FILAM-Sept-2023

Issue 67, September 2023

Remembering his martyrdom

40 years ago

A marriage of opposites

We ’ re almost there

We have his fingerprints, his clearly self-calibrated height and weight, and his mugshot. In a matter of months, we will know if Donald Trump --America’s first former president in history to face criminal charges, and the first former president to ever be arrested (and then bailed) -- will go to prison.

He is set to face 91 felony counts spread across four criminal jurisdictions next year. Putting him behind bars will determine if the racism, the arrogance, the disregard for constitutional democracy, disrespect for women, and other reprehensible behaviors that he has unleashed will stop. His legions of followers are still very much behind him and if they are smart, thinking people, they will end their disrespect for the rule of law. Unfortunately, we just learned that donations to the Trump campaign are pouring in, reaching more than $7 million following the series of indictments involving his businesses, the January 6 insurrection, his refusal to turn over confidential government documents, and his actions to reverse the vote count in Georgia.

Founding

The shot of him glowering in a Georgia cell looking very much like the booking process is beneath him is partly gratifying. After a lengthy process of investigation, charges have finally been filed and he is being called to account.

But this is just half of the journey.

The trials are yet to come and from the weight of the evidence, one can feel it in their guts that in all likelihood, he will eventually be found guilty in most -- if not all -- of the criminal cases filed against him.

At that point, there will be understandable rejoicing that the system of justice in which Americans take much pride in would have gone through the crucible despite the depredations of Trump and his cabal of neo-fascists.

The mugshot and all the pores and blackheads on his face represent the black boots seeking to destroy American democracy. That’s us, speaking facetiously because the anger is boiling, and the judicial process is so slow.

That one major U.S. political party has been consumed by the ideas that is the direct descendant of Adolf Hitler is just as distressing. Despite the scores of memes that Trump’s mugshot gave birth to, we must never forget that his MAGA stands for racism and fascism.

This movement has no place in our society.

Contributing Writers

Tricia J. Capistrano

Joel David

Wendell Gaa

Allen Gaborro

Maricar CP Hampton

Ludy AstraquilloOngkeko

Lindy Rosales

Vicky Potenciano-Vitug

Lolita Valderrama Savage celebrates a new exhibition in Italy Oct. 13 to Nov. 3

When nature is your muse, the world is your palette.

For decades, artist Lolita Valderrama Savage has used this creative well to capture and convey the feeling of place and space that she experiences with every stop along her artistic journey.

This international artist will present more than 60 mixed media artworks, all created during her more than 50-year artistic career, during a three-week exhibition October 12 to November 3 at the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy. The show, “The Journey…Life in Art through Nature,” will celebrate the sights and scenes she captured of the many different countries where she has lived, worked, and visited, as well as honor the diversity of the people and cultures she has met along the way.

Valderrama Savage’s art has served as a passport which has taken her from her birthplace in Manila, Philippines, to vibrant cities and serene countrysides across Europe. For many years, she also lived in New York City and, eventually, in Stamford, where she now makes her home. She and her husband, Frank Savage, also spend part of the year in the Tuscany region of Italy, where its people and landscapes often inspire the scenes found in her drawings and paintings.

While the show will highlight work created from Sweden to Stamford, Connecticut, and many other places, this exhibition is particularly focused on celebrating the “harmonious and peaceful coexistence of the different people who live, work, study, and visit the great city of Florence,” according to the artist.

“In the basic expressions and manifestations of its reality, nature awakens the simple and humble place of the human being in the expanse of the universe,” she states.

This exhibition, to be held at one of the most prestigious and historic museums in Florence, Italy, is being organized by the City of Florence in collaboration with the U.S. Consulate General in Florence, the Philippines Honorary General Consulate in Tuscany, and the Consular Corps of Florence. It is supported by diverse non-profit educational, cultural and artistic organizations both in Tuscany and the U.S. The opening reception will take place October 12 at 6 p.m. in the grand courtyard of the Palazzo Vecchio. The show will be open and free to the public from October 13 to November 3.

Valderrama Savage has long used her art as a way to encourage intercultural appreciation, foster appreciation for diversity, and promote culture and creativity.

“Making art has taken me to a new level because it has allowed me to help children, promote education, and bring people together to build friendship and cultural cooperation,” she states. “I think there is an urgent need for all the arts to unite to lift the spirit of humanity while the world still suffers from the

aftermath of the pandemic and other calamities.”

Valderrama Savage’s work has been showcased in many one-woman and group art shows all over the world. They stretch back to her earliest, in the 1970s, in venues such as the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, Italy, and Galleri Origo in Stockholm, Sweden, to more recent exhibitions at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center, the Medici-Riccardi Museum and the Palazzo Bastogi in Florence, and the Ayala Museum in Manila, Philippines.

Her upcoming show in Italy will incorporate oil paintings, watercolors, and drawings.

Savage was born in the Philippines and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas, the oldest Catholic University in Asia. She then received a scholarship from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to study at the Accademia de Belle Arti in Florence where she received her Licenza in Pittura. Her first international group exhibition was at the Palazzo Strozzi in 1975. She also lived and exhibited in Sweden before moving to the United States in 1980.

She previously worked at the United Nations, and has continued her work in local and international organizations that offer support and education to young people and artists, as well as promote culture and the arts. She was trained to speak several languages, including English, Italian, Swedish, Spanish, French, and German. She is married to Frank Savage and is mother to Fredrik Antoine, Grace Erlinda, and Frank Alexander.

She attributes her artistic learning and discipline to her professors at UST Museum in Manila, as well as Professor Silvio Loffredo, at the Accademia in Firenze Italy. She also credits her mentor, the late Swedish artist Staffan Hallstrom.

Over the course of her career, Lolita has been honored with many awards and distinctions including the Pamana ng Pilipino award by then Philippine

President Benigno Aquino, Jr., 2014; and the “A woman of influence” award (among 125 significant women in Stamford), 2011.

She also served on boards and continues to be involved in nonprofit organizations including The Foundation for Filipino Artists, Inc., the Ma-Yi Theater Company (New York), the Societa delle Belle Arti, Circolo degli Artisti a Casa di Dante (Florence, Italy), the Tuscan American Association, and the Stamford Art Association.

The artist can be reached at lolitasavage@aol.com; Visit YouTube: LolitaValderramaSavage

FilAms remember Ninoy’s martyrdom 40 years ago

On August 20th, at the Benigno Aquino Triangle Park located at 184th Place and Hillside Avenue in Queens, NY, Filipino-Americans remembered Ninoy Aquino’s assassination on the tarmac of Manila International Airport 40 years ago.

Antero Martinez, president of the Benigno Aquino Triangle Foundation (BATF), organized the special gathering to coincide with the August 21st commemorative event in Manila.

Members of the cast and production team of “Here Lies Love,” the Broadway musical about the rise and fall of Imelda Marcos and the People Power Revolution, were also present to pay their respects, including the show’s creator, David Byrne. He came to honor Aquino, saying, “History is being re-written. His legacy should always be remembered.”

