I took my cousin in for her custody hearing today. The judge tried to shut me down, saying that i should sit in the audience. Luckily, I know some of the law and that as a minor, my cousin has a right to have an adult with her at the table, beyond the bar, which separates the court from the audience area, known as the galley. It is good that I knew that, or I would have been embarrassed when he told me to sit down.

The hearing was simple, since mediation had been performed prior to the hearing. The judge basically just had to sign the mediation recommendation and declare it a court order.

I gained more courtroom experience, even if it was not as a party to the case. It still interests me a lot, and my supervisor said that she would support me going back to school. I'm in a good place.

I watched Annie at the California School for the Deaf, Fremont. It is amazing what students can do when given the proper support. Annie is a musical, and all the students are deaf or hard-of-hearing. They all communicate in American Sign Language (ASL). The musical was also done in ASL. Now, I do not speak ASL, so I was very dependent on the aural narrators located downstage.

Before the play started, I observed many people in the theatre using ASL. I remember thinking, "Wow, I feel disabled here." Yet disabled is really not the right term to describe the feeling. It was a role reversal. I can only imagine what a deaf or hard-of-hearing child feels like growing up in America. Many people would consider being deaf or hard-of-hearing as being disabled. Yet being at an event like this demonstrated to me, once again, that being disabled does not mean being incapable. Students just need the proper support.

One of the students, Leila Hanaumi, is a senior, has a 4.0 Grade Point Average, and very active in many organizations and activities. She performed in Cinderella Waltz last year and in Annie this year. She painted a picture and wrote something very poignant related to it, and I want to share it with you now.

Open Your Eyes

By Leila Hanaumi, 12th Grade

There are some hearing parents of deaf children who are not aware of the school for the deaf or the deaf community. Some of them feel ashamed to have a disabled child. The way they think is that deaf people are a less fortunate species living in a hearing world. What they really don't realize is that there is a world out there for deaf people. Our world is in the deaf community. It is a beautiful world which is our home. I chose to paint the eye purple because there are people born with amethyst eyes, which is extremely rare. That is what the deaf world is: a rare kind of love with a unique beauty. The trapped person inside the pupil is a deaf child of hearing parents (who were not aware of the deaf community). This world has been left out of their family's daily conversations.

The painting also symbolizes the child's struggle to understand hearing teachers and peers. He is a lonely person in a hearing world.

What the parents and their child don't realize is that there is a home waiting for them: the deaf community. The parents just need to look harder and see what their chld really needs.

The painting shows a pair of hands pulling the eye open, which is my message to all hearing parents of deaf children: Open your eyes.

She is wise beyond her years. Many people, both inside and outside of America, do believe that it is shameful to have a deaf or hard-of-hearing child. What Leila writes of is wonderful. I would further it one step by saying that the hearing world and the deaf world, with the right of education and awareness, can be one world. I hope that I gain that awareness myself and that I come across many individuals such as Leila.

The extent of your consciousness is limited only by your ability to love and to embrace with your love the space around you, and all it contains.

Although you don't even know it, I love you with all of my being, simply because you are you. Every little quirk about you adds to just how special and unique you are. Yet you are more than the summation of those quirks. Physically, mentally, spiritually, and soulfully, you are a total package, priceless and invaluable. You take my breath away, and no words are sufficient enough to express how I feel. I just can't bring myself to say it to you, the person involved in this love affair that doesn't even know.

Maybe this is due to my inability to love. I will work on this as my Valentine's resolution.

Movements are happening for the 2008 election. On January 30, 2007, Filipino American Mayor of West Sacramento Christopher Cabaldon announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for State Assembly District 8. This is the second time that he will be running for this seat. He's certainly a well accomplished individual in policy.

As I watched Barack Obama declare his candidacy for President of the United States in 2008, I felt my excitement rise. You can view it on his Web site at http://www.barackobama.com. He is an excellent speaker. I enjoyed the first part of his speech more than the second, when he started to lay out specific details of his platform. It's great that he's using the tagline "This campaign is about you."

