Pregnant Man Delivers
Thomas Beatie, (Filipinas, May 2008) the transgender who made headlines by announcing his pregnancy to the world back in April gave birth to a girl on June 29 at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend, Oregon. Originally born as Tracy Lagondino, Beatie, who’s half Filipino, started to live and dress like a man during his 20s. He kept his female reproductive organs while undergoing his female-to-male transition so he and his wife Nancy, who he married in 2003, can have a child. Nancy is unable to have a child due to a serious case of endometriosis, which led to a hysterectomy. Beatie’s pregnancy was the result of artificial insemination. As of press time, the name of the baby hadn’t been released.

Stepping Forward
After 15 years of having clubbed feet, Jingle Luis (Filipinas, June 2008) can now walk normally, thanks to Dr. Terry Amaral of Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, New York. Amaral performed the life-altering surgery on Jingle, inserting screws in the bones of her feet, which were turned little by little until her feet straightened out. Once that procedure was done, Jingle had to wear casts so her feet could remain straight. The casts were recently removed and replaced with special support braces, which the teenager has to wear for a year. But the best part for Jingle came when she slipped her feet into a pair of sneakers for the first time in her life. She was born with the deformity, often walking with the help of crutches because her feet twisted backward and upside down, causing her to limp. When she was an infant, the pediatricians who treated Jingle didn’t see the need to fix her clubbed feet because they felt it would cut her life span short and prevent her from walking. Jingle’s case was brought to the attention of Dr. Amaral through a chance meeting with the Christian Medical and Dental Association of Tennessee during its mission trip to the Philippines in 2003.

Oh No, They Didn’t!
A Filipino domestic worker in New York recently filed a lawsuit against an ex-ambassador to the United Nations and his family. Marichu Baoanan is suing Lauro Baja; his wife, Norma, and their daughter Elizabeth Baja-Facundo for “violating the U.S. federal anti-trafficking laws, subjecting her to involuntary servitude, forced labor, debt bondage, and slavery. The suit also aims to retrieve her unpaid wages.” Marichu claims that when she began her job at the Bajas two years ago, she was made to work 16 hours everyday and given a salary of $100 for three months and an additional $100 for looking after Elizabeth’s son. She also alleges that Lauro’s wife, Norma, vebally abused her. Apart from this, Marichu accuses the family of providing her with poor living quarters—she slept on the floor in the basement with a thin blanket. However, Baja is denying Marichu’s claims, saying that he was “shocked by the allegations.” He assumes that Marichu filed the suit because she wants to avoid deportation back to the Philippines (she became an illegal alien three months after she left the Baja home, according to the ex-ambassador). As of press time Lauro Baja was in the process of filing a counter-charge against his former employee. Damayan Migrant Workers Association, a New York-based grassroots organization that advocates for immigrants workers’ rights, is helping Marichu Baoanan with her case.

August

• August 2 - The grand opening of the “Singgalot” traveling exhibit at Remy’s on Temple at Filipinotown in Los Angeles. Begun in 2006 by the Smithsonian Institute to mark the 100-year presence of Filipino migration to the U.S., “Singgalot” showcases the struggles, challenges and achievements of Filipinos through photographs. Check out http://www.sites.si.edu/exhibitions/exhibits/singgalot_filipinos_in_america/main.htm.

• August 2 - The Cebuano Speaking Organization’s 2008 Summer Picnic at Rooster Rock in Oregon (it’s East of Portland) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Potluck. Contact Julie MacFarlane (503) 648-8257, julianamacfarlane@msn.com; Lourdes Zakrzewski (503) 805-5621, zakrzewskil@usa.redcross.org; Maricel Beaman (503) 971-255-3255, gmbeaman@msn.com; Puri Aston (503) 720-0965, apricott9@aol.com; Romy Agudelo (503) 408-6997, romya1206@yahoo.com; Ruth Olandria (503) 252-8871, willyruth@msn.com.

• August 9 - Council of Filipino American Associations of Oregon and Southwest Oregon’s 2008 Filipino American Community Convention from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the Monarch Hotel and Conference Center in Clackamas, Oregon. “Coming Together” highlights Filipino culture through exhibits, workshops and networking, among others. The cost is $50 for the whole day. For additional inquiries, you may reach Gideon Alegado at (541) 757-7728, Gideon.Alegado@oregonstate.edu.

• August 9 to 10 - The 15th Annual Pistahan Parade and Festival at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The parade will start at 2nd Street and will end on Folsom Street. Free admission. Visit www.pistahan.net or contact info@pistahan.net, (415) 777-6950.

• August 9 to 10 - The 1st Annual San Francisco Filipino American Jazz Festival at the Metreon Theater in San Francisco from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. For details go to www.sfpinoyjazzfest.com.

• August 10 - The U.S.-Philippines Expo 2008 at the Fairplex Building (#4) in Pomona, California. Tickets can be obtained at the door. Check out www.r-page.com or call (310) 561-8474.