Most of the attendees came in yellow, to commemorate how 40 years ago, friends waited for Ninoy Aquino at the airport with yellow ribbons, inspired by the popular song, “Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree” by Tony Orlando. Yellow has since become the color of the peaceful revolution that ousted the Marcos family out of the Philippines in 1986.

Community leaders were present like Potri Ranka Manis, founder of Kinding Sindaw; Nonong Aquino, 2023 Parade Chair of PIDCI; Julie Jamora of Malaya Movement NY; a representative from the Philippine Consulate General NY, Maria Annette Aquino-Herrera; and Jose Fuentecilla, author of “Fighting From A Distance - How Filipino Exiles Helped Topple A Dictator.”

Martinez called on the cast of “Here Lies Love”, led by Jose Llana (“The King and I,” “Flower Drum Song”), who plays Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in the musical, to lay down their beautiful wreath of yellow, white and pink flowers from the Broadway production. Angela Aquino, founder of Equal Rights for Children, and Cynthia Esquivel-Ilagan of the Ateneo Alumni in the Northeast Inc., also placed their vases of yellow flowers.

Dr. Connie Quiambao, who founded the BATF, spoke of the help of former Cong. Gary Ackerman, the New York City Parks department, and the Filipino community’s donations that enabled her to establish the memorial triangle in Jamaica, Queens decades ago. Dr. Connie and her husband, Rudy Quiambao, who was also present at the ceremony, were close friends of the Aquinos.

The first Filipino American elected to the NY State Assembly, Steven Raga, took pride that the FilAms carved a bit of our history in the small Queens park.

A Tagalog poem, written by Edgardo Esquivel, high school classmate of Martinez, was read by Nonong Aquino, a distant relative of the slain hero.

Atty. Lara Meneses Gregory (FilAms for Racial Action), who had brought a dozen yellow balloons to spread around the memorial, eloquently remarked that “the bullet that snuffed his life reverberated around the world” giving the Filipinos the courage to topple the Marcos dictatorship without violence in 1986.

Eric Lachica, a board member of U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance, presented a gift to Dr. Quiambao, a 10 lb. bust of Ninoy Aquino carved from the volcanic ashes of Mt. Pinatubo. Lachica recalled his visit to Aquino on the latter’s last week in the U.S. Aquino said he wanted to show the Filipino people that he was not afraid to come back to the Philippines to talk to President Marcos about how democracy and peace could be achieved. He knew, having been warned by no less than the First Lady Imelda Marcos, that he may face certain death if he returned. The photo Eric took that day was displayed on the memorial and shows Ninoy Aquino, who was usually ebullient, with a serious face.

Finally, I was called as the last speaker to conclude the reminiscences. Instead, I challenged President Marcos Jr. to reverse his recent decision to grant 15 more years to billionaire Ricky Razon to operate the billion dollar rig in Malampaya’s $1 million a day income. That is $365 million a year! That income from our natural

resources should belong to the Filipino people, not the pocket of the Philippines’ multi-billionaire–as printed in Forbes Magazine.

To end the program, classical guitarist and conductor of Children’s Orchestra Society, Maestro Michael Dadap explained how his composition “Huling Pagsamo” (Final Plea) became the theme song of the Ninoy Aquino Movement (NAM), one of the opposition organizations during his threeyear exile in the U.S.

Actor, activist and “Here Lies Love” co-producer, Lora Nicolas Olaes, who also sang the Philippine National

Anthem “Lupang Hinirang” at the beginning of the program, explained how at 2 years old, her father brought her to the rallies in the campaign of Aquino’s widow, Cory Aquino for President, during the snap elections of 1986. Her admonition is for President Marcos Jr. to eliminate the corruption in government, the kleptocracy of politicians, the inadequacy and the inefficiency of governing which cause the extreme poverty of the Filipino people. With the accompaniment in the guitar by Maestro Dadap, she sang the battle cry of the People Power Revolution, “Bayan Ko.”

More than 100K asylum seekers now in NYC

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced that the city has provided shelter and care for more than 101,200 asylum seekers that have arrived in the five boroughs since April 2022.

“With more than 101,200 asylum seekers arriving in New York City and asking for shelter, our city has now provided shelter and care for more migrants since last year than there are people in Albany,” said Adams. “Our team of thousands of dedicated public servants are working around the clock in the absence of sufficient state and federal support and have pulled off miracles. They have stretched this city’s compassion and capacity beyond imagination, and it is thanks to their efforts that no asylum-seeking families with children have slept on our streets. But, quite honestly, while our compassion is limitless, our resources are not, and we’re out of miracles. We’re grateful for the help we’ve received to this point from our partners in Albany and Washington, DC, but the fact remains that we need more. We need our federal and state partners to ensure that their efforts match the magnitude of this moment. This is a national crisis that demands solutions that extend beyond our city, and New York City cannot continue to manage largely on our own.”

As of August 13, more than 101,200 asylum seekers have come through New York City’s shelter system, and over 58,500 remain in New York City’s care. New York City’s total shelter population currently sits at 110,200 — more than double what it was when Mayor Adams took office — when including longtime unhoused New Yorkers. In the past week alone, more than 2,700 asylum seekers have arrived in New York City.

In a citywide address last week, Mayor Adams laid out an updated forecast for how much the asylum seeker crisis could cost New York City without increased state and federal support and if circumstances do not change. New York City has already spent over $1.73 billion through the end of July and anticipates spending over $4.7 billion in the current fiscal year. Over three fiscal years, the city has the potential to spend upwards of $12 billion on this crisis if circumstances do not change.

New York City today also reiterated clear steps the state can take to support the city, including, among others:

• Implementing a statewide decompression strategy to ensure each county is doing its part to assist with this humanitarian crisis,

• Increasing the number of state-run and state-provided sites, and

• Providing additional funding to help the city with the costs already incurred by the crisis.

The city also reiterated its asks to the federal government to help manage this crisis, including, among others:

• Expediting work authorizations for asylum seekers so they can more expeditiously secure employment,

• Declaring a state of emergency to manage the crisis at the border,

• Providing more federal reimbursement for costs incurred by the city, and

• Implementing a federal decompression strategy to ensure the flow of asylum seeker arrivals is more fairly distributed.

Since this humanitarian crisis began, the city has taken fast and urgent action — opening more than 200 emergency shelters, including 14 large-scale humanitarian relief centers already, with two more relief centers set to open in the coming weeks. The city has also stood up navigation centers to connect asylum seekers with critical resources; enrolled thousands of children in public schools through Project Open Arms; and launched the Asylum Application Help Center, which has already helped submit more than 2,200 applications for asylum. Earlier this spring, the city released “The Road Forward: A Blueprint to Address New York City’s Response to the Asylum Seeker Crisis,” detailing how the city will continue to manage the influx of asylum seekers and advocate for support from federal and state partners.

A Mexican girl, a trans hacker and diverse characters in Ramon Gil’s comic books

Ramon Gil’s latest middle grade graphic novel features a diverse cast of characters in terms of ethnicity, gender identity, and neurodiversity.

