Whadya Know! Inquirer Again Interviews a Famous Fil-Am Writer.

Philadelphia Inquirer talks to Lynda Barry, one of my favorite author/artists.

"We didn't have any books in the house I grew up in," Barry recalls of her hands-off rearing in Seattle. Thanks to a supermarket giveaway, four books made it into the house. Tales of the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen. Heidi. The Arabian Nights.

"It was hard to find a place to read. That's why I loved the library," she recalls. To this day, the once "scraggly kid who didn't have a cared-for look" keeps a bookcase "with glass doors full of the oldest books I can find just so I can have that library smell when I need it. That's a smell that makes me feel that anything is possible."

Barry went to high school with Kenny G ("no comment"), college with Groening ("Funk Lord of USA"), and dated This American Life host Ira Glass ("I'll pass").

Ay! Marisa delos Santos, the biggest selling Pinay author in the States right now, Talks to the Wrong Inquirer

Marisa (pronounced "Mareesa") de los Santos, with her second novel, Belong to Me (William Morrow, $24.95), about a young Center City couple who move to the Philadelphia suburbs, is now a bona fide New York Times best-selling author. And that's the hardcover list, thank you. Now read the rest of the Philadelphia Inquirer article by the great Carlin Romero.
Her next novel will delve on the Philippines daw. Promise.

Re(y)naldo Over to the Maximum

Had he made it, Re(y)naldo would have been the oldest to make it at 44 years. No, he is actually Renaldo. He used to belong to a band called "The Creepers." His other songs are Basted (not about barbeque but the Pinoy of "busted" or "dumped") and Samahan. In the Fox interview, he said "I don't know what to wore" because the announcement said "dress to impress." He thought of "The Gladiator" and went to the mall to assemble what could be the most important fashion decision ever by an Idol contestant. In the interview, he also used the so-Pinoy "over to the maximum of happiness." Happy Happy Joy Joy.

My Madame Auring Moment: THE CEBU INMATES DANCING TO "YOU ARE MY BROTHER" WILL MAKE IT TO MTV

Renaldo Fever

Those in the Philippines would answer:
1) Good twin of evil John Lapuz
2) Casino dealer channelled by Liberace
3) Pinoy Big Brother Forever
4) Latest incarnation of Bob Dylan
5) Former Olongapo (from San Simon town that's why he has Simon on his hat) pimp

The Filipino Liberace

Viewed 300,000 times. He already has his own website. Want a Brothers Forever Tshirt?

Pinoy Wraps

You are not a Pinoy if you have not sat on a sofa wrapped in plastic. The owner had to do that to preserve the "newness" of the furniture. Of course! But the sofa had been wrapped in plastic for ten years! So you are sweating there because your heat is reflected back to you and if you try to go near the girl seating on the pouch, your fingerprints would be visible to everyone except the NBI and police. This also happens in taxis and even bank couches. I never lied down on a psychiatrist couch but if that is wrapped, expect a Pinoy picking his nose while conversing with you about your plastic cover problems. Anyway, Vivre, famous market of decadence, opulence, and curious design, are now offering custom made plexiglass cases for your furniture. Not just plastic but plexiglass designed by in-house designer Maurice Renoma. You say French satire but I say Pinoy to the core. Watch.

Filipino-American Reading List: Punkd!

Nerissa Balce sent this through Roland:

In the grand tradition of English film titles translated into Filipino, such as Adik si Harry, Tumira ng Shabu (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone), Uuy...Aminin! (I Know What You did Last Summer) and Ang Proyekto ng Bruhang si Blair (The Blair Witch Project), here are some playful translations of books by Filipino American studies scholars. The asides and alternative titles are mine.