• August 15 to 17 - Willamette Valley Association’s Annual Family Camp at South Beach State Park in Newport, Oregon. Contact Rachel Alegado at (541) 757-7728 for details.

• August 16 - The Filipino-American Association of Portland and Vicinity presents the Summer Hawaiian Night Luau. For information on the venue and cost of the event, contact Florecel Daniels (360) 448-1315, fdaniels@lhs.org or Ruth Reyes (503) 284-4265, ruthreyes@netzero.net.

• August 17 - Philippine Fiesta 2008 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey at 10 a.m. For details visit www.philippinefiesta.com.

• August 21 - The world premier of the documentary "Beyond Conspiracy: 25 Years After The Aquino Assassination," 7:30 PM"at the Green Room of the Veterans War Memorial Bldg (400 Van Ness Avenue) in San Francisco across the City Hall. Keynote Speaker: San Francisco Chronicle Executive Editor Phil Bronstein. There will be a candlelight march and vigil at 6:00 pm. in front of the City Hall.

• August 21 - WBC Women's International Super Bantamweight featuring Ana "The Hurricane" Julaton vs. Doming Oliva. Tachi Casino Hotel and Resort, Lemoore, California.

• August 22-23 - Filipino American Arts Exposition's Sine Sine Film Festival celebrates Filipino American history, art, and culture through documentaries, short films, and music videos written, produced, directed and starring Filipino Americans from the Bay Area.

Friday, August 22nd

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm: Benito Bautista's "Gift of Barong (A Journey from Within)" - documentary film

9:00 pm - 11:00 pm: Torrid Productions' "Purgatory 1 & 2" - horror film

Saturday, August 23rd

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Ramona S. Diaz's "Imelda" with special trailer feature.

4:00pm - 6:00 pm: Sine! Sine! short film festival. Short films by local writers, directors, producers and actors

"You Will Remember Me" music video by Indie Alternative Rock Band Lumaya
"Liham" by Clarissa Munoz
"The Rift" by Desciple
"Being Reel" by Patricio Ginelsa
"Madelein the Small" by Nara Denning
"Should've Known" music video by Indie Alternative Rock Band Mudd
"Under the American Sun" by Alex Munoz
"Be His" by Jeannie Barroga
"Abandoned" by Matt Abaya
"I.A" by Robert Casipe
"Embarcadero Blues" music video by Goh Nakamura

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Redcape Cinema's "EVE: Beauty & the Blade"

• August 23 - Isleton Salo-Salo at St. Therese Parish from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m in Isleton, California. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children; the fee for the tickets include lunch, live entertainment, silent auction, raffle drawing and door prizes. The event is sponsored by the Filipino Community of Isleton Vicinity. Call (916) 777-6648 or (916) 777-4426 for more information.

• August 23 - The American Roller Skating Derby's San Francisco Bay Bombers vs. Chicago Pioneers match at the Kezar Pavillion, San Francisco. For more info, call 510-636-9300 or visit http://www.freewebs.com/BombersRollerDerby/.

September

• September 27 - The Philippine Coral Reef Exhibit opening at the California Academy of Sciences at Golden Gate Park, in San Francisco. For details, visit www.pusod.org/reef.

• September 29 - The last day to register for “Political Leadership Among Filipino Americans: Theories and Practice,” a symposium to be held at the California State University East Bay’s New University Union on October 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Advanced tickets are $10 and $15 at the door. For reservations email cfs.office@csuesatbay.edu or call (510) 885-2727.

October

• October 2 - The Filipinas Magazine Achievement Awards will be at the South San Francisco Conference Center at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $50 (includes dinner). For details call (650) 985-2530.

• October 3 - “Endangered Philippine Environment: Risking Future Generations,” a lecture on clean air, water pollution and retaining the resources in southeast Asia’s Coral Triangle, to take place at the University of San Francisco’s McLaren Complex from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Scheduled to speak are Philippine actress/environmental activist Carminia “Chin-Chin” Gutierrez (keynote speaker), Dr. Joaquin Gonzalez III, Ipat Luna, Terry Gosliner and Ruperto Aleroza. Free admission. For reservations call (415) 422-6828.

• October 4 and 5 - “The Romance of Magno Rubio” to be staged at the Bob Hope Theatre in Stockton, California at 8 p.m. (Saturday) and 2 p.m. (Sunday). Student and senior citizen discounts available. For tickets go to www.littlemanila.net. You may also call (209) 477-7143 or write to email@littlemanila.net. Funds from this event will go toward helping the Little Manila Foundation. The show will also be presented at the Skyline College Main Theater in San Bruno, California on October 9 (student night, $10 presale and $15 at the door; student ID must be presented; the play begins at 8 p.m.), 10 and 11. Showtime for Friday and Saturday is 8 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Admission ranges from $45 to $65. Visit www.brownpaper.com or contact (415) 401-7157, philaid@sbcglobal.net. Proceeds from the Skyline show will benefit the Philippine International Aid.

Please send your announcements two months before the actual event.