For those of you who are not yet aware about my 2011 project, “Pearls for Peace” at the One World Institute, now you know! Yolanda Ortega Stern, whose “Projects for Peace” totally engaged my curiosity about natural pearls in the Sulu Archipelago in Southern Philippines, shared the story of Basil Anik, the Fisherman-Artist, who created unique brooches, with the $25 per brooch donations going toward feeding the artisan-interns who work with him. There will be more pearls that I will be asking for donations from all of you, of course. I say: “Enjoy my pearls for peace because they go toward supporting sustainable livelihood in areas of conflict.” (HINT: I am accepting your on-going orders!)

“Manang Yo,” our fond nickname for this philanthropist, and her husband, Dr. Tom K. Stern, the philanthropist and best-selling “I-can’t-put-down-this-novel-because-it-is-so-thrilling!” author, devote time dealing with “the trade,” where they supply the natural pearls from T. Stern Natural Pearls or SternPearls.com to the people who work on this world’s unique and rare treasures and transform these natural pearls into exquisite (and very expensive) pieces of jewelry. Tom K. Stern is the inspiration behind the founding of the Natural Pearl Society.

On January 31 to February 6, 2011, at the Arizona Global Gem and Jewelry Show, Yolanda O. Stern will be one of the members from the Natural Pearl Society who will be educating “the trade” about the history, care, science, marketing, and the romance of natural pearls. Yolanda’s much-anticipated book about SEX — not sex for homo sapiens but about “SEX AND THE WILD PEARL” — is coming soon to our neighborhood. As a special preview, “Manang Yo” will be giving a couple of short readings (from her book) during this gem show.

Check out the schedule of Yolanda Ortega Stern’s readings of her book on natural pearls, “Sex and the Wild Pearl,” at the Arizona Gem and Jewelry Show at the Hotel Arizona here.

You can imagine what the book launching events are going to be like: VERY EDUCATIONAL!

This morning, I woke up with an “Aha!” moment: MOHINDER MANN. I know that in the case of the San Bruno explosion, victims and displaced families would be looking for advice and referrals re: good personal injury attorneys. I know someone really well: Mohinder Mann of http://themannlawfirm.com/ in San Jose, CA. (Yes, this is definitely my testimonial about someone whose work and achievements I believe in — and you don’t have to live in San Jose to check him out.)

On Sunday, Sept. 12, I had an opportunity to reconnect with Mohinder Mann, the chair of our South Bay multi-ethnic coalition, when his daughter led our team (through the ALS South Bay Walk; see http://bit.ly/9cV5Ev) in raising funds for The ALS Association. Mohinder Mann’s wife, Robin, suffers from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). I have personally volunteered with this amazing social justice advocate (aside from his work in other community causes such as the fight to keep JTS Northside Community Center under the Filipino leadership that built it) that Mohinder’s colleagues have honored him with very special awards and recognitions in the past many years.

Do you remember the Toyota auto recall case?

“February 9, 2010 – The Mann Law Firm was one of the first law firms in the country to sue Toyota for the sudden acceleration of one of its vehicles in 2007, which ended up killing Mr. Troy Johnson. More than two years ago, federal investigators in the United States discovered that some Toyota vehicles accelerated unexpectedly, the Washington Post reports… In October 2009, Toyota announced that it was recalling approximately 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus autos because their floor mats could trap the gas pedal, causing sudden acceleration. Then in January 2010, Toyota advised the NHTSA that approximately 2.3 million vehicles in the United States have a defect that can cause the accelerator to stick.”

Please call 408-287-1600 for free advice and ask for Mohinder if you have a friend who needs good, solid advice. Or email Mohinder directly at mann@injurylawyerinsanjose.com. Or fill out the form at the website.

You might be asking me why I am referring my friend, Mohinder Mann. How do you say “thank you” to someone who tirelessly volunteered and helped my Filipino American community stand up for its rights after being unjustly treated? By sharing with other people that you know someone who will fight for their rights — after astute due diligence, of course.

GETTING TO KNOW MOHINDER MANN

Mohinder Mann: The Personal Injury Attorney

Mohinder Mann at the Fundraiser for Hurricane Katrina Press Conference in early September 2005

Mohinder Mann and his wife, Robin Mann (to his right), have a photo with community advocate-friends

KOWLOON, Hong Kong – May, 25, 2010 – A network, composed of overseas Filipinos worldwide based in many countries and in the Philippines, recently wrote an open letter to Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, president-elect of the Republic of the Philippines. The open letter highlights the perspectives unique to migrant Filipinos and offers solutions that could impact transformational, positive changes in policy making. After many years of collaboration and cooperation, the group, which represents various organizations implementing projects in the Philippines and in their host countries, offers a starting reference point for the incoming administration, led by President-Elect Aquino, to more effectively harness the Philippines’ migration gains into mechanisms for the development of the Philippines and its hometown communities.