Many people have been waiting for Hilary Clinton to run for President. If she does, it should be an interesting Democratic Primary.

I do however have one concern. Will America accept the idea of a black or female President? I'm not talking about the progressive California or New York. Rather, I'm talking about all the other states, who have an important voice in the matter. Nor am I talking about if they are capable. God and I know that capability is not proportional to race or gender. I am asking whether or not America as a whole will veer away from the white male President model. The first female head of state was Khertek Anchimaa-Toda for a country called Tuva, in 1940. Corazon Aquino in 1986 for the Philippines. Michelle Bachelet last year for Chile. Many others. Will America as a whole realize that leadership potential is equal in man and women, no matter what their ethnicity?

We live in a participatory democracy, and that's the only way that government will work for us, rather than on us. Please vote. You can register to vote at the GoVote Web site at http://www.govote.org.

MANILA TIMES (Philippine daily)
www.manilatimes.net
Sunday, January 21, 2007
(Special Report series on Filvets)

Filipino veterans need your help

by Rene Q. Bas

Filipino veterans need your help to push for the passage by both houses of the US Congress and the enactment by President Bush of the Filipino Veterans' Equity Bill (S. 146 and H.R. 4574).

All the good news that has been told-that Speaker Nancy Pelosi and many in the new democratic majority in the US House are definitely backing the passage of H.R. 4574-may not turn into actual reality if the lawmakers do not create the appropriation for the Act.

Because she wants the Democrats of her watch to be more disciplined than their predecessors, Speaker Pelosi is following a "pay-as-you-go" policy for bills passed.

This means no bill will be passed-passed, that is, with her support or approval-unless there is money available for it.

One of the new members of the powerful House appropriations committee is Speaker Pelosi's fellow Californian, Rep. Mike Honda who represents Silicon Valley.

Just last month, Representative Honda, who is the first Asian American Democrat to be in this funds-allocating committee, assured his Asian-American supporters that he would work for their concerns.

In a statement, he identified priorities that were suggested to him at his town-hall type briefing sessions with Asian-Americans. He mentioned affordable health care, worker training, port and border security, law enforcement, natural disaster recover, health care for veterans and education.

Criticized Republicans

He was particularly concerned for Vietnamese victims of Hurricane Katrina who need help to recover their lives.

He also feels strongly for the restoration of veterans' benefits to Filipino-American World War II veterans. He criticized the old Republican dominated Congress for letting the Filipino Veterans' Equity Act sleep in committee.

"As chairman of the Asian Pacific American Caucus, I am also honored to bring an Asian Pacific American voice to the committee. APAs are a growing portion of our nation's population, and they have gone for too long without representation on the committee that sets our nation's funding priorities," Congressman Honda said.

He also warned that Asian Americans should lobby all concerned parties for the funds.

What, then, can you do to help push the Equity Bill and make sure the money is available for it?

Heed the recommendation contained in the following "Position for a Unified Equity Campaign," written by the principal movers of the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Inc.

Position for a unified equity campaign

We, the undersigned leaders of the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Inc., a national advocacy organization with 4,000 members and affiliated groups, on December 6, 2006, state:

Equity = US recognition + VA Burial + War injury compensation + Health care + Pension

1) Since December 5, 1995, our coalition's primary mission is to restore full US government recognition and to win equitable VA benefits for our veterans by passing the bill: "Filipino Veterans Equity Act," or realistic bills as
recommended by our sponsors in US Congress. Thus finally amending and overcoming discriminatory effects of the "1946 Rescission Act."

2) Since the 1990 Immigration Naturalization Act, because of our step-by-step strategy as recommended by Sen. Daniel Inouye and Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Rep. Benjamin Gilman (R-NY), Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), we and allies have passed several bills with $38 Million in annual benefits for Filipino veterans:

A) 1999 Special Veterans' Benefit (PL106-169 Title VIII)

B) 2000 VA Burial Benefit, (PL 106-419)

C) 2000 War-related full compensation (PL 106-377)

D) 2003 Widow and Philippine Scouts Full
Compensation (PL 108-183)

E) 2003 Veterans' Health Care (PL108-170)

F) 2003 Annual $500,000 Grant-in-Aid to Philippine
Veterans Memorial Hospital restored.