1. White Love – Ang Boypren Ko, Puti!
2. Empire of Care – Nars
3. Servants of Globalization - Tsimay (alternative title: DH)
4. Children of Global Migration - Mga Anak ng Tsimay (alternative title: DHL or DH Litter)
5. Forced Passages – Ginahasang Konbik (Obscurantism. Better is "Ang Bagong Daan")
6. American Tropics – Libog at Init sa Amerika (alternative title: Mga Trapik sa America)
7. Global Divas – Kabaklaan na Naman!
8. Locating Filipino Americans – Saan nga Ba ang Mga Pinoy? (alternative title: Kaya Nga TNT)
9. Positively No Filipinos Allowed – Sabi sa 'Yo, Wala Talagang Pinoy! (alternative title: Sabi sa Iyo, Walang Vacancy para sa Atin)
10. Model Minority Imperialism – America's Neks Top Model
11. Fantasy-Production – Charing!
12. From Exile to Diaspora – La Visa Loka
13. The Star Entangled Banner – Ang Bandilang Pinaluputan ni Guy and Vi (Kailangang Ipa-Rebond ang Flag)
14. Five Faces of Exile – Ang Limang X-Men

I also looked at anti-Desperate Housewives online petition originator Kevin Nadal's book list for other Fil-Am Studies canon (Hey, he won a contest at Michigan State for his Asian-American book collection!). These are other Fil-Am Studies tomes ripe for translation:

Root, Maria P.P. (1997). Filipino Americans: Transformation and Identity. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications -- Ako si Transformer!
Bacho, Peter (1997). Dark Blue Suit. Seattle: University of Washington Press. -- Ukay-Ukay!
Buaken, Manuel (1948). I Have Lived with the American People. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Printers, Ltd.-- Gapo
Bulosan, Carlos (1995). On Becoming Filipino. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.-- Paano Mag-apply ng Dual Citizenship
Coronel, Leandro V. (1997). The Invisible Americans: Why the Filipinos in American Lack Political Clout. Alexandria, VA: Cogs Publishing -- Anong Pakialam Ko sa Blond Hair Mo?
Hagedorn, Jessica (1990). Dogeaters. New York: Penguin Books -- Baguio Cuisine
Ileto, Reynaldo Clemena (1979). Pasyon and Revolution: Popular Movements in the Philippines, 1840-1910. Manila: Ateneo de Manila University Press -- Edsa Revolution: Mga Prequel
McReynolds, Patricia Justiani (1997). Almost Americans: A Quest for Dignity. Santa Fe: Red Crane Books -- Mali Ang Sagot sa Embasi. Pakshet!
Okamura, Jonathan Y. (1998). Imagining the Filipino American Diaspora: Transnational Relations, Identities, and Communities. New York: Garland Publishing -- Pahabaan ng Title Para Sikat
Yamanaka, Lois-Ann (1997). Blu’s Hanging. New York: Ferrar, Strauss, and Giroux -- Nagnakaw ng Bughaw na Hawaiian Shirt, Binitay!

and the canon of them all:
Carlos Bulosan's America is in the Heart -- Grabe na itong Organ Trafficking na toh!

Filipino Flash

Veteran sportswriter Percy Della has a house off the shores of Candon and we have had bottles of great California wine talking about his good old bad days. He's now in Sacramento, back from retirement to be Guv. Ahnuld's PR on energy. Agawid kan, Manong.