The open letter points out several key economic points, among them:

 Migration gains are mainly remittances by overseas Filipinos to their family members, approximately USD17 billion, and are the primary source of livelihood for millions of Philippine households.

 At 10.8% of the country’s GDP, migration gains are also the third biggest source of the country’s foreign currency reserves, acting as the primary driver of the Philippine economy, thus shielding the country from bankruptcy during the current economic meltdown and the 1997 financial crisis.

 The Filipino diaspora, estimated currently at about 10 million Filipinos working or residing in 239 countries and territories worldwide, have sent donations to the Philippines for various humanitarian causes, such as disaster relief, medical missions, school houses, and other infrastructure. These contributions have supplemented local and national Philippine government deficits and, as of 2003, have already amounted to USD218 million, per central bank figures in that year. Not included are other investments made by OFWs in real estate, education, and health care for their family members, and consumer goods and services.

The group emphasizes the urgent need to push for genuine poverty alleviation after 30-plus years of heavy reliance on labor export, and as thousands of Filipinos continue to leave every day for overseas jobs or contracts. Although the “Philippine model of overseas migration” is considered an ideal model for other migrant-origin countries to emulate and copy, the group believes that social costs that migration has incurred have not been successfully addressed by past administrations. They cite examples of countries such as South Korea, Ireland, and Italy, once considered labor-exporting countries, that evolved from their “migration hump” by taking advantage of their workers’ remittances, investing them to develop local infrastructure, shipyards, factories, and other industries. As a result, a “brain gain” occurred. Many of these expatriates left their high-paying jobs abroad, convinced that their home countries’ governments were effective and that they could trust their country’s inspired leadership.

The open letter frankly addresses Senator Aquino: “Shall we continue to send out our people and rely on remittances and without any development objectives in sight? Conversely, don’t we have the talent to formulate a road map toward self-sufficiency over a period of time, in order that the hemorrhage of talents could be stopped, that a crisis in our dysfunctional families and society at large could be averted, and so that our people do not have to take migration as a forced option? If long-term migration goals are set now, the government could, in the meantime, work on some basic but urgent deployment and migration issues in order to clear the way toward having a genuine and serious program on translating migration gains for use in human development.”

The authors of the letter suggest that the new president consider the following:

 The government must send clear and strong signals that migration and remittances are only temporary measures to help the government prepare for a longer-term goal of self-sufficiency, in which Filipinos no longer look at migration as a forced option. A suggestion is for these signals to be integrated in the NEDA-formulated Medium-Term Development Plans, highlighting gender sensitivity.

 Create a position for a Special Presidential Adviser on Migration and Development, who will work with a consultative technical working group (TWG) composed of qualified individuals who have a background in migration and development, including knowledgeable and committed migrant leaders. The TWG’s work, which does not supplant the work of government migration agencies, could evolve into a draft legislation for study by Congress’s standing committee on OFWs or form the basis for an Executive or Administrative Order, whichever is appropriate or achievable.

 Conduct a comprehensive review and monitoring of the performance of government agencies in charge of migrant workers, such as the POEA, OWWA, CFO, and Department of Foreign Affairs. The goal is to strengthen these vital institutions toward efficiency and effectiveness.

 Reforms within OWWA are necessary to promote transparency and accountability regarding departing OFWs’ contributions of USD25 each, a requirement for departure and membership in OWWA and entitlement of welfare benefits. The group suggests possible solutions on how to address mismanagement and audits.

 The work of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) and the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NCRO) needs to be addressed so they are given the appropriate level of funding, resources, and support. These two agencies are doing important work in mobilizing diaspora contributions for development and assistance to OFWs who are reintegrating to Philippine society after working abroad.

 An institutionalized nationwide program on financial literacy for OFWs and their families is necessary to encourage a savings or investment mind-set and to deter excessive spending on non-essentials. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) , the lead government agency that has been conducting financial literacy programs for migrant workers and their families since 2006 in more than 30 Philippine cities and 10 cities overseas, could be improved and expanded. A recommendation for the involvement of the Department of Education, Culture, & Sports (DECS) to include financial literacy and migration as part of the school curriculum is also proposed.

Although the open letter focuses on recommendations for specific OFW issues, the network of overseas Filipinos is hopeful of the president-elect’s electoral campaign promises, which includes good governance, better access to health, education, employment and livelihood, and business opportunities for everyone. The group closes the open letter with apparent goodwill and optimism: “The (proposed government) programs are all in the right track, constitute the basic elements for self-sufficiency, and provide viable options to our citizens to remain in the country and to devote their talents and resources to developing the homeland.”

