Notebook
*Tropical storm ‘Washi’ washed away villages in Southern Mindanao,
leaves hundreds dead and thousands homeless!
*Savoring early Very Merry Christmas at Via Times/CPRTV Christmas Party!!!
*Chicago’s beloved former First Lady Maggie Daley dies on Thanksgiving night;
Chicagoans in mourning
*Ex-guv Rod Blagojevich gets 14 years imprisonment! ‘Incarceration will outlast
damages to the state,’ says Comptroller Topinka
* 16 US organizations voice their support for toxic wastes victims left by US
forces at Clark and Subic Bay
bases
*Dondon Lanuza, OFW in Saudi Arabia needs monetary help to save his life from
beheading
“I’ll be home for Christmas” is a sentimental Christmas song among folks like us
whose hearts go back with nostalgia to our Nativeland, the Philippines! This
Christmas, however, to our brothers- -and sisters--Filipinos from Southern
Mindanao like Cagayan de Oro City and Illigan, their dreams to be “home for
Christmas” is not about celebrating Pasko amid the singing of Christmas Carols
and the glitters of fireworks -- but to bury dead relatives or try to find
them among the rubble and rivers, where typhoon Washi or Sendong dragged them
through the floods.
As of VT’s presstime, the death toll from the deadly storm Sendong, one of the
worse if not the worst -- to hit Southern Philippines, had risen to more than
1000, almost 400,000 displaced people, and damages to tens of millions in
property. Flash flooding overnight following ten hours of rain, fueled the
devastation, compounded by overflowing rivers and tributaries.
Among those killed was broadcaster Ernie Alzonado of Radyo Mo Nationwide,
reported by Mayor Lawrence Cruz. According to military officials and the
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, majority of the
fatalities were from the cities of
Iligan and Cagayan de Oro, Compostela Valley and Zamboanga del Norte, it also
hit Negros Oriental, Valencia City and Dumaguete City.
PASS “MRS. POPULARITY” with
her Family: Calendar Mom Angie Francisco (3rd
from left) poses proudly with her family during the
Calendar Moms 2011
presentation. From left: Yvette F. Voh, Allan and his
girlfriend Veronica Metz.
Grandkids are Grace and Faith Vo.
At this time, about 1000 people remain missing. The government has been
distributing food rations for some 10,000 families affected by the storm, while
also handing out thousands of blankets and mosquito nets from the Red Cross.
Some 20,000 soldiers embarked on search-and-rescue operations, the military
said. Officials asked for volunteers to pack food to send to those displaced
areas.
Meanwhile, President Noy Aquino had been criticized for partying all night
with friends instead of attending to the problem of flooding, hunger and deaths
in the above-mentioned areas of the Philippines during the first days of
flooding.
FROM THE USA: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed her condolences on
behalf of the U.S. government and said the United States "stands ready to assist
Philippine authorities as they respond to this tragedy."
According to reports, Emil Raña, Cagayan de Oro government operations officer,
said that “22 villages came under water overnight, when Sendong unleashed huge
volumes of rain. The floods were worsened by the high tide.”
Floods also submerged a village in nearby El Salvador City in Misamis Oriental,
Clarin in Misamis Occidental, the Ozamis City barangays of Catadman, Bacolod,
Maningcol, Aguada Annex, Gango, and Lam-an; Barangay Lapasan, Clarin, Misamis
Occidental and Valencia City in Bukidnon, but no casualties were immediately
reported. Rana added that death toll could go up.
“The floods were worse than anything in the past. Places that were never flooded
before, went underwater during Sendong’s passage. In many areas the water was
more than a meter deep,”he concluded.
* * *
GOODBYE, MAGGIE: After nine years of fighting her breast cancer, the well-loved
Chicago First Lady for 22 years -- Maggie Daley (nee Margaret Corbett), the
better-half of former Mayor Richard M. Daley, died of cancer in the evening of
Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24. She was 68.
Maggie, whose cancer she handled gracefully by doing what she loved best –
nurturing the Arts for the children regardless of their family background.
According to reports, Mrs. Daley peacefully died at their home surrounded by
her loved ones – her loving husband, former Mayor Richard Daley, and children --
Nora, Patrick, Lally, and the rest of the Daley family.
All the media outfits gave her a Tribute fit for a Queen, which Maggie Daley
very well-deserved.