Philboxing’s glimmer man
Commentary
Percy D. Della

Sacramento, California - Nonito Donaire Jr., true to his moniker came to our attention in a glimmer. The Filipino Flash became a dual boxing world champion with our eyes almost wide shut. Now that he has completely emerged into our consciousness, the current IBF and IBO flyweight king will stay there for a long while. There are a million reasons why. A raging bull in the ring, Nonito Jr.is a lamb off the canvas and seems as though he would never hurt a fly. He reminds boxing fans of the original Flash – the late Gabriel Elorde. Elorde hit pay dirt all right, but not in the millions during his long reign as world junior lightweight champ; yet “Bay” remains arguably the greatest Pinoy pug of all time. He was adored in life and is revered even in death. Nonito has heard about the Hall of Famer whose humility -- amid his fistic feat—the young champ tries to follow. “I can never match Elorde’s greatness, “ the present Flash concedes. “But his ideals will live in me. Elorde is going to box through me.” Nonito Jr. floored everyone, from the great Oscar de la Hoya on down to this writer with his gentlemanly ways during the World Cup of boxing in Sacramento a quarter or so ago. I was so impressed I followed up our talk that night with phone calls and e-mails before he flew to the Philippines recently. He is training at the ALA gym in Cebu for his December 1 title defense against Mexican challenger Luis Maldonado in Connecticut. When Nonito Jr. knocked out champion Vic Darchinyan in a stunning upset for the IBF flyweight crown earlier this year, Filipino fight fans were slow to react because of his American sounding name. They had no idea that the U.S-based boxer came to California at age 10 with his family from General Santos City by way of Talibon, Bohol. Fans of Olympic style boxing are also pleasantly surprised to know that Nonito Jr. made it to the finals of the US Olympic trials in 2001, only to lose a controversial decision to another Filipino American world champion -- Brian Viloria Jr. Donaire may have doubted the outcome of that fight and momentary lost trust in the judges that night, but it was no excuse for losing his manners. And he never did. Despite his Western upbringing, Nonito Jr. wears his Filipino heritage like a badge. He speaks English with an American accent, but can easily switch to fluent Visayan and Tagalog. “Po”, the Pinoy term of respect is a staple of his speech. “Losing is the worst feeling, “ he says, as he looks back to the Viloria loss. “It gave me the fortitude to fight my best and give all I got so that I’d avoid the feeling of shame.” Backed by this resolve and a family who encouraged him everyday to fulfill his wish of becoming world champion, the San Leandro, California kid figured it out. The result is a sparse but sterling professional record of 16 professional wins, nine by knockout, against a loss. Statistically, that’s a win percentage of 94% and a KO rate of 56%. The glimmer man has vaulted into our minds. He will be there for sometime. Because there are a million reasons why.

Sports note: J.B. Yango, known as the Cuyapo Kid during his heyday in the PBA and in several national teams, survived a recent razor blade attack in Barangay 5, Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija. Well wishes from his California-based kababayans are pouring in for the termed-out provincial board member. Since there was nary a word about the incident in the major Manila dailies, I hope his former teammates and well-placed friends in the big city are aware of it. Get well J.B. and good luck from the original Cuyapo Kid.

And Now There's a Counter Petition

I told you it's a circus. Somebody came out with a counter petition

Kevin Nadal

Kevin Nadal is the F/Pinoy who started the online petition against Desperate Housewives with 100,000 signatories. You think the comments were weird. Read this from the International Herald Tribune May 14, 2005 by Sharon Crum:

NEW YORK: It is hard to know what to say to a man who has just married himself. The "wedding'' took place last Saturday in front of 125 guests in New York. It was there that Kevin Nadal, 27, a Filipino-American gay performance artist and Ph.D. scholar in counselling psychology, took his vows — "I, Kevin Nadal, take me, Kevin Nadal, to have and hold, in sickness and health'' — threw a bouquet, then partied into the wee hours. "Everybody said it was the best wedding they'd been to,'' he says proudly.

What he was trying to do, he says, was stage an event that would celebrate the single life while highlighting the discrimination against singletons. "I've attended at least a dozen weddings, and I have bought tons of gifts for those couples. I'm happy to do it. But I started thinking: we always celebrate married life, why not single life?

"Single people are marginalised in our culture. People think you don't have the commitment to be in a relationship. Women have it tough. Heterosexual men, they get a free pass and are congratulated for being a `player'. But for gay men and single women, there's a stigma because we don't have a partner.''

So, clad in a white suit and red shirt, Mr. Nadal took centre stage, surrounded by a bridal party of 32 in the loft that served as Samantha's apartment in Sex and the City. The only absentees were his parents. "They are traditional Filipino and would not have understood. I told them I was having a birthday party.'' Like many bride/grooms, Mr. Nadal had a serious case of nerves before the big day. "I wasn't worried I was making a mistake, or if this was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with,'' he laughs. He was more concerned about his white suit and whether he would go home with anyone at the end of the night.