The copy of the Open Letter is also available at http://bit.ly/cG1Scs.

THE 3 C’S OF CREDIT – Credit, Capacity, and Collateral: What it takes to get a real estate loan

HOW TO CLEAR YOUR PERSONAL CREDIT

I found a google video, dated May 9, 2007, when Hazel Valera spoke in Las Vegas at the Millionaire Real Estate Club Of Las Vegas. Caveat: Some of the credit laws, procedures, and processes may have changed.

~ ~

If you are interested in holding a customized workshop for your business or organization, please contact Hazel Valera at (408) 63HAZEL or (408) 634-2935 or email: hvalera@ccemailbox.com. You are welcome to contact me (Lorna Dietz), too, at RadiantView@gmail.com or (415) 508-5326.

Financial Fitness Rocks!

Thank you to acclaimed Folksinger/Pinoy Rocker/Painter Heber Bartolome for providing his video diary of the June 2008 UP Centennial Celebration at Araneta Coliseum in Metro Manila. He asked me to share this with our Overseas Filipino UP graduates. Check out the slide show. You or your friends might be there.

Let’s keep the UP Spirit alive! Join us in this biennial convention and grand reunion. Meet fellow alumni from all UP campuses and colleges. Enjoy the camaraderie, fun, and sharing interdisciplinary perspectives on important topics. Raise funds to support Professorial Chairs at our Alma Mater, the University of the Philippines.

2009 and 2010 Alumni Jubilarians Will Be Honored:

- Diamond (1949 & 1950), Emerald (1954 & 1955), Gold (1959 & 1960)
- Sapphire (1964 & 1965), Ruby (1969 & 1970), Coral (1974 & 1975)
- Pearl (1979 & 1980), and Silver (1984 & 1985)

Featured Events:

• Sept. 4, 2009, Friday Night: Fellowship Night and Pabidahan
• Sept. 5, 2009, Saturday Morning: Interdisciplinary symposium includes plenary sessions on science, technology, economic & social issues
• Sept. 5, 2009, Saturday Alumni Luncheon with keynote speaker
• Sept. 5, 2009, Saturday Afternoon: Interdisciplinary breakout panel discussions; election of officers for 2009-2011 & venue selection for 2011
• Sept. 5, 2009 Saturday Night: Gala Night Dinner Dance, Outstanding alumni awards, parade of Jubilarians, & induction of new officers
• Sept. 6, 2009, Sunday Morning: Evaluation and board meeting;
• Sept. 6, 2009, Sunday Brunch in the Park – Hosted by UPAA DCMDVA

Featured Speakers:

Emerlinda Roman, PhD, President, University of the Philippines
Teofilo Abrajano, PhD, Head, Surface Earth Processes Section, Division of Earth Sciences (GEO), U. S. National Science Foundation
Belinda Aquino, PhD, Director, Center for Philippines Studies, University of Hawaii
Josefino Comiso, PhD, Senior Scientist, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Jose B. Cruz, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Engineering, Ohio State University
Lawrence Heaney, PhD, Curator, Field Museum, Chicago
Loida Nicolas Lewis, Lawyer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, TLC Beatrice
Francisco S. Sy, MD, DrPH, Director, Division of Extramural Activities & Scientific Programs, NCMHD, National Institutes of Health

Panel Discussions:

As U.P. alumni and global citizens, you are invited to actively participate in our panel discussions to explore the opportunities and identify our roles in addressing these current topics.

1. U.P., What’s Next? What Are the Post Centennial Plans and Challenges Facing U.P. in the 21st century?

2. Emerging Challenges in Energy, Environment, and Health: Integrating Science, Policy and Practice

3. New Global Economic Realities and Opportunities: Think Globally & Act Locally

Hotel Information:

• Hotel Address: JW Marriott Hotel, 1331 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington DC, 20004
• Special Group Rates for UPAAA: A limited number of rooms has been blocked for UPAAA at the following group rates:
$119 for single or double
$139 triple
$159 quadruple
• Hotel Reservation phone: Phone: 202-393-2000 and 1-800-228-9290
• Hotel Website: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/wasjw-jw-marriott-hotel-washington-dc/

Contact Persons:

• General information:
Francis Sy, President syf@mail.nih.gov
Fe Lacbawan, Secretary lacbawaf@juno.com
Zeny Ply, Asst. Secretary zenply@gmail.com

• Registrations:
Lumen Sotelo, Treasurer lumi.sotelo@netzero.net
Philip Lacbawan, Asst. Treasurer placbawan@worldbank.org

• Jubilarians Committee:
Emmy Ceguerra Ceguerra@comcast.net
Terri Magdongon tmagdongon@aol.com

• Awards Committee: Luz Micabalo lmicabalo@yahoo.com

• Ad for Souvenir Program: Jo Wee Sit weesitinalsip@sbcglobal.net

• Fellowship Night/Pabidahan: Lydia Fontan jpfontan2@embarqmail.com

• Check updates at UPAAA website www.upaaa-online.blogspot.com

Please Act Now!