Since 2014, Ramon Gil’s comic stories have featured people of color -- often Asian -- as lead characters. As an immigrant himself, he has a soft spot for the newcomer or the outsider.

“I’ve always been part of the minority. I moved to this country from the Philippines when I was 14 and felt really left out of a lot of stuff. This is probably why I’ve constantly done things that promote inclusion,” professed the comic creator. “It’s why I organize events like Diversity Comic Con for minorities and the Comic Arts Workshop for comic book nerds. Both marginalized groups, in my view. And that’s what my characters do -- champion others who have been excluded.”

The characters he’s talking about are “The Whiz Kids from DARPA.” Ramon has written and drawn a collection of comic stories about a group of adolescents who are brilliant government scientists. They go on missions and adventures using their knowledge of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) to save the world.

Ramon had just finished a middle-grade comic book called “Everybody Has a Hero” from Benchmark Education.

“It features a diverse cast of kids that genuinely drew inspiration from their backgrounds and were more than just generic characters with different skin tones,” shared Benchmark editor Michael Bagnulo. “The result has been a favorite with teachers and students.” The book’s protagonists are a Filipino American boy, a girl of Mexican descent, and an immigrant lad from Nigeria.

But Ramon takes it a few steps further in “The Whiz Kids from DARPA.” Not only does it promote ethnic diversity but it also includes characters, such as Isaac, a leader who is on the autism spectrum; a transgender computer hacker named Cody, and Wade, a behavioral scientist who is also a talking bear!

This isn’t the first time that Ramon has dealt with social themes. In his public service comic strip "Truer Than Trousdale” for the University of Southern California, Ramon showed the struggles of a closeted character dealing with university life, and a much older student who felt out of place in the college environment.

“Ramon is a great creative partner, and helped us visualize a story that really spoke to our audience,” said Minne Ho, executive director of Communication, USC Student Health. The strip’s purpose was to help prevent students from dropping out.

During the Black Lives Matter movement, Ramon got a bunch of his friends together and published “Black

Stories Matter” which was part of the 2019 Diversity Comic Con. Ramon described it as “an anthology about discrimination and the struggle against it.”

Ramon draws inspiration from his own life. His daughter identifies as gender fluid and his younger son has been diagnosed with autism. Before he even had kids, Ramon illustrated a story book for kids with autism for Different Roads Publishing. The book “Party Train” had “vivid, inventive almost 3D imagery that appeals to autistic readers,” said Different Roads President Julie Azuma.

“The Whiz Kids from DARPA” is a 100-page, fullcolor book that actually started out as a graduate school project. It was Ramon’s visual thesis while getting his Masters in Fine Arts in Illustration. He now teaches Digital Drawing at the Fashion Institute of Technology and Visual Storytelling at Yeshiva University. Comic book creation remains his first love and passion.

“This is a great graphic novel for kids who love STEM!” offered Ramon. All the characters are scientists with different specialties, the Whiz Kids go on missions and investigations and use their brains to overcome any challenge. They work for the U.S. government’s real life and not-so-top-secret Department of Advance Research Projects Agency also known as DARPA. First founded in 1958, DARPA develops scientific advancements, tools and technology for the intelligence community and the military. Some DARPA inventions that have made their way to public life include the Internet, GPS and SIRI.

To order copies of the graphic novel, Ramon Gil can be reached at ramonsgil@gmail.com.

A daughter’s story of her mother’s heroism in WW II

One night Elizabeth Ann Besa-Quirino received a phone call from a stranger that changed her life. “You don’t know me, but your mother saved my life,” the caller said.

That late-night conversation with an American World War II veteran and POW revealed to Elizabeth Ann Besa Quirino the untold stories of her mother’s remarkable wartime heroism in the Philippines and sparked a 20-year journey of discovery about her mother’s lifelong acts of bravery and compassion.

The result is “Every Ounce of Courage,” Elizabeth Ann’s tribute to her mother’s amazing life.

Elizabeth Ann delved into a trove of old letters, photographs and recipes in search of the source of her mother’s courageous spirit. The result is a story of courage and family and life in the Philippines through the prism of generational family recipes.

Lourdes “Lulu” Reyes Besa channeled the heartbreak of a childhood tragedy into a profound sense of compassion and service. She helped raise three brothers while still a child herself in the early years of the 20th century. Then, as a young socialite in 1930s Manila, she focused on meaningful philanthropy and charity work.

During the merciless Japanese occupation of the Philippines, Lulu embarked unflinchingly on dangerous missions to bring aid and comfort that meant the difference between life and death to countless Filipino and American prisoners of war, at great peril to her own life. In 1947, President Harry Truman awarded Lulu two Medals of Freedom, becoming the first Filipino woman and civilian to be so honored for her valiant efforts.

Food played a large part in Elizabeth’s family. She weaves her family’s story along with descriptions of Filipino food family recipes. Some of the recipes Elizabeth features at the end of the book include:

• Ensaymadas

• Pancit Molo Soup

• Chicken and Pork Adobo

• Beef Morcon

• Mom’s Shrimp Toast

• Arroz a la Valenciana

• Tibok-Tibok

• Ginataang Bilo-Bilo

In her mother’s story, Elizabeth discovered a complex life full of joy, sorrow, selflessness, and

survival, and learned precious lessons about how the timeless bonds of family, the steadfast strength of faith and the power of an indomitable will can provide solace and sense in a world of uncertainty.

“Every Ounce of Courage” is a daughter’s story of her mother’s courage, brave struggles, and humanity in the bleakest of circumstances.

“This book is as warm and comforting as a homecooked meal at a family table. I savored every intimate morsel of these well-told and beautiful stories. – Ben Montgomery, author of New York Times best-selling “Grandma Gatewood’s Walk.”

Elizabeth Ann Besa-Quirino is an author and award-winning journalist, born and raised in

the Philippines, and based in New Jersey, USA. She has written three cookbooks on classic Filipino food from her mother’s recipes. She is a contributor and recipe developer for SimplyRecipes.com, a digital food magazine; a correspondent for Positively Filipino magazine, and has written features on Philippine cuisine, culture, history. Read more of her stories and recipes on TheQuirinoKitchen.com.

Looking for a job? Scammers are looking for you!

In this Wild West era of still largely unregulated online portals such as Instagram, WeChat, Tik Tok and others, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is battling a new crime wave: huge networks of criminals offering fake but real-seeming ways to make money.

“There’s a whole range of different, horrible business practices scammers use,” Kati Daffan of the FTC’s Marketing Practices division said at an August 9 press briefing hosted by the FTC and Ethnic Media Services. “These schemes are having an incredible impact.”

Already this year, the agency has fielded 26,000 fraud reports describing $223 million lost to fake job and “big opportunity” scams. And that’s just the ones that have been reported, she noted, adding later that fewer reports come in from Black or Spanish-speaking victims.

“We know that’s just a fraction of what’s actually happening to people,” she said.

The scams range from offers of what appear to be job opportunities to “coaching scams” that claim they’ll quickly teach you how to make money investing in real estate, the stock market, or various self-employment strategies. The FTC has more information on this particular type of rip-off available at ftc.gov/IncomeScams.