A press release from City Hall, says: “Chicago has lost a warm and gracious
First Lady who contributed immeasurably to our city. While Mayor Daley served as
the head of this city, Maggie was its heart. Just as Maggie will remain a
constant presence in their lives, she will remain a constant presence in our
city. Like Chicagoans everywhere, Amy and I will always hold her in our
hearts.”
THANKSGIVING DINNER: Notebook columnist Elsie
Sy-Niebar celebrated a
FamilyThanksgiving with close friends and family
members --from left, Andy
Gaston, Vilma (sister) and John Paul Molina (nephew);
Noi and Say Narisak,
mother and son from the Lao community; Jocelyn Ho and
the host. The three young
men were among the “kids” in the Asian American Youth
Organization (AAYO)
nurtured by Elsie when she was working for the Chicago
Dept. of Human Services.
Arrangements coordinated by City Hall were: Memorial bunting was been placed
over the LaSalle Street entrance; a floral display at the building’s grand
central lobby and a memorial book for friends and well-wishers to sign and honor
Mrs. Daley.
At the Chicago Cultural Center (77 E. Randolph Street): The Randolph Street
entrance columns was wrapped with memorial bunting; the Randolph Street lobby
had a floral display and memorial book available for friends and well-wishers
to sign and honor Mrs. Daley; and Mrs. Daley’s brainchild Gallery 37 for the
Arts (66 E. Randolph Street) had a floral display placed for children who have
been touched by Mrs. Daley’s work and a book for them to sign in her
honor.
The Chicago City flag had been lowered to half-staff and Mayor Emanuel had
declared an official day of mourning and a moment of silence to honor Mrs.
Daley. Finally, the Chicago City Council enacted a resolution honoring Mrs.
Daley at the December 14, 2011 City Council meeting.
Thousands of mourners attended her funeral, but no cameras were allowed
inside the Holy Name Cathedral where the funeral mass was held.
A look back: As a (former) city employee at the Chicago Dept. of Human
Services I had a close contact with Mrs. Daley. She visited our Center at the
Uptown Area to meet with the children from all races. She sat down with them and
helped them with their art works, and laughing with them. She was so warm and
friendly. The last time I sat close to Mrs. Daley was when WMAQ Ch 5 invited me
to its reception in honor of an African leader, Mr. Desmond Tutu. With a few
women dignitaries, including Michael Jordan’s mother, I was in the group
picture with First Lady Maggie. Too bad I could not find that picture now. Yes,
indeed, Mrs. Maggie Daley was like the lady next door without conceit. We will
miss her as our First Lady for all People.
* * *
FORMER GUV. ROD BLAGOJEVICH METED 14 YEARS IMPRISONMENT: Another Home of a
government official household which will experience a bleak Christmas this year
is the home of former governor Rod Blagojevich and his wife, Patty Mell
Blagojevich and their two children. Last December 7, former guv Rod
Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in jail after he was found guilty of
several counts of corruption, etc.
Noted for his “loud mouth,” in arguing the allegations about his corruption
while the investigation was going on, including tape-recorded demands from the
governor for monetary support to his campaign coffers, coming home after
receiving the verdict, Rod was hounded by reporters and supporters in front of
his home at the Ravenswood Manor. Amid the riotous crowd of reporters and
symphatizers, he still signed autographs, waved at his supporters, but for the
first time, he did not blabber out, something he was so noted. He avoided
reporters’ questions like, “are you going to apologize to the people of
Illinois?”. Some still address him, “Mr. Governor.” A “God bless you,
governor,” was heard in the crowd from a supporter, who said Gov. Blago helped
her when she was ill with cancer. The fallen young governor will start serving
his 14 years jailtime starting February 2012. Latest report said he asked to be
imprisoned at a low-security federal prison in Littleton, Denver, Colorado,
at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The Denver prison is 1000 miles away
from Chicago. This request has to be decided by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, said
U.S. District Judge James Zagel, who pronounced the verdict on Blagojevich.
Looking back -- seems like only yesterday, when Rod was a budding, humble,
young US Congressman, son-in-law of my then, alderman, Richard Mell. I was a
Block Party Coordinator in his ward where Dennis and I lived. Rod was like a
good friend next door, I used to yell at him, “Rod, come here. Let me introduce
you to the Asian American Community.” As one of those who encouraged him to run
for governor, I remembered those times when the reluctant Rod would ask me again
and again: “Elsie, do you really think I should run for governor?” And, I told
him: “Darn right, Rod. Go for it. We will help you.” I did. I held rallies for
him at the Rizal Center.