Register early and save! Please complete the registration form and mail it now!

– Join and win prizes in the Fellowship Night/ Pabidahan singing & dancing contests as an individual or group. Please contact Lydia Fontan for inclusion in this event.
– Place an ad in our souvenir program book by July 27, 2009. Please contact Jo Wee Sit.
– Recognize and honor the achievements of our Jubilarians & outstanding alumni.
– Nominate outstanding alumni for awards by May 31, 2009.
– Invite alumni and friends to participate in our convention in the nation’s capital.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION FOR CONVENTION DELEGATES AND PARTICIPANTS:

Convention Delegate: If you register as a convention delegate, you have to pay the FULL registration fees. Alumni who have registered as Convention Delegates are eligible to vote at the election for UPAAA officers on Sept. 5, 2009. All Convention Delegates will receive the registration packet, tickets to all convention events and meals, and the souvenir program book.

Convention Participant: If you register as a convention participant for an individual event, you have to pay only the fee for the specific individual activity. Alumni who have registered as Convention Participants are not eligible to vote at the election for officers on Sept. 5, 2009 . Convention Participants will receive the registration packet, the ticket for the specific convention event and meal. The souvenir program book will not be provided. It may be purchased at the convention registration desk.

CALCULATION OF FEES:

A. Early Bird Registration Fees (Paid & postmarked by July 27, 2009):
• Convention Delegate Full Registration Fees: $ 275
• Convention Participant Individual Event Fees:
Sept. 4, 2009, Friday Fellowship night : $ 50
Sept. 5, 2009, Saturday Breakfast plenary,
luncheon and afternoon sessions: $ 150
Sept. 5, 2009 Saturday Gala Night Dinner Dance: $ 150

B. Regular and On-Site Registration Fees (Paid & postmarked after July 27, 2009):

• Convention Delegate Full Registration Fees: $ 350
• Convention Participant Individual Event Fees:
Sept. 4, 2009, Friday Fellowship night: $ 75
Sept. 5, 2009, Saturday Breakfast plenary,
luncheon and afternoon sessions: $ 175
Sept. 5, 2009 Saturday Gala Night Dinner Dance: $ 175

Please write your check payable to UPAAA and mail the registration form and payment to:

For those of you who are not familiar with Scribd.com:

OPTION ONE

After you have clicked on the BLUE UNDERLINED TITLE ABOVE THE DOCUMENT. This will take you to the Scribd.com website where the document is housed.

Please look at the options given to you on top of the document:

SHARE THIS – allows you to copy and paste the URL to your favorite bookmarks like DIGG, DEL.I.CIOUS, etc.
SEND THIS – allows you to email (with your personal note) the document to friends
ADD TO FAVORITES
I LIKE THIS
EMBED – get the html code and put it in any website
AND OTHER OPTIONS

TO PRINT THE DOCUMENTS:

Put your cursor over the word “MORE” (below the Share This, Send This, etc. titles) which also has the “Down” arrow — and look for the PRINT option.

OPTION TWO

Look at the document in this posting and on the top left-hand side, you will see the title “Scribd.” Beside it is the word “MORE” with a “Down” arrow. The various options are found there, from emailing to printing the document.

CONVENTION REGISTRATION FORM

ADVERTISING FORM FOR SOUVENIR PROGRAM

FOR THE UP HALL OF FAME – PHOTO MONTAGE FORM

CONVENTION BROCHURE – PAGE 2 OF 2 PAGES

July 25, 2008

Introduction:

I have kept quiet for so long because I believe that the “sacred scales of justice” will allow truth to prevail in the cases against Ben Menor and the Filipino American Senior Opportunities Development Council Inc.’s Board of Directors (a.k.a. FilAmSODC).

