglalatik
Kappa Malong-Malong
Habanera de Jovencita
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Friday, September 15, 2006
On Dual Citizenship and Voting in Philippine Elections
...I'm just putting this out there for anyone that qualifies and/or is interested. This is long and may get complicated, so contact me for more info if you're interested.
Take a look at the article below (written on 8/19/06) from the Philippine News website:
--
Dual citizens gain reprieve on poll listup
By Rio Araja
The Commission on Elections yesterday approved a one-month extension of registration for Filipinos overseas including those who have acquired dual citizenship.
Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. and commissioners Florentino Tuason Jr., Romeo Brawner, Rene Sarmiento and Nicodemo Ferrer approved Resolution 7694, following a Supreme Court decision allowing expatriates to register as overseas absentee-voters.
The Court invoked Republic Act 9225, otherwise known as the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003, reaffirming the suffrage right of Filipinos who were granted dual citizenship.
The high court ruled that there is no provision in the Dual Citizenship Act stipulating “dual citizens to actually establish residence and physically stay in the Philippines first before they can exercise their right to vote.”
The commission will utilize the one-month grace period to inform the Filipinos overseas about their right to take part in the poll process starting next year.
The OAV registration is supposed to end on Aug. 31.
James Arthur Jimenez, Comelec spokesman, said the poll body is likely to grant another extension “if the response is good.”
SC ruled that there is no provision in the Dual Citizenship Act stipulating “dual citizens to actually establish residence and physically stay in the Philippines first before they can exercise their right to vote.”
Abalos directed OAV registration centers in all Philippine Postal Corp. offices abroad and other centers at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and Ninoy Aquino International Airport to accept the applications of absentee-voters until Sept. 30.
---
So what does this mean?
If you are a dual citizen of the Philippines and any other country, you now have the right to vote in Philippine national elections (like the upcoming 2007 senatorial elections) without having to sign an Affidavit of Intent to Return.
The whole Philippine Overseas Absentee Voting system started in 2003; however, registration turnout for the 2004 national elections was very low because people did not want to sign the Affidavit of Intent to Return which would have meant that they must establish physical residence in the Philippines within 3 years.
Just last month the Philippine Supreme Court ruled that dual citizens don't have to sign said affidavit anymore to register to vote. This could mean that a dual citizen that hasn't even stepped foot in the Philippines his or her entire life could vote in Philippine national elections.
So if you are a dual citizen right now and is interested in voting, you have until September 30 2006 to register. Contact me or the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles for more info.
---
But wait, what if I'm not a dual citizen? Am I qualified to be one?
You are qualified to be a dual citizen if at least one parent was a Filipino citizen at the time of your birth, and that your birth must was reported to the Philippine Embassy or Consulate which exercises jurisdiction over the place of birth.
You can apply for dual citizenship if you qualify at the Philippine Consulate or Embassy.
What are the benefits of being a dual citizen?
Taken from the LA Consulate's website:
right to vote in Philippine national elections
- right to own land and property in the Philippines
- right to engage in business or commerce as a Filipino
- right to travel bearing a Filipino passport
- other rights and privileges enjoyed by Filipino citizens
---
Ok, this is getting long. Bottom line, if you are interested in either becoming a dual citizen or voting in the 2007 Philippine national elections if you currently are a dual citizen, contact me or the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles.
Take a look at the article below (written on 8/19/06) from the Philippine News website:
--
Dual citizens gain reprieve on poll listup
By Rio Araja
The Commission on Elections yesterday approved a one-month extension of registration for Filipinos overseas including those who have acquired dual citizenship.
Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. and commissioners Florentino Tuason Jr., Romeo Brawner, Rene Sarmiento and Nicodemo Ferrer approved Resolution 7694, following a Supreme Court decision allowing expatriates to register as overseas absentee-voters.
The Court invoked Republic Act 9225, otherwise known as the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003, reaffirming the suffrage right of Filipinos who were granted dual citizenship.
The high court ruled that there is no provision in the Dual Citizenship Act stipulating “dual citizens to actually establish residence and physically stay in the Philippines first before they can exercise their right to vote.”
The commission will utilize the one-month grace period to inform the Filipinos overseas about their right to take part in the poll process starting next year.
The OAV registration is supposed to end on Aug. 31.
James Arthur Jimenez, Comelec spokesman, said the poll body is likely to grant another extension “if the response is good.”
SC ruled that there is no provision in the Dual Citizenship Act stipulating “dual citizens to actually establish residence and physically stay in the Philippines first before they can exercise their right to vote.”
Abalos directed OAV registration centers in all Philippine Postal Corp. offices abroad and other centers at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and Ninoy Aquino International Airport to accept the applications of absentee-voters until Sept. 30.
---
So what does this mean?
If you are a dual citizen of the Philippines and any other country, you now have the right to vote in Philippine national elections (like the upcoming 2007 senatorial elections) without having to sign an Affidavit of Intent to Return.
The whole Philippine Overseas Absentee Voting system started in 2003; however, registration turnout for the 2004 national elections was very low because people did not want to sign the Affidavit of Intent to Return which would have meant that they must establish physical residence in the Philippines within 3 years.
Just last month the Philippine Supreme Court ruled that dual citizens don't have to sign said affidavit anymore to register to vote. This could mean that a dual citizen that hasn't even stepped foot in the Philippines his or her entire life could vote in Philippine national elections.
