S.F. Bay Area Book Launch of "Pareng Barack: Filipinos in Obama's America"

The Filipino American Center of the San Francisco Public Library, the Filipino/American Coalition for Environmental Solidarity (FACES), and Manilatown Heritage Foundation present: "Pareng Barack: Filipinos in Obama's America" by Benjamin Pimentel, a S.F. Bay Area Book Launch. Sunday, January 25, 2009, 2-4 p.m. at the Koret Auditorium of the San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin St. (at Grove) in San Francisco, California. For more information, click here.

Community Rallies to Support Sundays at the Berkeley Thai Temple

The 25-year old tradition of Sundays at Wat Mongkolratanaram, also known as the Berkeley Thai Temple, is under attack as a few opposing neighbors campaign to shut it down. The larger community comprised of supportive neighbors and community leaders have spoken out to save this invaluable spiritual and cultural Berkeley institution. Click here for more information.

Macy's to Reopen Lake Avenue Store in Pasadena
Retailer completes remodel of historic location

Macy's has announced the reopening of the Lake Avenue, Pasadena store will take place on Saturday, November 22, 2008. The Lake Avenue location has been closed since early May 2008 for seismic work, as well as renovation of the interior spaces. Customers will see new locations for some departments, as well as updates flooring, lighting, and fixturing. New vendors will also be showcased when the store reopens. Click here for more information.

U.S. Auto Industry Seeks Immediate Assistance

The financial storm that has swept across the globe since late summer has touched virtually every segment of the economy. It's hit millions of homeowners and affected thousands of small businesses as well as major corporations and even sovereign governments. It has had a devastating effect on the auto industry, which has encountered a sales slump unlike any other in more than two decades and 2.5 million jobs in the U.S. are at risk. Click for more information.

Call for Nominations

The James Irvine Foundation is now accepting nominations for its 2009 Leadership Awards. Now in the program's fourth year, the awards recognize individuals who are advancing innovative and effective solutions to important issues for California's future.

Nominations are due to the Foundation by January 16, 2009. A distinguished Selection Committee will review the nominations and select four to six award recipients, who will be announced in the summer of 2009. Each award recipient receives $125,000 to advance his or her programmatic effort. Recipients also receive additional support for strategic communications activities, designed to educate policymakers and practitioners about promising solutions to critical state challenges.

For more information, visit http://www.irvine.org/leadershipAwards/. You can nominate an exemplary Californian directly online.

Cooking with Ron

Fil-Am television personality and personal chef Ronald Bilaro recently visited the Ronald McDonald House in Palo Alto, California, where he provided families staying there with a complimentary lunch and food demonstration. Bilaro is a Celebrity Friend of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), part of a group of notable personalities who donate their time to raise awareness to charity. "I'm thrilled to be part of this wonderful event and have the opportunity to continue my support for the RMHC and the children," he says. "It brings me joy to spend a morning and share my cooking with the families. I hope it brings a smile to the children and families staying at the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford." The Celebrity Friends of the RMHC program was launched in November 2007 during McDonalds' annual World Children's Day fundraiser for RMHC. It's designed to heighten awareness for the charity and inspire people to take action by donating their time, resources or funds. The program currently includes 18 high profile actors, musicians athletes and media personalities. Bilaro is host of "Life…Pinoy Style" on the Filipino Channel and serves as a contributing writer for the Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Sun of Maryland and the Sun Sentinel in Florida.

11th Filipinas Magazine Achievement Awards

Natalie Aliga, Outreach and Corporate Contributions Coordinator, AAA of Northern California, Nevada and Utah, and Major General (Ret.) Antonio J. Taguba. Photo by Paulino Love

L-R Natalie Coughlin, Dr. Josefino Comiso, Irene Natividad, Teddy de Rivera, Anthony "Tony" Olaes, Anthony David, Lucille Tenazas, Armando "Doy" Heredia. Photo by Paulino Love