Although Black and older consumers are disproportionately victimized, Daffan said, we’re all potentially vulnerable to the increasingly sophisticated and varied ways people and organizations all around the globe are tricking people out of their hard-earned money.

She and her colleague, Rosario Mendez shared some examples of these tricks and some strategies for avoiding them. High among their suggestions: Be careful, and do your research. For instance, Daffan said, when it comes to bogus job offers that could eventually cost you money, scammers are getting better and better at looking legitimate.

If you’re contacted by someone claiming a company wants to hire you, or that they’re helping an employer find workers, check it out. Go the extra mile, research that company, find their telephone number without relying on the numbers you were given, and call them to ensure they’re truly hiring for this position you’re considering – and that the people you’re talking to are really the ones doing the hiring.

“It takes the extra step of reaching out to the company to know it’s legitimate,” Daffan said. “That really is the safest thing to do these days.”

And never send money to someone expecting you’ll soon be able to earn even more back. Or if you’re asked to buy equipment up front, don’t!

| Be careful what you disclose

Another common crooked strategy has been to get people to agree to mail out gift cards after receiving a check seemingly worth more than the value of those gift cards.

But here’s the problem: It’s not enough to see the deposit was made to your account; it takes banks days at least to actually clear that check deposit. And if the check proves to be no good, you have to pay that money back to your bank.

And meanwhile, guess what? Those gift cards you sent out went right back to the scammers and are almost impossible to recover by the time you learn their check bounced.

Sometimes something as simple as providing personal information winds up costing you. Sure, it seems reasonable that someone offering you a job might want your Social Security number, or information on where you bank so they can pay you with a direct deposit to your account, or other personal information such as your name and address, information for a background check, etcetera.

But the people requesting the information might only be doing so to then sell it to another criminal operation, and making their money that way. So be

very careful about what you disclose until you’re confident you know who you’re dealing with.

| Just ignore

In general, if you get emails, text messages or telephone calls from names or numbers you don’t recognize, your safest bet is just to ignore them.

Making a report won’t impact anyone’s immigration status, the FTC speakers said, and they strongly encouraged everyone to report any suspicions they might have to ReportFraud@ftc.gov and ReporteFraude/ftc.gov (ReporteFraude.ftc.gov-presentar-reporte), whether they’re the intended victim or only worried for a friend, neighbor or relative. -- Ethnic Media Services

It’s a sad fact of life: If it seems too good to be true, beware!

Romeo Cortez, Jr.: Realism is an artist’s magical work

Realist artist Romeo Cortez Jr. personally handed over to Mayor Eric Adams his stunning charcoal painting of the Mayor, together with Philippine Consul General Senen Mangalile at the historic Bowling Green Park.

This happened during the Philippine flag-raising ceremony in honor of the 125th Independence Day celebration in the Big Apple on June 16.

The portrait of the mayor wowed the audience, as it looked vivid (including the veins on Mayor Adam’s hands), like a photograph.

Cortez recalled in jest how he developed his portrait of Adams. Consul General Mangalile had asked him to paint the mayor as a token from the Philippine government to immortalize his wearing of the Barong Tagalog. In the previous year, Adams did not quite fit into the Barong Tagalog given to him. Cortez said that the Mayor could not fully close the shirt and the sleeves were short.

“So sabi ni ConGen, ipa-pinta na lang sa akin na naka-well fitted Barong ang mayor. Nag research ako ng mga photos that I can use for the head, and I created the torso with that pose wearing barong. That is the story behind that portrait,” he enthused.

(The Consul General asked if I could paint the mayor in a well-fitted Barong. I researched for his photos, and I created the torso of him wearing the Barong.)

A clearly delighted Adams accepted the painting with the remark: “It is easy to paint a good-looking guy.”

In visual arts, realist artists are magical. One must thoroughly study their works because they look like they came from the perfect click of a camera.

Cortez Jr., an employee at the Philippine Consulate in New York, has been an artist for several years now, garnering admiration and awards from various art groups and professionals. He is most comfortable

in realism as an artistic expression.

“I found myself doing realism kasi self-taught ako. Yung nakikita ko sa surroundings ang nag influence sa akin, kung paano ko sila ipinta and I paint what I see. I believe that this

is a God-given talent, kasi hindi naman ako nag-aral ng Fine Arts,” he said in an interview. (I found myself doing realism because I am self-taught. What I see in my surroundings influences me on how I paint them. I paint what I see. I believe that this is a Godgiven talent because I have not even studied Fine Arts.)

Cortez have had eight one-man exhibits since 1998. Seven were done in Manila and one in New York in 2021, highlighting on the themes of Philippine culture and family. His participation in group exhibits has been innumerable.

He has had several awards as an artist too, but mentioned two that are special to him: In 2005, he won first place (“Roosters and Hens”) in the 52nd Annual Hudson Artists New Jersey Regional Juried Art Exhibition. In 2020, he was 1st place winner (“Artist’s Haven”) of the Philippine Pastel Artists National Pastel Competition.

“Special sa akin and PPA award kasi national yun, buong Pilipinas at may mga Pinoy artists sa abroad din na sumali,” he said. (The PPA award was special to me because it was a national competition, the entire Philippines, and there were Filipino artists from abroad who joined.)

Asked what his most important work so far, Cortez said it was his portrait of his family titled “Legacy.”

“My family is my priority. And my objective as an artist is to offer my great respect to God as the Greatest Artist and give justice to His majestic creations,” he said.

For autumn 2023, Cortez will take part in the group exhibit organized by the Pastel Society of America and the Society of PilipinoAmerican Artists.

This article was originally published in www.Marivirmontebon.com.

Love that overcomes distance, phobias and a 20-year age gap

to Roman virtually via Google Meet and committed to relocating to the Philippines where they would build a life together.

Roberto Villanueva liked Roman Dela Cruz’s sweet and shy disposition and Roman liked Roberto’s candor. Perhaps such traits could be traced to their upbringing: Roberto, 48, was raised in Manila and became an accomplished professional in Manhattan. Roman, 28, grew up in the coastal province of Pangasinan where people's livelihood was rooted in agriculture.

The couple's journey from the Philippines to New York City was filled with adventure and laughter. Not to mention resilience because in the course of their romance, Roberto suffered a knee injury that led to a months-long confinement in his Manhattan apartment. By September 2018, when Roberto had recovered, he returned to the Philippines to celebrate Roman’s birthday on the beautiful islands of Cebu and Palawan.

As a city-loving person afflicted with entomophobia (fear of insects), botanophobia (fear of plants) and xylophobia (fear of forests and wooded areas), Roberto contemplated their future. He was still not sure about the possibility of a long-term relationship with a biophiliac, who preferred a traditional life in the province where he grew up: Would Roberto be willing to pack up his Manhattan studio apartment and live in a village where the nearest major department store was 40 minutes away? And would Roman be willing to swap out his tranquil five-minute walk to the neighborhood beach with a five-minute walk to the chaos of NYC streets?