First Mr. Nadal made a speech about what being single means to him. "I told them it means taking your sick ass down to the pharmacy at 3 a.m. because nobody is going for you, or going on a first date hoping this time it will work, then going home knowing it is not going to happen. "I felt very empowered saying it,'' he says. "And I felt by the end of the night that people understood the wedding wasn't just an excuse for a $6,000 party, but a personal statement. ''

- Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005

Selection from the Circus

Hey, about 80,000 now signed the petition against Desperate Housewives. What I did was made a Russian Roulette and clicked on any bunch of numbers and picked the more interesting comments. Most did not comment. Most of those who commented either used the words "ban," "stupid," "boycott," "careless," "racist," "stupid" and "I am a nurse/doctor..." or "My parents are nurses/doctor..."
But these are the ones that caught my clicker:

you know what? wrong grammar in english will not make you less a man,,so for florante at laura,,shut your mouth,,what's more important is the freedom of one's self,,we are mocked so what do you expect? of course an outrage,,don't you understand that it is not our native tongue, so you can't really expect all of us to speak english eloquently, my God filipino ka pa naman,hinahamak mo ang kapwa mo, so what if they can't construct a sentence correctly, does it make them less a man? filipinos deserve respect, as far as i know we are one of the most hospitable country so why degrade our education if we are superior in values? just because we are much influenced by america and bow down to the almighty dollar doesn't mean we aren't in the position to complain THAT PART is NOT EVEN FUNNy 100\% so why DiD They have to say that. AMERICANS are feeling too high off their feet. Remember, THERE ARE MANY ENEMIES LURKING. Do not wait for unexpected JOINING of hands to happen... I don't really care much about what goes on on TV, I don't even watch this programme... Perhaps the ignorant woman was right and she obviously has not been to the Philippines as I would like to think that the very best of Filipino doctors still work in the PHILIPPINES, not in the US of A. I can be pompous too. REMIND HER, THAT HER AMERICAN DOCTOR WAS SENT TO AFGANISTAN AND IRAQ!the apollogy of ABC network isn't enough, Hatcher should also make her public apology to the Filipinos because i know that she has the option whether to accept or reject the script. has anybody seen the "the daily show" segment "is america ready for a women president"? they insulted Ms. Cory Aquino. Please edit the pettition. Some typo errors. It is upsetting to be stereotyped but we are still foreigners. However, the real Americans are the American Indians. We Filipinos banded together can make a big difference in American politics. We can use this advantage.As a Filipino-American, I am disappointed at how angry my fellow pinoys are. It's just an ignorant line from a stupid show. When it comes to the point where the Philippine government asks for an apology, it's gone too far. I mean doesn't the government back home have more pressing matters to address? Like the rampant poverty and government corruption? Or does the Philippine government just settle for becoming the pinoy equivalent of the NAACP? Is that what we really want for our people? The producers of the show already apologized, and some people are saying it isn't enough? What the heck do they want??? Just leave this situation be before we embarrass ourselves and our home country.To Paul M. 66900: Then, what the hell are you signing this petition for? You must be plain stupid. Who told you to come to the philippines anyway? People like you should just shut up than make such comments and erase all doubts that you are in fact an ignoramus!!!!!I Recommend also to BAND that show in the Philippines Lahat ng Cast ng Desperate Housewives Makakantot lahat kayo ng pinoy!!Yes i love there show in 23, but they need to apologized and respects us.Filipino Doctors are Philippine Intellectual Propertiesfrom now on I will no longer watch that movie!!! Y.O.Y. ratings decline. Pathetic attempt to stoke up interest. Not biting. I have never seen that show and I never will. I'd rather watch C-SPAN's showing of Al Gore's new movie about golf - "An Inconvenient Putt".low blow Marc Cherrrrrryyyyyyy.... magkatropa pala tayo!!!! bading ka rin pala!!! eto lang ang masasabi ko sayo.... BABANGON AKO AT DUDURUGIN KITA!!!! R.E.S.P.E.C.T...???let us be heard and stop watching Desperate housewife defenately offensive & reflect bad