2008 Filipinas Magazine Achievement Awards Souvenir Programme

Some of the most prominent names in major fields of endeavor in America were recipients of the 11th Filipinas Magazine Achievement Awards, considered the country’s most prestigious and the most coveted recognition of Filipino Americans. The awards presentation, scheduled for the first time in October, which has been officially designated Filipino American History Month, was staged at a dinner reception at the South San Francisco Conference Center last October 2. It was attended by more than 400 guests. According to Filipinas publisher-editor Greg B. Macabenta, this year’s honorees represented a bumper crop of achievers, not just in the Filipino American community but in the mainstream society as well: * Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin, who won six medals in the recent Beijing Olympics, including a gold and two silvers, was given the Achievement Award for Sports and Entertainment. It was sponsored by Anheuser-Busch Companies presented by Jim Cho, Senior Manager, Community Relations. * Major General (Ret.) Antonio J. Taguba, who blew the lid off the Abu Ghraib human rights violations by US military personnel in Bahgdad, received the Achievement Award for Public Affairs. It was presented by Natalie Aliga, Outreach and Corporate Contributions Coordinator, AAA of Northern California, Nevada and Utah; * Dr. Josefino Comiso, senior scientist of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Cryospheric Sciences Branch, one of the foremost authorities on global warming in the Arctic region, received the Achievement Award for Science and Medicine from Seton Foundation, represented by Mona Lisa Yuchengco, Board Member; * Lucille Tenazas, one of the most-awarded graphic designers in the US, was handed the Achievement Award for Arts and Culture by Lorenzo Valte of One Ayala; * Elaine Quijano, CNN White House correspondent, won the Achievement Award for Communications, sponsored by sponsored GMA Pinoy TV, represented by Lyla Paniagua, marketing consultant. Quijano could not be present at the ceremony because of the crisis in Washington D.C. but she sent a video accepting the award. * Irene Natividad, executive director of the Philippine American Foundation and listed by Ladies Home Journal among the 100 most powerful women in America, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Seafood City Family of Companies, represented by Vincent Tarroja; * Tony Olaes, who built an $84 million t-shirt business from scratch, got the Achievement Award for Entrepreneurship from Danny Ayala, Senior VP and Head of Global Remittance Services of Wells Fargo; * Armando “Doy” Heredia, executive director of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), was handed the Achievement Award for Community Service by Margaret Bradshaw of Comerica Bank; * Teddy de Rivera, executive VP of Wells Fargo’s Internet Services Group, Online Banking and Investments, was given the Achievement Award for Corporate Leadership by Robert Half International’s JP Yujuico; and * Anthony David, wealth management specialist of Smith Barney, got the Achievement Award for Youth Leadership from Linda Silverio of Hawaiian Airlines. The evening’s entertainment was provided by the Philippine Saringhimig Singers and classical singer, Stephanie Reese, former star of the German tour company of “Miss Saigon.” The program was hosted by Filipinas Magazine associate publisher, Christina Dunham, and directed by Maila Gumila of Silver Mesh Productions. Making up the production team were Raymond Virata, art director, Mener Frades, overall coordinator and Ferlie Andong, Maricar Liberato and Shirley Atienza, production staff. Reception sponsors were Genentech and Mango Tours. Patron sponsor was Southwest Airlines. Filipinas Magazine, whose managing editor is noted author Gemma Nemenzo, is now on its 16th year of publication. It is the only monthly glossy magazine of the Filipino American community that is circulated in all 50 U.S. states, some parts of Canada and in several other countries, including the Philippines.

American Legacy Foundation's truth® Campaign

American Legacy Foundation’s truth® crew members are currently touring cross country and reaching out to more than 700,000 teens nationwide in an effort to educate the youth about tobacco use. truth®, the largest national youth smoking prevention campaign, provides information about addiction, and the health effects and social consequences of smoking in the hopes that today’s youth will make well-informed decisions about tobacco. The tour recently made a stop at the Vans Warped Tour held at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA. The signature orange “truth® truck” decked out with an onsite DJ mixing tunes, supported the truth® crew members implementing interactive activities with visitors. Moreover, music band Cobra Starship made a guest appearance at the truth® station, which attracted a huge crowd of fans. Participants received truth® branded gear such as drawstring bags as well as one-of-a-kind t-shirt designs imprinted with various truth® messages such as educational messages related to chemicals found in tobacco. Everyone was encouraged to find out the truth® about tobacco and visit the www.thetruth.com website for more information.

Faithful Citizenship

Assisting clergy and lay leaders in preparing the faithful to vote with a well-informed Catholic conscience. All are invited to attend!

When: Saturday, September 27, 8:30am - 12:30pm

Where: St. Francis of Assisi Church, 860 Oak Grove Road, Concord, CA

Conference Schedule
* Mass celebrated by Bishop Allen Vigneron
* Free continental breakfast
* Presentation in English and Spanish
* Q & A Panel featuring participant questions

Please pre-register for this FREE conference at:
www.oakdiocese.org/pastoral

Support the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill

Support the Filipino Veterans! The Senate approved the Filipino Veterans Equity Act or S1315. It is now up to the House of Representatives to pass this bill. Print out this flyer and mail to your congressmen!

Click here for more community events in January!