Since the couple’s first meeting, they’ve met up in other Asian countries and sent each other thousands of online chat messages and Milk and Mocha emojis. They used the emojis as a fun way to express their affections for each

other. Even when they weren’t connected by a mobile phone or computer, Roberto could hear the sound of Roman chuckling.

In August 2020 at the height of the COVID pandemic, and with his mother’s blessing, Roberto proposed

When Roberto underwent a spine surgery, he had to give up being a concert dance artist, relearn how to walk, and accept permanent debilitating nerve pains, body spasms, and neurophysiological and sensory deficits. Despite all these challenges, Roman never stopped cheering him up.

The K-1 visa process took twoand-a-half years, instead of the standard seven to eight months. They persisted. They never stopped learning new things about each other. Roman always had a small appetite. At one point, after Roman watched Roberto’s voracious appetite in action, Roman said: “I think you love food more than you love me.” Roberto, with a grin, responded: “I love you both equally.”

On the late evening of March 11, 2023, Roman finally arrived in NYC, his new home. This also marked his first visit to the U.S. While he had seen endless photos and videos of New York, nothing could prepare him for the introduction. In

Back in March 2018, neither believed they could meet a lifetime partner through a dating app.

Roman’s words, “Wow, it’s so cold and expensive here! And the food portions are so large!”

Roman also discovered Roberto did not eat or keep any rice at home, nor put salt in his food. Roberto eats mainly bland steamed fish and meat with blanched vegetables. Filipinos consider rice as their primary staple food and eat it with savory dishes.

One night, Roman teased Roberto by saying he was calling 911. “We have an emergency—we don’t have rice at home!”

Roberto initially booked the Buffalo, New York wedding and reception venue for December 2022. However, a delay in Roman’s visa processing forced Roberto to postpone the special event for his family and close friends until April of 2023.

Roberto made all the wedding decisions. As a New Yorker, he wanted every guest to be dressed in black--to honor NYC's popularized

head-to-toe black style. Roberto also choreographed a dance duet entitled “Tender Love”; his part required use of a chair. A reception for Roman’s family and friends was also held in Pangasinan at 5:30 a.m., on April 23-due to the 12-hour time difference.

Since Roman’s arrival in the U.S., Roberto noticed Roman’s infrequent moodiness. Nonetheless, Roberto has always managed to quickly turn Roman’s mood around. Roman also promised to work on his sporadic moodiness, which Roberto appreciated.

Furthermore, as the two spent more time together, Roman noticed Roberto’s workaholic tendency. Roman questioned Roberto about this and Roberto eventually agreed to curtail this tendency.

While there are certainly some differences between the two, they do have a couple of similarities. Both have large families (over 25 each) and enjoy being homebodies.

My husband just passed away; when can I receive survivors benefits?

We chose several questions about senior benefits eligibility from the calls and letters we received and want to share the information in this month’s column. If you have additional questions on Medicare, Medicaid, Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace, Social Security Retirement Benefit, Supplemental Security Income, or COVID/Flu vaccination, there are three ways you can reach us today:

-Call our Senior Assistance Center at: (English) 1-800-336-2722, (Korean) 1-800-582-4259, (Chinese Mandarin) 1-800-683-7427, (Cantonese) 1-800-582-4218, (Vietnamese) 1-800-582-4336

-Email: askNAPCA@napca.org

-Mail: NAPCA Senior Assistance Center, 1511 3rd Avenue, Suite 914, Seattle, WA 98101

Q: I have received SSRB (Social Security Retirement Benefit) since I turned 62. Will my retirement be increased when I reach my FRA (Full Retirement Age)?

A: No. Because you started receiving retirement benefit earlier than your FRA, it was fixed with the reduced amount permanently. Beneficiaries can collect full amount only when they start to collect retirement at their FRA. They can delay applying for benefit up to age 70 and it will grow by around 8% every year during those delayed years.

Q: I am a U.S. citizen and 58 years old. My husband just passed away. He had received Social Security Retirement.

Can I receive survivor’s benefits now or should I wait until I reach my retirement age? Can I get additional assistance for living even when I can receive spouse’s benefits?

A: When you reach 60 years old you can apply for lifetime reduced Surviving Spouse benefit. If you qualify for retirement benefits on your own record, you can switch to your own retirement benefit as early as age 62. You can receive whichever is the higher benefit. If you wait to apply for the survivor benefit until your FRA, you will receive 100% of the SSRB your deceased spouse received. You may be eligible for Medicaid now if your income is limited. At 65, you should apply for Medicare, and you can try to

apply for SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and/or MSP (Medicare Savings Programs) depending on your income and assets.

Q: I am 65 years old and have been in the U.S. for 10 years by this September. I applied to be a permanent resident and will be getting my green card soon. When can I enroll into Medicare? I heard there is five-year waiting period. Do I have to wait five years after I receive my green card?

A: To be eligible for Medicare, a person must be 65 or older and must be either a U.S. citizen or lawfully present in the U.S. for at least five continuous years. You don’t have to be a permanent resident

for the entire five years but need to be a permanent resident when you enroll in Medicare. Your IEP (Initial Enrollment Period) starts when you receive your permanent resident notice with card and lasts for the following three months.

National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of AANHPI older adults and their families. We operate a NAPCA Senior Assistance Center for Older Adults and Caregivers and we are available in five different languages.

Calendar of Events

September 8

1st Annual Filipino Heritage Games with the New York Yankees Yankee Stadium

One E 161st Street

The Bronx, NYC

September 16

Kantawanan in New York with Bo Carnation & Mark Mabasa

Kabayan Bistro

6909 Roosevelt Avenue

Queens NYC

September 23

Elegance: A benefit fashion show of Couture and Joaillerie with Ann Ong, RJP Gems and Simoun Andres

Fushimi Times Square

311 West 43rd Street NYC

September 23

PAFCOM Picnic Party

Liberty State Park Pavilion A

5 Theodore Conrad Drive

Jersey City

September 23

Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz

St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church

136-76 41st Avenue

September 10

Zumbingo: Zumba and Bingo fundraising event for cancer patients by FACC

Pinay Kitchen

13542 Minnieville Road

Woodbridge, VA

For more info: Contact 571-352-0165 or 571-241-8183

Email: cancercare2022facc@gmail. com

September 11, 18, 25

Exploring Filipino American History Through Literature (online event)

Contact Venessa Manzano at info@ filschool-nynj.org

September 16

LGBTQIA Got Talent by PAFCOM Hudson County School of Technology

525 Montgomery Street Jersey City

Flushing, NYC

2039 John F. Kennedy Boulevard

Jersey City, N.J.

Amor Yu Productions 818-818-4301

September 30

Dance on the Wings of Song featuring the music of Jose Mari Chan. With Philippine Ballet

Theatre

LaGuardia Performing Arts Center

31-10 Thomson Ave

Long Island City, NYC

September 30

Barrio Fest

Bergenfield, N.J. Contact PFAY and Filipino School of NY and NJ for details

October 8

Filipino American Festival by Harvard Square Philippine American Alliance

With Harvard Square Business Association

October 8

Hawaiian Night 2023

Da Mikelle Palazzo

69-02 Garfield Avenue

Queens NYC

October 19 to 22

UP Alumni Association in America Grand Reunion & Convention

Hyatt Regency

New Brunswick, N.J

October 21

A Smile in Your Heart with Ariel Rivera & Rufa Mae Quinto

Breslin PAC Felician University

262 S Main Street

Lodi, N.J.