So if you are a dual citizen right now and is interested in voting, you have until September 30 2006 to register. Contact me or the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles for more info.
---
But wait, what if I'm not a dual citizen? Am I qualified to be one?
You are qualified to be a dual citizen if at least one parent was a Filipino citizen at the time of your birth, and that your birth must was reported to the Philippine Embassy or Consulate which exercises jurisdiction over the place of birth.
You can apply for dual citizenship if you qualify at the Philippine Consulate or Embassy.
What are the benefits of being a dual citizen?
Taken from the LA Consulate's website:
right to vote in Philippine national elections
- right to own land and property in the Philippines
- right to engage in business or commerce as a Filipino
- right to travel bearing a Filipino passport
- other rights and privileges enjoyed by Filipino citizens
---
Ok, this is getting long. Bottom line, if you are interested in either becoming a dual citizen or voting in the 2007 Philippine national elections if you currently are a dual citizen, contact me or the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Jollibee, anyone?
Jollibee is, well, kind of a big deal.
With more than 1200 locations in the Philippines, Jollibee is Pinoy fast food. The restaurant chain also beats McDonald's in the Philippines, making almost double the revenue of the American giant "McDo."
In the Philippines, most of Jollibee's meals are priced between P19 and P30. The exchange rate as of Sept. 7, 2006 is 50 pesos to 1 dollar. According to my calculations, a meal at Jollibee would cost you around 50 cents... in the Philippines, that is.
Just what makes Jollibee so good? The well dressed and happy bee mascot, I think.
Edit: ...and below (taken in June 2005 at a Consulate Independence Day event) is said mascot. -- R
But most likely, it's the fact that Jollibee caters to the Pinoy palate. Offering sweeter spaghetti, Filipino-style Yum burgers, Palabok Fiestas, rice meals, crunchy ChickenJoys, and tropically flavored desserts, it's no wonder that Jollibee wins. When was the last time your McDonald's carried Langka pies?
My only objection is... the height requirement. I went to the Philippines in 2003 and they had all these flyers up to be a Jollibee worker. Apparently, to join the team you have to be around 5'3.
I guess I'm not Jollibee material.
Anyway, embedded below are some Jollibee commercials to entertain you. Some big-name Filipino artists are included in Jollibee's campaign, including MYMP (Make Your Momma Proud), Sarah Geronimo, and Sam Milby.
With MYMP.
With more than 1200 locations in the Philippines, Jollibee is Pinoy fast food. The restaurant chain also beats McDonald's in the Philippines, making almost double the revenue of the American giant "McDo."
In the Philippines, most of Jollibee's meals are priced between P19 and P30. The exchange rate as of Sept. 7, 2006 is 50 pesos to 1 dollar. According to my calculations, a meal at Jollibee would cost you around 50 cents... in the Philippines, that is.
Just what makes Jollibee so good? The well dressed and happy bee mascot, I think.
Edit: ...and below (taken in June 2005 at a Consulate Independence Day event) is said mascot. -- R
But most likely, it's the fact that Jollibee caters to the Pinoy palate. Offering sweeter spaghetti, Filipino-style Yum burgers, Palabok Fiestas, rice meals, crunchy ChickenJoys, and tropically flavored desserts, it's no wonder that Jollibee wins. When was the last time your McDonald's carried Langka pies?
My only objection is... the height requirement. I went to the Philippines in 2003 and they had all these flyers up to be a Jollibee worker. Apparently, to join the team you have to be around 5'3.
I guess I'm not Jollibee material.
Anyway, embedded below are some Jollibee commercials to entertain you. Some big-name Filipino artists are included in Jollibee's campaign, including MYMP (Make Your Momma Proud), Sarah Geronimo, and Sam Milby.
With MYMP.
With Sarah Geronimo, my favorite, and Sam Milby- that Fil-Am who's the crush of the country right now even though he can't speak Tagalog.
Sarah Geronimo again! <3>
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Pinoy Visions (9/6) and FPAC (9/9 - 9/10)
As part of the upcoming Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture on Sep. 9-10, the Association for the Advancement of Filipino Arts and Culture, Inc. is presenting the 13th edition of PINOY VISIONS, showcasing the best upcoming Pinoy filmmaking talents since 1994.
It's being held this week in various events leading up to FPAC, and Troy Phi is planning an outing to the third part of Pinoy Visions, which will be at the David Henry Hwang Theatre in Downtown LA from 7:30p-9p. It's a great way to see firsthand new, unique perspectives in film from Filipino and Filipino-American directors.
Among the film shorts and music videos shown that night are both Bebot videos from the Black Eyed Peas. There will also be documentaries (ex. The Debutantes of Orange County), narratives (ex. Sikyu and Grandma's Recipe), and some animation (Sabong Spell) as well. For the full list of films, please visit the following website: http://vconline.org/pinoyvisions06/daythree.html
General admission is $8. Rides can be arranged if necessary. If you want to go, email Celeste and me at culture@troyphi.com as soon as possible.
--
Also, a reminder that FPAC is coming up, and we're having a bus taking people there on Sunday the 10th...please email me if you're going to that too. Riding on the bus is free, $3 for admission to FPAC ($5 for a two-day pass).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)