on any filipino medical practitioner such as myself.REALITY CHECK - (1) Blaming Teri Hatcher, an over-the-hill actress who is a no-talent, for this comment is stupid when she only recited lines and didn't write the episode or the joke in question. (2) Getting all worked up over this dumb show makes you guys look even dumber. (3) All the show did was make a joke about Phillipino medical schools, which are, in fact, inferior to American medical schools. (4) You need to calm down and gain some perspective over this trivial issue. And (5) You guys look ridiculous making statements like "proud to be Philipino" or "sue ABC" or whining about how hurt you are over some stupid line or other nonsense like that.My desperate wife will now watch Sunday Night Football with me instead!!!I work in a call center so you'd know how ignorant whites are ...well, if not all... MOST...apology not only to the filipino americans but for all filipinos. half or full blooded Hell has no fury than Filipinos scorned! writer's pic at: www.philippinepressclub.comused to work in a call center specifically US credit card and almost everyday I received insults and degrading remarks from these white monkeys specially when they are aware that you are a Filipino.I swear to the Lord that I still can't see why DEMOCRACY means everybody but me. -- Langston HughesunhumanShe better not show up at my clinic, or else))))really..come on..timbuktu is a real place..they filled a blank..HOY ELMER, ASA NAKA? AKO KINI SI TERI HATCHER!!!!!This "Superman," which infuses its action with poetry, soars as a love story filled with epic yearnings, thwarted desires and breathtaking imagery: Lois, spied on with her lover's X-ray vision, ascending in a skyscraper's elevator; Superman, zapped with kryptonite, descending silently and helplessly through space. (If Jean Cocteau had directed $200 million action movies, they might have looked a little like this.) Next to Singer's champagne, most recent superhero adventure movies are barely sparkling cider.LETS BOYCOTT DISNEY PRODUCTS AND STOP WATCHING DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES.... WHAT AN INSULTING LINE Why not boycott Disney amusement parks Humor must be done with taste Don't call this a leftist act. Marc Cherry, the writer/producer is a conservative Republican!!! YYou dumb Flips are making the rest of us Asians look bad. You don't see Koreans or Japanese or Chinese or Indians or Vietnamese or any other Southeast Asian behaving like wussy whiners. Stop this stupid petition, and stop your incessant whining. You feminine Filipino men especially have got to stop acting like the women you sell off to slavery. ATTENTION FILIPINOS - SHUT UP! YOU SOUND LIKE PANSIES AND CRYBABIES! WAAAAAH!!!! WAAAAH! I’M HURT! WAAAAAH!!!! I WANT MY MOMMY!!!!! please do more research. Next time pick a non-english -speaking country You owe us an apology! as my alma matter says, Im a Bedan, need i say more? i can also and proud to say that Im a Filipino, need i say more?teri hatcher pwede naman i refuse yung script eh tinuloy pa rin please don't be ignorant. filipinos are generally more educated than the average american. we strive to go to school and finish a college degree. americans go to high school and become nurses who pretend to know it all. fact is, you will NEVER know everything in 4 years of nursing school. how much more the 10 months practical nursing course? please just be blondes. not dumb. peace!How dare you EVA LONGORIA! Were not sensitive. We are just angry because we are discriminated! a filipino doctor saved my life. filipino docs are more caring and compassionate, our family loves you flips rule Check out asianbabecams.com for awesome filipino babes!filipinos are tht best care givers in the world Fight The Power! DESPERATE SHOW FOR DESPERATE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!! Come on fellow filipinos! Make up more names!!!WTF are they talking about!!!! Pinoys are the BEST in the West!!!!the producers and actress really know what to do with the show when it comes to rating....no doubt about it....just utter one word.."Philippines" and ...woot! there goes the ratings...
The one who wrote "Flips are making the rest of us..." surfaced maybe a dozen times and so did "Hoy, Elmer..." and that pathetic guy who wants you to see his face at philippinepressclub.com. But all in all, it was a mob. You feel the heat, the indignation and you feel the hate. I feel sad for Teri because she, too, was sexually molested by an uncle. I don't think she needs to bear the burden although at her stature, she could have refused. So now, we have this circus.