October 21

PACCAL Awards

The Graycliff

122 Moonachie Avenue

Moonachie, N.J.

October 24

to 27

4th Assembly National Association of Filipino PriestsUSA

September 30

JCI Philippine-New York's 60th Anniversary Gala and Grand Reunion

Da Mikelle Palazzo

69-02 Garfield Avenue

Woodside, Queens, NY

October 7

New Jersey & New York

For details: Fr. Juancho de Leon 973-743-8615

October 28

FACC Runway for a Cure charity gala

Marriott Fairview Park Falls Church, VA

September 23

Arnel Pineda & Lani Misalucha

Live in Concert

The Margaret Williams Theatre

Bahaghari Filipino Drag Dinner

Hana House

345 Adams St, Brooklyn, NYC

Contact FACC at 571-352-0165 or email cancercare2022facc@gmail. com if interested to join as one of the models

Why ‘Oppenheimer’ is relevant in today’s world

As he and a group of other scientists and military personnel witnessed the top-secret detonation of the very first atomic bomb on July 16, 1945 at a desert site near Los Alamos, New Mexico, the course of world history was forever changed. The United States which had emerged as the strongest leader of the Western Allied nations now had the catastrophic power to put an immediate end to the conquest ambitions of Imperial Japan after the earlier defeat of its Axis partner Nazi Germany. It is this very predicament and the ethical reasoning behind the wielding of such power that dominates the conversation of director Christopher Nolan’s latest film aptly titled “Oppenheimer.”

This movie is Nolan’s most mature work yet and considering his other modern cinematic classics such as “The Dark Knight” and “Inception,” this is truly a big deal coming from a director who excels in contemporary storytelling with complex and timely themes. At exactly three hours long, “Oppenheimer” is a biography of sorts about the “father” of the atomic bomb, but it is also very much about the moral quandaries which we as human beings must deal with whenever we are emboldened with ideas and innovations that challenge our own inner morals.

Knowing how the post-World War II era of global politics was domi-

nated by Cold War tensions between the U.S. and Russia with the lingering threat of nuclear war looming over everyday life, one can only imagine the burden of responsibility and guilt which bore down the soul of Oppenheimer after realizing how his scientific atomic project changed the trajectory of global civilization to a point of no return. He attained celebrity status in the U.S. after the nuclear bombs which he “created” were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, forcing Japan to surrender and hence ending the war. Whether or not you as a movie viewer feel that Oppenheimer is a historic hero, or accountable for the ever-constant threat of a worldwide nuclear apocalypse, is a debate which the film will leave you pondering over. Regardless, Nolan’s film humanizes the physicist to such emotional depths which only Irish actor Cillian Murphy can depict onscreen.

Fascinatingly, this film is the first script written by Nolan in the first-person perspective, and this is evident how the movie narrative is told almost entirely from Oppenheimer’s point of view.

The supporting cast here is flawless, with standouts by English actress Emily Blunt as Oppenheimer’s contested yet

loyal wife Kitty, and Robert Downey, Jr., who is unrecognizable as Lewis Strauss, a senior U.S. Atomic Energy Commission member and serves as the film’s “antagonist” to Oppenheimer who is hell-bent on bringing him down at any cost.

“Oppenheimer” serves as a commanding cautionary tale of the inherent risks and perils of unyielding power, which if not handled with care and responsibility, could lead to the most devastating consequences imaginable. It is particularly relevant to our current times given how apart from nuclear capabilities, our world is now only beginning to come to terms with yet another emerging technological force with the potential for either good or ill, Artificial Intelligence.

“Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds…” the very text from a piece of Hindu scripture which ran through the mind of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the globally heralded scientist who led the Allied project which gave birth to the world’s first nuclear weapon that ended the Second World War in 1945.

| Are Barbie Girls anti-men?

It is not a complex storyline indeed, if you want a complex storyline, you should line up for “Oppenheimer!” It is no rocket-science “Barbie” is a feel-good movie, a celebration of what the Barbie Pink represents to each and every one of us!

I like the subtle and discrete takeaway of the movie. Does Barbie belittle Ken? No! The funny thing is there is always a balancing act in anything and any cause.

Whether we are in the Real World or stuck in our own little Barbieland Bubble there is always a balancing act that we have to find our equilibrium. Kens are not enemies! I actually for a brief moment felt Ken’s struggle. I find myself remembering all sad break-ups and how I felt that kind of existentialist confusion. Imagine that: A Barbie Girl like me feeling the Ken energy and struggles!

From one Barbie Girl to another

It had been almost a year. Yes. I have been anticipating this movie for a long while… I knew since then that this is going to be HUGE!

As an artist, I think I have this “Instinctive Spider-Sense” of trends and forecasting those hints of this phenomenon! The Zeitgeist had been leading to this Pink Revolution also known as Soft Girl Era and the much powerful Aesthetic Trend called the “BarbieCore”. You better buckle up! It’s going to be a Pink Universe!

We are now in an era where Hyper-femininity, Kindness and Soft-Energy are considered cool and the Machismo-Tough-Guy-Energy is considered lame. Even the Pantone Color of the Year for 2023 is Viva Magenta, which the company describes as “powerful and empowering.”

We all need this kind of light and joy after a few years of heavy crisis and just so many problems in the world! If you walk around the city, for sure your

eyes will catch a Hot Pink / Magenta / Fuchsia window display whether it is a fashion boutique, an art gallery, a cafe bar and clubs. I won't be surprised if a hardware store is all in pink! Barbie had covered the town pink – and definitely not only New York City but every town subscribing to pop culture. I have not seen such strong marketing and branding since “Star Wars” and may have even exceeded The Force for that matter.

| To the Barbieland!

I read one quick review that irked me. Something to do with how shallow the story plot is. Ugh? Why would you expect something dark and heavy on this such sweet and nice flick?! Another popular feedback is that: “It is not for kids!” – At first I thought, “Is the movie going to be obscene?” No. It was not. There are just deep undertone ideas to ponder after watching the film. But it is a feel-good movie; that I will say.

Greta Gerwig created this fantasy world of “Barbieland” where all kinds of Barbies are successful in their careers: From President to Astronaut to Supreme Court Judge, a role portrayed by our very own Kababayan Ana Cruz Kayne. The functionality of the Barbie Dreamhouse brings such nostalgia to women and girls who played with their own Barbies.

I love the parody and satirical humor of director and writer Greta Gerwig. The campiness and the irony of dance numbers are camp all the way! The plot of the story is how Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) needed to cross over to the Real World on a mission to save her owner human girl, Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt) and mother Gloria (America Ferrera); putting them through a chase misadventure with the Mattel CEO (Will Ferrell) and Mattel executives. All the while Ken (Ryan Gosling) tagging along discovers how the Real World is so dominated by men.