As a former staff member and consultant of FilAmSODC, Inc./JTS Northside Community Center, I was there when the storm (that eventually resulted in the Ben Menor and FilAmSODC legal cases) started actively brewing and I was there when the Friends of JTS Northside Community Center, led by Mohinder Mann and Annie Dandavati, supported the fight to retain its deserving Filipino management in 2005-2006. Since FilAmSODC had been serving Filipino and Indo-American communities — with plans to serve other ethnic groups in San Jose — the multi-ethnic coalition (that I love and support) headed by these Friends was a constant inspiration to the senior citizens, the youth, and other stakeholders served by the center. Recently, I came across the myspace.com website of the Mabuhay Cultural Club of Independence High School, wherein the young members honor Ben Menor as one of their heroes. Rodel Rodis wrote about these Filipino CRABS in 2004 (who started it all!) — which, of course, the latter used to spin and brand themselves “The Silicon Valley CRABS.”

What I am writing here today is a continuation of my PERSONAL INSIGHTS AND THOUGHTS which started with the Flames of Consciousness and A Perspective on Filipino Consciousness at the NaFFAA Y2K2 Empowerment Conference in 2002. I had also celebrated my employment with a story in my column at Manila Bulletin USA in August of 2003, “Filipino Consciousness at Work.”

The Stimulant:

Yesterday, I checked in by phone with Ben Menor since I wanted to know what happened to his “sentencing” date in court on July 24, 2008. The judge gave him an extension of 30 days to come up with the balance of the required restitution. Ben told me that he had raised over 50% of the required restitution. That was good news.

Later on last night, I found out that Joseph Lariosa, a supposedly credible Filipino American journalist based in Chicago, had written an article about Ben Menor’s day in court. Ben shared with me that Joseph had indeed asked him for his comments or Ben’s lawyers’ comments BUT before the lawyers could respond, Joseph e-mailed him with his published news story and wrote Ben, “Please let me know if you have problem accessing it. Please let me know also if there is any correction to be made.”

The Response:

Duh, what would my fellow media practitioners say about this?

Here’s what I’m thinking. “Really, Mr. Lariosa! How interesting it is that you couldn’t wait for any corrections (or fact checking) BEFORE sending your supposed credible article for publication. You are just as bad as Bobby Reyes of MabuhayRadio.com, who I do not support and who I have publicly denounced as a NON-journalist.”

Joseph Lariosa’s article about Ben Menor’s case today is INCORRECT, MISLEADING, AND DECEIVING.

Have you ever heard about a complete sentence being chopped up so that only 1/2 of the truth is being written? This is what I believe happened.

Since I’m not a lawyer, I can only write what I feel is MY truth about this case — which I have truly devoted a lot of due diligence and homework to.

Let’s deal with some facts first (and my analysis, of course).

1. This beautiful community center that was built by Filipino leadership led by FilAmSODC’s board of directors and its President and CEO, Ben Menor, has been given several building design awards.

2. On June 21, 2005, I sent out an e-mail blast to my network, in preparation for the audit hearing that June 23. This will give us some perspective.

OP-ED

Dear friends: Fil-AmSODC, Inc. & its President/CEO Ben Menor have been bombarded by “armchair critics” from the media. There are people like myself who were really there at JTS Northside during those challenging times. I believe that NO ONE ELSE could have achieved what FilAmSODC, Inc. has done in the past 10 years, “making promises and dreams come true” for its constituencies and stakeholders, including:

(a) Ben Menor convincing two mayors of San Jose to shell out (appropriate) the rest of the 60% funding ($8 million) to build JTS Northside Community Center;
(b) managing three centers’ nutrition programs before the move to the new center;
(c) training the staff on capacity-building for the new community center and cost-effectively finding new experts, networks, and resources to help them out (that’s what managing the 2002 NaFFAA conference did);
(d) moving into a new center (that Ben Menor helped supervise);
(e) continuing and refining its programs according to its new scope of services (which included the intergeneration/intercultural- focused Neighborhood Facility Management and its event management & catering group services);
(f) following the guidance of its monitoring agency, Parks Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) — and doing its reports as directed;
(g) launching fundraising programs to augment the restricted funds FilAmSODC, Inc. was receiving;
(h) looking for short-term sources of funds when reimbursements didn’t arrive on time for FilAmSODC, Inc. to meet its Accounts Payable obligations;
(i) and maintaining its silence during the audit process because they believed that influencing the outcome of the audit is the wrong thing to do (and many of us suspect that the CRABS lobbied hard to influence the auditors, city officials, and others — as seen from the e-mails we’ve received and the phone calls they’ve been making to many people).

In all the years Ben Menor has been a stalwart figure in Santa Clara County’s Filipino American and multi-ethnic/cultural landscape, it is hard to imagine a FUTURE without him right in the scene of growth and change in building a stronger community at JTS Northside. Whoever thinks that Ben would go somewhere else is just another rumormonger who wants to undermine the greatness of the Filipino people.

