Senate Concurrent Resolution 48 will be voted on this week to formally recognize October as Filipino American History Month this year and in the future.

It is necessary to make the general public aware of the historical contributions made by immigrant ethnic and cultural groups to build the fabric of the State of California and the United States into the state and country that we know and are proud of. As with many other ethnic and cultural groups who have received public recognition for their contributions to American society, Filipinos and Filipino Americans also deserve to be recognized.

One can review it on the California State Senate Web site at http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0001-0050/scr_48_bill_20090608_introduced.pdf. Please review it and contact your state Senator—both at the State Capitol and their district office—to let them know how you feel about the bill. Letters, e-mails, and calls from individuals and organizations are encouraged.

To further strengthen your case, you may wish to:

·         Give a brief background on the history of Filipinos in your respective senate district

·         Provide demographic figures on the population of Filipinos in your respective senate district; and

·         Highlight one historically significant Filipino event, individual, organization, or business in your senate district

Any correspondence should also be courtesy copied to Senator Leland Yee.

You can find senator contact information and demographic information on the California State Senate District Map Web page at http://www.senate.ca.gov/~newsen/senators/districtmaps.HTP.

On June 12, 1898, revolutionary forces under Emilio Aguinaldo, the country’s first and youngest President, declared independence from Spanish colonial rule.

Today, Filipinos celebrate June 12, 1898, and July 4, 1946, as Independence Days. It is telling that the people of the Philippines celebrate twice. It means that the people had to fight twice. Certainly, the soldiers of World War II understand fighting for two entities--the United States government and their very own homes. The Philippine diaspora has had to manage at least two cultures.

All these concepts are testaments to Filipino resilience and ingenuity.

The Philippines’ Rubilen Amit won the 2009 JBETpoker.net Women’s World 10-Ball Championship at The Block of the SM North Edsa in Quezon City.

It was Amit’s first international victory since falling short in the 2007 Amway World Women’s 9-Ball Championship in Chinese Taipei where she finished second.

Amit joins the ranks of countrymen Efren “Bata” Reyes, Alex “The Lion” Pagulayan and Ronnie Alcano, who have won world titles in 9-ball and 8-ball.

Along the way, she had to beat a heavily favored Jeanette “The Black Widow” Lee of the United States in the quarterfinals.

Each and every person has much to offer the world. One learns from experiences and the choices that brought them there. Choices are interesting; especially what enable huan beings to make the choices they make all through their lives. For example, what choices lead to ethnic cleansing? What choices lead to healing? What choices lead to the destruction of the environment? The erosion of the Sabbath? Suicide bombings or teenagers shooting teachers? What choices encourage heroism in the midst of chaos?

One my most favorite events each year, the Filipino American Youth Leadership Conference (FAYLC), a project of the Philippine National Day Association (PNDA), is coming up in less than two months. It will be on August 7-9, 2009, in Sacramento, CA. Participant applications can be downloaded at http://www.xpoinc.org/documents/faylc09participantapplication.doc.

Tonight, I really put it out there. I stated--in public--that I was researching how to run for the Elk Grove Unified School District (EGUSD) Board of Education. It is a basic premise of reaching goals.

First, it is important that one knows what their goals are and make sure they want to reach them. If one is striving for something simply because it is what someone else wants them to do, they will have a much more difficult time attaining them, and will derive far less satisfaction from them. One should set goals that align with their own dreams, hopes, and values. I believe in education, and know how important and how empowering a good education has been for me and for many of my peers and friends.

Second, one also needs to break down a large goal into smaller, measurable goals. For example, if my main goal is to be elected to the Board, I need to set a series of smaller goals such as learning about the election requirements, filling out the necessary paperwork, collecting signatures, soliciting support, and so on. Reaching all the small goals carry them to their large one.

Third, one should share their goals with others: their spouse or significant other; family and friends; or mentor. They should talk to anyone they know will be supportive and help keep them accountable. In addition, one never knows just who may be inspired by that goal to pursue their own goals.

Fourth, one needs to visualize completing their goals. This can keep them on track.

Fifth, one should put their goals in writing. This should be done in a way that works for them. For some people that might be a contract with themselves. For others it might be a collage of magazine pictures that inspire them.

Finally, one should never quit. Setbacks and pitfalls are bound to occur. Get up, shake it off, learn from the experience, and go forward.

Set a goal, plan the path to it, and make it real by telling others, visualizing, and putting it in writing. Then go for it, and prove all the naysayers wrong.

Our world hangs like a magnificent jewel in the vastness of space. Every one of us is a part of that jewel; a facet of that jewel. In the perspective of infinity, our differences are infinitesimal. We are intimately related. May we never even pretend that we are not. One of my favorite stories comes from the Seattle Special Olympics. For the 100-yard dash there were nine contestants, all of them so-called physically or mentally disabled. All nine of them assembled at the starting line and at the sound of the gun, they took off. Soon afterward, one little boy stumbled and fell, hurt his knee, and began to cry. The other eight children heard him crying; they slowed down, turned around and ran back to him. Every one of them ran back to him. One little girl with Down Syndrome bent down and kissed the boy and said, "This'll make it better." And the little boy got up and he the rest of the runners linked their arms together and joyfully walked to the finish line. They all finished the race at the same time. When they did, everyone in that stadium stood up and clapped and whistled and cheered for a long, long, time. People who were there are still telling the story with great delight.

Some people tell me that the Special Olympics are unique and something of that nature would never happen in other venues. Well, in April 2008, with two runners on base and a strike against her, Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon University uncorked her best swing and did something she had never done, in high school or college. Her first home run cleared the center-field fence.

However, it appeared to be the shortest of dreams come true when she missed first base, started back to tag it and collapsed with a knee injury. She crawled back to first but could do no more. The first-base coach said she would be called out if her teammates tried to help her. If a pinch runner was called in, the homer would only count as a single.

Then, members of the Central Washington University softball team stunned spectators by carrying Tucholsky around the bases so the three-run homer would count--an act that contributed to their own elimination from the playoffs. See Central Washington first baseman Mallory Holtman, the career home run leader in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, asked the umpire if she and her teammates could help Tucholsky.

The umpire said there was no rule against it. Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace promptly put their arms under Tucholsky's legs, and she put her arms over their shoulders. The three headed around the base paths, stopping to let Tucholsky touch each base with her good leg. As the trio reached home plate, the entire Western Oregon team was in tears. This story was all over ESPN and the news.

Both these stories continue to be told by people who witnessed the acts and people that have not. They are told because deep down, we know that what matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What really matters is helping others win too; even if it means slowing down and changing our course now and then.

As June 12 approaches, Filipino communities across the world prepare to commemorate the independence of the Philippines from long time colonizer, Spain, on June 12, 1898.

Communities often have fiestas with vendors and entertainment. In Vallejo, Pista sa Ngayon will be on Saturday, June 6, 2009. In Sacramento, the Filipino American Fiesta of Sacramento will be on Sunday, June 7, 2009. In San Francisco, the Fiesta Filipina will be on June 13, 2009.

There certainly is much to be celebrated, as well as improved, in the Philippine and Filipino American community.

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