Not to be a spoiler but I love the ending that is coming full circle of Barbie becoming a real woman. The thing is I believe that is such a powerful ending. No matter how perfect Barbieland is, no matter how perfect and successful each Barbie Doll is, it is no replacement for real life. Yes, Barbie is a role model, but lest we forget, Barbie is a manifestation and an idea made by a Strong Independent Visionary of a Woman named Ruth Handler who was not perfect at all but powered through the juggling act that is the Real World.

I must say as a proud middle-aged woman, this movie poked my heart in a deep and special way. Mostly about the film montage of memories playing with Barbies. It made me so sentimental of my youth and my childhood memories! Indeed, Barbie became my first role model and until today had been my muse as a fashion designer. She made me believe that I can be whoever I wanted to be. It reflected with the first Barbie dolls I was gifted by my Mom, my favorite Aunt and Godmother, all strong women of their own accord.

It is a love letter to my childhood self. You may not have been allowed to wear pink then. Now you are living your childhood dream having all the pink dresses you want without being restrained. I did you good, K.T. (my childhood nickname from Karen Tracy). Thank you Barbie for being my childhood heroine. I hold in myself the power of pink bravely and shamelessly radiating my inner joy that pink represents to me.

One award-winning film after another for this composer

The musical scorer behind the new movie “Joy Ride” and the new Stephen Curry documentary “Underrated,” is the award-winning Nathan Matthew David.

The Filipino American composer worked to create seamless scores for both projects and helped enhance the storylines to their fullest.

For the heartful comedy “Joy Ride,” Nathan worked closely with Adele Lim to craft a musical score that was specific to each character and their arc in the bigger story. He used the Chinese string instruments Guzheng and Ruan alongside guitars and synths to create a band-like sound but with a blend of Asian and Western instruments to help follow the Asian-American leads. The film stars Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu and Sabrina Wu.

“Underrated” follows the path of NBA legend Stephen Curry as he overcame big odds to become one of the greatest ever. Originally premiering at Sundance, the musical score composed by Nathan is

ascendant and transformative as it follows Steph as he finds himself. The documentary is now streaming on Apple TV+.

The USC alumnus and Emmy-nominated composer for film and television has also worked on the Disney+ basketball film “Chang Can Dunk” this past March and will soon showcase his work on an upcoming Netflix series “The Brothers Sun.”

From comic book adaptations to award-winning documentaries, Nathan has scored some of the most exciting projects of the last few years.

His dark synth and guitar driven work was recently heard on the Russo Brothers' adaptation of the acclaimed comic “Deadly Class”. And his emotional and poignant music featured in the powerful and Peabody Award-winning docu-series “Surviving R. Kelly.” For the latter, he also took home an ASCAP 2020 Screen Award.

Born to Filipino immigrants, his family taught him music at a young age. His curiosity would lead him to play in bands and to study film scoring at USC's prestigious Scoring For Motion Pictures and Television program.

He would go on to be mentored by and collaborate with Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Goransson (“Black Panther”) and Theodore Shapiro (“Bombshell”). With the former, he co-composed the A24 film starring Chance The Rapper, “Slice.”

He is currently writing an album featuring indigenous Filipino instruments, chamber ensemble and electronics.

Other works included composing the music for the James Cameron produced “Gamechangers” and the TBS hit comedy, “Angie Tribeca” from Steve and Nancy Carrell.

Vina Morales debuts on Broadway in ‘Here Lies Love’

The producers of “Here Lies Love,” the groundbreaking musical from David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, are pleased to announce the upcoming Broadway debut of popular Filipino actress Vina Morales, who will join the show performing as Aurora Aquino for a limited guest engagement from Friday, September 22 – Sunday, October 22 at the Broadway Theatre.

Morales steps into the role following Lea Salonga’s final performance as Aurora Aquino this Saturday, August 19 at 3:30pm. Salonga remains a key member of the show’s co-producing team. Cast member Reanne Acasio steps back in as the full-time “Aurora Aquino” in the interim.

As previously announced, “Here Lies Love” is committed to featuring various guest stars from the Philippines in the role of “Aurora Aquino,” showcasing the country’s abundance of talent. This production marked the first time Salonga played a Filipino role on the Broadway stage.

“I am so excited to share the news that my friend Vina Morales will be joining our fabulous all-Filipino company in ‘Here Lies Love’! So talented and lovely, but most of all, so kind. She will be a wonderful addition to our cast,” Salonga said,

“To be able to perform on Broadway is a dream come true for any artist,” said Morales. “I am grateful to Coach Lea Salonga for guiding me along the way. You’re the best, Lea! I am excited to be part of the ‘Here Lies Love’ family and I can’t wait to perform for all of you!”

Director Alex Timbers said, “David Byrne and I were first introduced to Vina's extraordinary talents over 10 years ago in Manila, when we were casting Here Lies Love's National Theatre production. It's an exciting, full-circle moment to have her join us now on Broadway; and an honor to introduce her, in this show-stopping role, to our incredible audiences."

Her bio says Vina started singing at age 9 at a church choir in Cebu. A priest discovered her talent and urged her to try out at Cebu Pop Music Festival. Her family moved to Manila where film projects quickly opened for her. She

became a contract star of Viva Films, trading her name from Sharon Garcia Magdayao to the more cinematic sounding Vina Morales. Vina’s star rose with numerous hit movies and recordings.

The show features the first all-Filipino cast to perform on Broadway: Arielle Jacobs (“In The Heights,” “Aladdin”) as Imelda Marcos, Jose Llana (“The King and I,” “The 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee”) as Ferdinand Marcos, Conrad Ricamora (“How to Get Away with Murder,” “The King and I,” “Soft Power” – Grammy nominations) as Ninoy Aquino; Aaron J. Albano, Melody Butiu, Moses Villarama, Jasmine Forsberg, Reanne Acasio, Jaygee Macapugay, Julia Abueva, Renée Albulario, Aaron Alcaraz, Carol Angeli, Nathan Angelo, Kristina Doucette, Roy Flores, Timothy Matthew Flores, Sarah Kay, Jeigh Madjus, Aaron "AJ" Mercado, Geena Quintos, Shea Renne, Angelo Soriano, and Danielle Troiano.

The creative team includes threetime Tony Award nominee David Korins (scenic design), Tony Award winner Clint Ramos (costume design), Tony Award winner Justin Townsend (lighting design), M.L. Dogg & Cody Spencer (sound design), and three-time Tony Award nominee Peter Nigrini (projection design), with casting by Tara Rubin CSA, Xavier Rubiano CSA, Gail Quintos and general management by Foresight Theatrical.

Additional creative team members include ATW Jonathan Larson Grant recipient J. Oconer Navarro (music director), Billy Bustamante (assistant director), Renée Albulario (assistant choreographer), Bobby Garcia (casting consultant/Philippines), Gregory T. Livoti (production stage manager), and Ryan Gohsman and Sheryl Polancos (assistant stage managers). Giselle “G” Töngi is the show’s Cultural and Community Liaison.