The CRABS came about because of the rapid evolution that JTS Northside had to go through. The strength and resilience of FilAmSODC, Inc. were tested. Just like any family feud gone wrong, it started out as personal and professional jealousy directed toward the President & CEO (from the ugliest CRAB of them all who was the one in charge of reporting FilAmSODC, Inc.’s achievements to PRNS). One of the other CRABS was not patient enough with the process of instilling operational changes — and decided to join the ugliest CRAB. She told me that she was out to prove that “Ben Menor is a crook.”

People forget that we all make mistakes, just as FilAmSODC, Inc. and Ben Menor did – but their actions weren’t done maliciously. They believed that they were doing their best to steer a ship’s course with one rudder through uncharted waters, benefiting the people they promised to serve.

FilAmSODC, Inc. and its President & CEO, Ben Menor, are not your stereotypical Filipinos. They have earned the right to sit at the table AND learn from this audit experience. For people within the Filipino American community to chime in and ask him to resign is unconscionable.

FilAmSODC, Inc. now needs to get behind all this and with the City of San Jose’s support, start the process of “wielding change and building capacity” so that two years from now, all the improvements that the City of San Jose wants done are manifested.

The future is bright. It will be brighter if we acknowledge that it’s no one’s fault that the community center — that the City of San Jose and FilAmSODC, Inc.’s leaders and supporters built — is going through serious growing pains. And yes, it is also Ben Menor’s leadership that is on the line. He will know who his true friends really are. I hope I’m one of them. I believe I know the truth. Through Ben’s mentorship, my truth propelled me to devote time to publicize and be involved in the Filipino community’s celebrations and challenges, locally and globally.

To the armchair critics who are so determined to tarnish FilAmSODC, Inc.’s board of directors and Ben Menor’s reputation, remember what Winston Churchill once said, “The price of greatness is responsibility.”

3. Here are current facts Ben Menor explained to me.

(a) The criminal case is still pending.
(b) The sentencing will be done on September 18, 2008 (orignally scheduled on July 24).
(c) Ben’s attorneys have asked him not to discuss the underlying facts of the case while it remains pending. Per the plea settlement agreement with the court, the charge will be reduced to a misdemeanor on September 18 if the balance of the “substantial restitution” is paid (which includes the court fees).
(d) When complete restitution is paid, the court will entertain a motion to expunge the charge, which means the court will dismiss the case in its entirety.

4. Let’s analyze some of the “facts” that Joseph Lariosa wrote about Ben Menor. This is where I turned to my gmail archives and did some google searches.

(a) I found an OP-ED Joseph Lariosa wrote in THE FILIPINO EXPRESS ONLINE, May 12-May 18, 2008, as a columnist. (To those uninitiated by media practices, columnists write OPINIONS, and are responsible for the veracity of their facts.)

In “Reinventing Crab Mentality,” Mr. Lariosa wrote:

It all started when Mr. Cortez had a falling out from his brother-in-law, Mr. Ben Menor, who is a Filipino American, after Mr. Cortez’s sister divorced Mr. Menor. Mr. Cortez once told me that the moment his sister divorced Mr. Menor, he also ceased to become an “in-law” of Mr. Menor (Lorna’s note: Ben was divorced in 1990).

Mr. Lariosa, it was AFTER Ben Menor’s divorce that Mr. Cortez became a program consultant and later, the Executive Vice President of FilAmSODC (1997). Technically, he ceased to be an “in-law” which was a good thing because there was no nepotism in the leadership hierarchy. However, Mr. Cortez was in charge of COMPLIANCE reports to PRNS. Did Mr. Cortez set up Ben Menor for failure since the latter has the command responsibility for all the successes and failures of FilAmSODC’s management? I don’t know. Maybe you would like to investigate this.

(b) In an article Asian Journal published on February 5, 2007, Mr. Lariosa wrote:

Mr. Menor, nephew of his namesake, Hawaii State Chief Justice Ben Menor, has been a rising star among the Filipino American community in San Jose until his former brother-in-law, Tito Cortez, formed a pressure group called “CRABS” (Citizens Rebelling Against Bogus Spending), and supplied authorities initial evidence that led to the filing of the separate civil and criminal cases against Mr. Menor.

Mr. Lariosa, what is the logic behind connecting the late Hawaii State Chief Justice Ben Menor with Ben Menor? How do you even know that Ben Menor from San Jose is the namesake?