3) Since 2001, we supported several bills to complete the last step to win VA nonservice connected pensions to provide dignified income to our veterans and bring them above poverty in the Philippines and in US to fully recognize their US military service in WWII:

A) $100 monthly Inouye's bill S. 68-Mrs. Arroyo's request to Bush for vets in the Philippines;

B) $200 monthly (initially) Representative Evans' $22 million request for veterans in the Philippines and in the US;

C) US VA medical-care allowances for veterans in the Philippines.

4) Since 2004, because of the overwhelming urgent requests of our elderly veterans in Hawaii, California and Washington State, our sponsors introduced bills to grant priority visas to veterans' children waiting for more than a decade with approved petitions. Sadly, if the veteran dies, the American dreams of his children fade away. Pensions are not transferable.

Our recommendations:

First: Work with our congressional sponsors and the key Veterans' Committee staff to pass the EQUITY BILLS in the 110th session (2007-08);

Second: Seek an estimated budget line item of $18 million to $22 million from the Bush Administration and the Appropriation Committees to provide at least $200 monthly pension for low-income Filipino veterans, thus overcoming the effects of the "1946 Rescission Act," a budget law;

Third: Campaign to pass the Filipino Veterans' Family Reunification bills as introduced by Senators Akaka and Inouye (S.Amdt. 4029 to S. 2611, S. 4070 and H.R. 901); and.

Fourth: Join in a principled and practical partnerships with national organizations like the National Federation of Filipino American Associations, American Legion, VFW, mainstream veterans groups, Philippine Nurses' Association, and others, with full support of the Philippine Government and Philippine Veterans' Federation, in
a unified campaign to WIN the above bills.

PAT GANIO Sr.,
ACFV President

FRANCO ARCEBAL,
Vice-President

ERIC LACHICA,
Executive Director

REGINO NACUA,
San Francisco, CA

AVELINO ASUNCION,
San Diego, CA

JOAQUIN TEJADA, DC
AMADOR MONTERO,
Seattle, WA

SUSAN DILKES,
Los Angeles, CA

On Monday morning, January 29, 2007, my Godson, who is 14 months old, had a seizure. We immediately took him to the hospital, where he was placed on machines and IV fluids and kept for two days. On Wednesday morning, he was released. The final diagnosis was that he has meningitis. This Godson is the son of my 17 year old cousin, who is negotiating custody in court with the baby's father. Of course, I'm helping her out, but combined with everything going on, it really makes me wonder just how much I can handle.

Among my list of commitments are:

• Taking care of lola, who is stable, but who could pass away on any given day;
• Work at the California Department of Education, which keeps me very busy, and where I really believe I make a difference, even if I may not necessarily see the results;
• Chi Rho Omicron, Inc. (XPO) for which I passionately represent in all my endeavors;
• Sacramento County History Day, where I sit on the board;
• Student Action for Veterans Equity and the passage of S. 57 and H.R. 760, the Filipino Veterans Equity Bills, which has a promising future with the new Democrat led Congress;
• Interactive Asian Contemporary Theatre (InterACT), whose goal is to tell the Asian American story and where I am currently part of their production of The King and I, which is showing until February 18, 2007 in Sacramento;
• Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS), which is probably the lowest maintenance activity I have on my plate; and
• Rizal Lions Club, which is always up to good things.

I do a lot, but I enjoy myself too. My motorcycle rides are invigorating, my activities so meaningful, and my friends priceless. Taking care of my Jaguar is soothing to me. Reading, learning, and just enjoying life keeps me going.

After all, I am aware of only one life at a time. I believe that I am alive to complete some purpose, to fulfill some destiny, and I want to do that as soon as possible. Until then, I will do all that I can until my vision becomes reality.