The show is produced by Hal Luftig/Kevin Connor, Patrick Catullo, Clint Ramos, Jose Antonio Vargas, and Diana DiMenna and Plate Spinner Productions, with Aaron Lustbader serving as executive producer.

Jose Rizal descendants Anton and Matteo Azurin: A sense of pride and responsibility

To interview Jose Rizal’s descendants, I went through Paciano Rizal’s branch of the family because the unmarried Jose had no children of his own.

Paciano and Jose are the two boys of 11 children of Francisco and Teodora of Calamba and Biñan, Laguna. I met Paciano’s great great grandson Paolo Antonio Lopez Azurin through an introduction by the Philippine Consulate, whose assistance I sought. Azurin, an investment banker who specializes in Mergers and Acquisitions, introduced me to his two boys Anton, 14, and Matteo, 10. I met all of them by Zoom and conducted my interview by Zoom and email.

Anton, who is in Grade 10, and Matteo, a fifth grader, struck me as very reserved. They both enjoy playing basketball and they are not on social media. They help out in the house with Anton doing the laundry and Matteo setting the dinner table. Azurin’s wife, Apple, is a corporate lawyer who has her own private practice. “She spends a lot of time with the boys,” he said.

Like most siblings, they fight occasionally. What do they fight about? “Anything that we don’t agree on,” quipped Anton with a faint smile. Matteo said he does not call Anton “Kuya.”

The closeness of the Azurin boys can be compared to a certain extent to the special bond between Paciano and Jose. Paciano recognizing his brother was a talented young man, took him under his wings, sent him to Europe to study and paid his tuition.

Unknown to many, the two brothers even made a pact: They would not marry but instead serve the country.

“There was a pact between Lolo Paciano and Jose Rizal that neither would get married in the service of the Philippines,” said Azurin. “This was verified by the sister Narcisa who was in that conversation.”

But Paciano, who was a general in the Katipunan founded by Andres Bonifacio, had a common-law wife Severina Decena from Calamba. They only had one daughter, Emiliana Rizal Lopez, the mother of Azurin’s grandfather, Edmundo Rizal Lopez.

“These stories get passed around among family, they don’t come out in history books,” said Azurin.

How was Paciano able to send Jose to Europe to study?

The Rizals were not a poor family. They were tenant farmers, cultivating and managing landholdings owned by the friars. When Paciano sent Jose to study abroad, he was running the business. In fact, the parents did not know Jose had gone to Europe until they got a letter from him stating he had left the Philippines.

The Rizals still keep an ancestral house in Los Banos where Paciano and his family had lived. The room where he passed away and his dinner table are still there.

“He loved that place, there’s a hot spring there.” said Azurin.

It is in this house, a sort of historical shrine, where the sprawling clan would hold their reunions. It has an NHI marker. No one lives here but a caretaker paid for by the family. Some of the remains of the family were transferred here.

“Aside from being the house of Paciano Rizal,” Azurin added, “it was also significant because it was designed by Andres Luna de San Pedro, the son of Juan Luna, one of the first architects in the Philippines.”

On the Mercado side, the Rizals actually descended from Domingo Lam-co from Fujian province. He moved to the Philippines in the 17th century and settled in Laguna and raised a family. The name underwent several evolutions – from Lam-co to Lamco to Mercado to Rizal. On the Rizal’s mother’s side, Teodora Alonso was descended from Lorenzo Alberto Alonso, a Spanish mestizo who was municipal captain of Biñan. The name Rizal, according to Azurin, comes from the Spanish word “ricial” meaning a “green field ready for harvest”. The name was aptly chosen by the family because of their roots in agriculture.

The FilAm (TF): How exactly are you related to Jose Rizal?

Anton Azurin (AA): I am a sixth generation Rizal, although I am not directly related to Jose Rizal, as he

died without any children. Instead, I am descended from his lone brother Paciano, who served as a general in the Philippine army and would often take care of his brother when they were children.

TF: When did you find out you were related? What was your reaction?

AA: I found out early on when I was very young, and I felt honored and grateful to be related to one of the biggest influences of our country.

TF: Now that you know how important a person he is, how do you feel?

AA: I feel a sense of pride being related to him, but also a sense of responsibility. Rizal is an inspiration, not only because of his heroism, but also his relatability. Being related to Rizal shows me that he was just a normal person, not much different from me, and so I too, can also make an impact on the country, albeit in smaller and different ways.

TF: Do your classmates and teachers know? Do they treat you differently?

AA: Majority if not all of my friends, classmates and teachers don’t even know that I am related to Rizal, and I personally do not feel they need to. Being related to someone important doesn’t mean one should be treated differently. After all, even as a relative of Rizal, I still have my own responsibilities, and my lineage should not impact them. As a descendant, the most I can do is strive to embody his traits in the best ways I can.

TF: Do you feel it is a burden being a descendant? Or would you rather be just a regular guy?

AA: Being a Rizal is less of a burden and more of an obligation to serve one’s country. A Rizal must live up to the name, even by simply being a good citizen. More importantly, a Rizal must inspire others to love and serve the country the best they can. Anyone can do these things for our country, but as a Rizal, we must set the example for others.

TF: If he were alive, what do you want to talk to him about?

AA: If he were alive, I’d simply thank him for everything he’s done for the Philippines. In his love for our country, he put his life on the line to criticize the abuse that had plagued his home for many years. Although it

may have led to his death, he inspired countless people to do the same. Without him, the Philippines may not even exist today.

TF: Have you read Noli and Fili?

AA: Yes, I have read both Noli and Fili, as well as a few of his shorter stories. In my opinion, his writings are very enjoyable to read, as they often delve into societal problems that one can find every day, while also maintaining an entertaining storyline. In addition, these books are

also considered the spark that led many to revolt against the Spanish Occupancy, which is the primary reason Rizal is considered our national hero.

TF: What do you think is Jose Rizal saying when he said the youth is the ‘hope of the future?’

AA: Our country is constantly evolving and changing. Every day new problems arise in the blink of an eye. The youth are the most important part of our country because all these burdens will eventually rest on their shoulders. As a member of the youth, I must do my part to make our country a better place for everyone, as we, as the future of our country, are a source of hope that things can and should get better.

TF: He talked of ‘Malansang isda’ referring to people who do not give worth to where they come from? Any thoughts?

AA: The saying “Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit sa hayop at malansang isda” simply tells us that we must love our country and our language. Being a Filipino is something everyone must take pride in at all times.

TF: He was killed by firing squad. How did that make you feel?

AA: Despite being a Rizal, I never met him personally so I don’t feel that much emotional attachment to him. However, his death is still very important. He showed that true heroism, bravery and love for one’s country can overcome death itself. And in some way, his death brings his story full circle, as he was executed for his country, just as the Gomburza, the very people who inspired him as a kid, did. He, along with the many heroes like him, make me proud to be a Filipino.

Issue 67, September 2023

Celebrating art across cultures for 50 years

Asylum

seekers From the border to the Big Apple

Anton & Matteo Azurin

Descendants inspired by Jose Rizal’s heroism