Businessman Mike Stevens (2nd
from left) and his wife Brenda (not in photo),
hosted a dinner reception for Republican Congressman
Randy Hultgren, 4th from
left, at their Northbrook residence, recently.
Endorsed by the Chicago Tribune
as “pro-jobs, pro-business legislator,” Hultgren is
running for re-election. He
needs the support of the Filipino American community
and he is being endorsed by
the VIA Times & CPRTV. More of him next VT issue.
The other dignitaries who
attended the reception are Philippines’ new Ambassador
to the United States, the
Hon. Jose Cuisia, Jr., (3rd from left) standing next
to the Congressman; and
Consul General Leo Herrera Lim, 1st from left. (ESN)
American Seniors’ Day attended by over 1000 people. I made Rod our guest
speaker. Dennis and I were foot soldiers for him during the campaign days. When
he got elected, I was NOT INVITED to his oath-taking. The invitation, I was
told was ran by a Filipino “coordinator” named Claire Manaois. I met her once.
(I knew Rod long before she did.) Yes, I was “offended” for having been “taken”
by the Blagojevich campaign. So I told God: “Somewhere in time, all the leaves
must fall.”
* * *
Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, responding to U.S. District Judge James Zagel’s
14 years sentencing of Rod Blagojevich, said: “To be clear, I take no joy in
seeing any father taken from his children and family for an extended period of
time. And yet there is no question in my mind that it is the right decision,
given the extraordinary damage Blagojevich caused our state, and the importance
of sending a clear and unmistakable message that corruption will not be
tolerated in our government.
Rod Blagojevich ran as a reformer and proved to be worse than anything that came
before him. His reckless and self-serving handling of state finances has put
Illinois billions of dollars in the hole, and ensured that it will operate at a
deficit for years to come. His rampant corruption in mixing money, politics and
government service undermined our system and further jaded an already-cynical
public. And his refusal to accept any responsibility for his actions, while
mocking his prosecution in his many media interviews, once again made Illinois
and its government a national joke. It (the imprisonment) may seem like an
eternity to him, but in truth, the damage he has caused to our state will far
outlast any prison sentence he will serve.”
* * *
“BARYA MO, BUHAY KO” (Your coins can save my life) is the slogan in the
fundraising for Rogelio “Dondon” Lanuza, 37, who was said to have been “in the
wrong place at the wrong time during the accidental death of a Saudi National in
2000.” Dondon has been in prison for over 11 years under a death sentence by
beheading.
Last February 2011, according to reports, “he was pardoned by the relatives of
the victim in exchange for blood money in the amount of three million Million
Riyal or thirty-five million Philippine Pesos or $800,000 American Dollars.
Letty Lanuza, his mother, had launched a campaign to save his son’s life.
To-date, she had raised about $13,000. Filipino American philanthropist and
political activist Loida Nicolas Lewis, upon hearing about Dondon’s
life-threatening plight, “ heart melted with compassion for Mrs. Lanuza; she
decided to help raise the money needed to save her son’s life. Now, Loida is
calling on Filipinos all over the world to help stop the beheading of Dondon
Lanuza by contributing to the fund,” reports said.
"After his case was brought to my attention, I met his mother in Manila, I knew
that I have to help him. Dondon Lanuza does not deserve a death sentence by
beheading. He is an OFW jailed unjustly, in Saudi Arabia, ” said Loida Lewis.
“We Filipinos have to help him because he is our son, our brother, our cousin."
Loida and several Filipino philanthropists are matching dollar-for-dollar
donations that the public will give. Loida is appealing to all the Filipinos
Overseas and Filipinos in the Philippines to help raise the “blood money” as a
Christmas gift to his mother, Letty, for her son’s life. The one-year
anniversary of the family’s forgiveness and condition to receive the “blood
money” is February 2012.
Please give generously and act now. Ways to give a gift for Dondon: 1) by PayPal
at www.helpDondon.com 2) by check, please make your donation to Payee: Loida
N. Lewis FBO Dondon Lanuza. Send to Loida N. Lewis FBO Dondon Lanuza, P.O .BOX
1080 New York, NY 10028.
* * *
Former IL governor Rod
Blagojevich, meted 14 years imprisonment;