(c) Here we go again! In the May 5-May 11, 2008 edition of Filipino Express Online, Mr. Lariosa wrote:

Menor, said to be a native of Hawaii of Filipino ancestry, was the executive director of the Filipino American Senior Opportunities Development Council (Fil-Am SODC), a nonprofit group that operates a 92- unit senior housing and community center in San Jose. The same center is being used by Filipinos, Sikhs and Indo-Americans and was considered a model of multicultural cooperation and partnership when it was inaugurated in 2003.

When he was arraigned on Nov. 16, 2006, Menor pleaded not guilty on an indictment returned by the Santa Clara County Grand Jury. The indictment charges Ben Menor of 3056 Knights Bridge Rd., San Jose with one felony count of California Corporations Code Section 6812 (False Statement of Operations) and two felony counts of California Penal Code Section 487 (Grand Theft/Embezzlement). Menor self-surrendered on November 15, 2006 and was released on $30,000 bail.

My questions and comments:

- This is not the first time that you mentioned that Ben Menor is “said to be a native of Hawaii of Filipino ancestry.” Where did you get this conclusion? If you did your homework (fact checking again!), you would have found out that Ben Menor was born in the Philippines. In fact, I believe he was the one who created the term “Generation 1-1/2″ to represent the Filipino Americans who were born in the Philippines but who immigrated to the US before the age of 12.

- I don’t know how many journalists practise giving out the full addresses of defendants. Why couldn’t you just have said “Ben Menor of San Jose, California?” OK, if you’re being careful to make sure you are writing about the one and only Ben Menor, you could at least have written your news story under his given name, “Benny Menor.” But then again, since Benny’s nickname is Ben, people wouldn’t recognize Benny, right?

- Let’s look at the THREE charges. Here is what Rodel Rodis wrote some of us to explain what had happened (in his May 8, 2008 email).

Hi folks,

It’s important to note that after going through 30,000 pages of documents, the only case the D.A. had which Ben pled to was a violation of California Corporations Code Section 6812(a) which states that “Every director or officer of any corporation is guilty of a crime if such director or officer knowingly concurs in making or publishing, either generally or privately, to members or other persons (1) any materially false report or statement as to the financial condition of the corporation, or (2) any willfully or fraudulently exaggerated report, account or statement of operations or financial condition, intended to induce and having a tendency to induce, contributions or donations to the corporation by members or other persons.”

More than 99% of Wall Street corporation boards would be guilty of this offense if 30,000 pages of their corporation records were examined by law authorities.

- Let’s get some facts straight again!

Ben Menor is NOT on probation. (He is not “buying his way out of jail,” which appears to be the thesis of your latest article.)

I don’t get it. You never mentioned that the settlement was offered by the District Attorney. Or did I miss this statement somewhere in your article? If Ben Menor truly committed these crimes, shouldn’t he be prosecuted? Why did the District Attorney offer a settlement instead? Probably because there was no evidence OR there is insufficient evidence to convict him.

The way I understand this situation is that the “plea bargain” offered by the District Attorney requires RESTITUTION, which also means that the court fees are included here and whatever purposes restitution is for. When Ben Menor pays the required restitution per the terms of the settlement, the charge will be dismissed. Technically, this means that there will be a misdemeanor, after which it will be expunged immediately.

The two other counts (the serious ones regarding grand theft and embezzlement), once the terms of the settlement offer are met, will also be dismissed during the sentencing (according to court documents). Did you not ask the District Attorney the specified requirements from the court records on the District Attorney’s settlement agreement?

The amount that you stated, $48,000, is incorrect. Ben Menor has to raise over $50,000.

In today’s article, Mr. Lariosa, you wrote:

Count two of the indictment alleges that Menor embezzled thousands of dollars from the center between May 16, 2003 and June 25, 2004 when he paid a center employee with center funds to provide full time in-home elder care to his own parents who were living in Menor’s home.

Here’s something that I would like to emphasize and inform whoever reads my opinions.

In January of 2004, just before I resigned from FilAmSODC, I wrote the analysis of the Intergenerational Assisted Living Program case study/pilot program (wherein Ben’s parents were the subjects). Let’s check the facts again.

This pilot program that Ben Menor spearheaded was approved by the FilAmSODC Board of Directors.

When I wrote the report of the pilot program’s results and the initial draft of the proposal to bring this unique intergenerational assisted living paradigm system-wide within the center, the PRNS (from my conversations with Ben Menor, after he finalized my draft) wholeheartedly approved of the proposal and was ready to work on its launching. I was very proud of my contributions to the “white paper” of this proposal because I had devoted a lot of hours studying and analyzing how it could be efficiently and productively implemented. Well, never say never. I’m optimistic. When Ben Menor gets back on track, I’m positive this is one project that he will follow through (not necessarily in the City of San Jose, right?)…

Mr. Lariosa, you also wrote today about:

He pleaded no contest to the charge that he overstated by 24,000 hours the amount of time he and his agency worked under contract with the city to run the Northside Community Center, a senior housing and community center on North Sixth Street in San Jose. A no contest plea has the same legal effect as a guilty plea, Lowney explained.

