June 1, 2004

• Now that the play is over, my body decided to lose it's voice!  It's a good thing I didn't lose it during the show.  I feel like I was able to foil Murphy's Law that everything that can go wrong will go wrong, and at the worst possible time.  In any case, I'm sure my voice will return soon.  Anyone know any secret remedies?

  
  

  I watched the dedication of the World War II memorial.  I'm saddened that thousands of Filipino World War II veterans can't fully enjoy that memorial, because of their status as non-veterans.  President Bush said that World War II veterans "saved their country and thereby saved the liberty of mankind."

  
  

  "The years of World War II were a hard, heroic and gallant time in the life of our country.  When it mattered most, an entire generation of Americans showed the finest qualities of our nation and of humanity," he said.  "To fight and win on two fronts, Americans had to work and save and ration and sacrifice as never before."

  
  

  "At this place, at this memorial, we acknowledge a debt of longstanding to an entire generation of Americans,  They saved our country and thereby saved the liberty of mankind."

  
  

  Bush even praised African Americans, Japanese Americans and other minority soldiers for fighting in the war "for their country which wasn't always fair to them."  How about that still isn't fair to them?  How about that still isnt' fair to 7,000 Filipino World War II veterans?

  
  

  Franklin Delano Roosevelt said in one of his radio addresses, "We have been descirbed as a nation of weaklings, playboys.  Let them tell that to General McArthur and his men."  Those men are inclusive of the Filipino World War II Veterans.  He ended with, "And now I ask every man and woman who saw and lived World War II - every member for that generation - to please rise as you are able, and receive the thanks of our great nation."  Real thanks would be in Full Equity.

  
  

  Then, yesterday, on Memorial Day, Bush said, "America acknowledges a debt" to its fallen service members "that is beyond our power to repay."  Donald Rumsfeld added, "We come each year, at this time to this place to remember the heroes of our heritage - those from every war and each generation who gave their lives in service to our country."  I say again, why has American forgotten about the Filipino service members?  There are many still alive, and they can be repayed, at least partially, as part of "The Greatest Generation" who "gave the best years of their lives to the greatest mission their country ever accepted."  They served our country.  They willingly put their lives at risk for our country.

  
  

  It irks me that I have been able to look a veterano in the face and tell him that they haven't gotten Full Equity yet.  A lot of people think that the veteranos have gotten it.  And although the straits may seem dire, we continue our struggle for justice together.

  
  

  Marvin, the president of Chi Rho Omicron at the University of California, Davis showed me this link to a new movie coming out in February of 2005, called "Ghost Soldiers."  It's about survivors of the Bataan Death March, who were held prisoners of war in Cabanatuan, in the Philippines.  I wonder how accurate it'll be.  How do I become a consultant for this thing?  Steven Spielberg was supposed to work on a movie about the same event, with Tom Cruise, but they abandoned the project.

  
  

  Another movie coming out is about the 100th and 442nd Regimental Combat Team who were all Japanese Americans.  Pretty cool, I think.  Can we get something on the 1st and 2nd Filipino Fighting Regiments though?

  
  

  Sorry, my mind is racing.  You know how they say that nice guys finish last?  When it seems that it's not true, something happens to make it seem that way again.  Oh well, what can you do?  Relationships, you can't live with them, you can't live without them.

  
  

  Filipino Fiesta 2004 at the Jose Rizal Center on June 6, 2004.  Celebrate Filipino Women.  Celebrate Filipinas.  It's on.  Immij is going to be there.  Woo hoo!  Who else?  Aileen Papin is headlining.  Who's that?  Exactly.  I hope she lives up to what the organizers are saying about her.  Lorraine De Arco is going to perform.  Abstract Styles.  Lori Abucayan.  Lots of local talent.  F/Xtion.  They used to be Effection.  Now their name is just hard to type.  Mango Kingz.  I wonder when their album is coming out?  Taal always puts together a good set too.

  
  

  Finally, one Chi Rho Omicron brother, Matt Perez, got married on Saturday, which is tight, and another Chi Rho Omicron brother's wife, Erik and Angela Montemayor, gave birth on Sunday, which is super tight!  XPO holdin it down.  Speaking of which we have a party on Thursday, June 3, 2004, at Club Detour in Vacaville.  Come through and start summer right!  I'm taking reservations for dances.  Spaces are limited!

  
  

  My uncle is causing maraming gulo sa bahay.  I'd love for him to get his act together so he can move on and be happier.  He has such a negative view on life.  I try to stay positive for him, but don't know who's influencing who more.  Every morning, I wake up looking forward to a new day and a new adventure, and that keeps me going.  I need to find something that'll have a similar effect on my uncle.

  
  

  Someone was telling me how another person was "paying homage" to me.  I think that's funny, because I'm not any more special than anyone else.  We all have greatness within us, just waiting to be unleashed with the right combination of drive and determination.

  • 12:04 pm
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