Desperate

Take it into perspective, almost 40,000 already signed the petition condemning Desperate Housewives for denigrating Philippine medical schools or PMS-educated doctors. On the other hand, only 850 signed the petition calling for the return of the Balangiga bells to the Philippines.

Filipino as Global Language

Filipino as a Global Language:

Future Directions and Prospects

1^st International Conference
Filipino and Philippine Literature Program
Department of Indo-Pacific Languages and Literature
University of Hawai`i at Manoa
March 17-19, 2008

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The conference will be an avenue for bringing together scholars, writers, language teachers, researchers and other practitioners from around the world to discuss issues pertaining the role of Filipino as a global language. Participants can be teachers, researchers, program administrators/coordinators and other practitioners who are directly involved in the promotion and nurturing of the Filipino language, literature and culture. This first conference is geared towards establishing a tradition of scholarly meetings of this kind among practitioners in the field of Filipino language, literature and culture studies. Its goal is to provide a venue for the exchange of ideas among teachers, researchers, program administrators, writers, and other agencies involved in the promotion and nurturing of the Filipino language and culture for the purpose of:

1. describing/sharing existing state-of-the-art programs
2. identifying program needs as well as available resources
3. sharing ideas, research results, resources, assessment tools, and practices on teaching, program administration, and language promotion
4. fostering cooperation, and collaboration in doing research
5. raising consciousness on the importance of the national language to minimize regionalism and
6. advocacy

Topic: Papers will need to directly focus on one or more of the following

Curriculum Development, Needs Analysis and Syllabus Design
Program Development, Administration and Coordination
Translation, Interpretation and Dubbing
Teacher Training and Professional Development
Language and Politics
Heritage Language Learners: Needs Assessment and Curriculum Development
Materials Development
Research Funding and Grant Sourcing
Teaching Culture
Filipino Linguistics: An Overview and Directions
Language Teaching Approaches
Service Learning, Community Sourcing, Student Organizations
Articulation, Assessment and Implementation of Standards
Language Teacher Certification
Program Evaluation Methods and Practices
Teaching Literature
Filipino in the Media and Diplomacy
Poster Sessions will be on Filipino Programs Outside the Philippines

SECOND DEADLINE: October 5, 2008

Tayaotao

Twenty-seven year old Marine Sergeant Michael Tayaotao, said to be the first Igorot soldier to die during the Iraq war, will be buried Friday (Saturday Manila time) at Poway, California.Tayaotao, a bomb disposal technician with the 7th Engineer Support Battalion, was killed Aug. 9 in Al-Anbar province while undergoing combat operations.

According to her aunt, Connie, the Tayaotaos trace their roots in Balili, La Trinidad. Though Michael was born in San Diego, CA and was never been to the Philippines, he was an FBI or a Full-blooded Igorot. His father Mario is a retired US Navy serviceman and mother Hilda is from Kapangan. Connie said that Michael's grandmother Bibiana would be attending the burial. Michael would be buried beside younger brother Vincent who died last October while a student at the University of California in Irvine.

Tayaotao is a bemedalled soldier who was even praised by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as a courageous man. "His courage is an example of the extraordinary commitment that is displayed every day by our nation's service members. Each time we lose a member of our armed forces, we are painfully reminded of the cost of freedom and democracy," Schwarzenegger said in a press statement.

Tayaotao was on his third tour of duty when he died and has already spent nine years in the Army. Another Fil-Am soldier was killed last week in Iraq, bringing to six the Fil-Americans who died in Iraq since May. Army Private First Class Paulo Marko U. Pacificador, 24, died of wounds on August 13 in Qayyarah when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb. Pacificador, a son of a Filipino soldier, was a resident of Queens, New York City and was born in Buguey, Cagayan. Pacificador joined the US Army in January 2006 and was on his third mission when he and two others from the 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 1^st Cavalry Division died in Iraq. His father, Jose, belonged to the Philippine Air Force. Mark was six when their family migrated to the US. Four other Fil-Ams died in Iraq since May.