Mr. Lariosa, I’m sure you were able to read FilAmSODC’s Response to The Audit Report in 2005. Let me jiggle your memory a bit. The contentious 24,000 hours would be something that Ben Menor would have to plead “no contest” to because this was part of the settlement offer and this was a question regarding the process of reporting the hours to the City of San Jose which the PRNS had a handle on, meaning, they directly supervised the reporting of the hours (the City Auditors found the PRNS to be 60% of the problem with the JTS Northside Community Center). It’s a very long story. As an employee, I remember how I had to write my reports according to the services rendered, the number of people we served, and the hours served. The 24,000 hours may not be the correct overstated amount since it was never verified or confirmed by the District Attorney. One thing is very clear: When restitution is paid, this charge will be reduced to a misdemeanor and the settlement allows the misdemeanor to be expunged.

Conclusion:

You gave me a gift, Mr. Lariosa. The gift of “standing up for MY truth.” The next time you write an article that can have truly damaging implications for our strong Filipino American community, check your facts first, then write your article.

To the CRABS who started this all: Remember that we used to be ONE happy family at Northside. Everything that we had talked about (before there were CRABS) was taken up with Ben — yes, all those complaints you had about him and the Board of Directors. We all grew up these past five years. I hope that you will move forward and use your energies wisely and fruitfully to enrich the lives of people who could benefit from your talents and skills. YOU have the capacity to heal. Let it be so.

To Ben Menor’s friends and supporters: This is IT! Just one more hurdle this September!

I believe that we will truly gain from Ben Menor being back in the forefront, training our future leaders and providing community development leadership. Whatever you can do to help will be appreciated!

Here is a poem that I sent out to my internet universe on June 21, 2005 that I believe helped shift the energy that some media practitioners created — the mob mentality of “He’s guilty!” — to a more balanced perspective of “A person is innocent until proven guilty.”

“Turn to the Courage Within You”

by Douglas Pagels

“It takes a strong person to deal with tough times and difficult choices. But you are a strong person. It takes courage. But you possess the inner courage to see you through. It takes being an active participant in your life. But you are in the driver’s seat, and you can determine the direction you want tomorrow to go in.

Hang in there… and take care to see that you don’t lose sight of the one thing that is constant, beautiful, and true: Everything will be fine — and it will turn out that way because of the special kind of person you are.

So… beginning today and lasting a lifetime through — hang in there, and don’t be afraid to feel like the morning sun is shining… just for you.”

And so it is.

P.S. We will always lovingly remember the late Betty Getubig, the “mommy” we ran to at FilAmSODC. She was the one who talked to me in early April of 2005 and asked me to take the Caltrain to San Jose so I could help out because FilAmSODC’s HNVF funding was in danger of being reduced. We miss you, Manang Betty!

The article is found on pages 20 and 21 of the January 2008 edition of Filipinas Magazine.

“Taking a chance on running a travel agency nearly 30 years ago, Johnny Francisco has built a business that continues to soar.”

It is 11:00 p.m. in San Francisco. A sleepy Filipina travel sub-agent, who has an online booking engine at her website, answers a telephone call from a friend in Chicago. Apologetic, he asks, “My grandmother just passed away — and I want to leave in a couple of days for Manila. I need the best internet airfare. Can you help me?”

After noting some basic information, she guides her prospective passenger with his first online booking experience. Then, she calls 1-800-2-MANILA (626452) or 1-866-2-MANILA for additional assistance on quotes and advice for emergency travel. The “24-hours a day/7 days a week” live operator phone service is based in Manila. Within an hour, her friend feels comfortable with the internet sales tool, courtesy of Travelfast International, a.k.a. Travelfast.com, the sub-agent’s consolidator. Amadeus, Travelfast’s technology partner, provides the cutting-edge global distribution system that is connected to over 220,000 travel agency terminals worldwide.

Johnny Francisco, the President of Travelfast International, whose company has served the ethnic Asian travel community since 1978, takes pride in being able to give his 3,543-plus travel agents and sub-agents the technological clout of an automated booking system with real time availability and instant confirmation. With a 30-year milestone coming up on March 6, 2008, Johnny reflects about his company’s prominent and seasoned leadership in an industry that is expected to boom exponentially in internet airfares.

“I had no choice!” Francisco declares. “I already had a lucrative import-export business in the Philippines. This was the only way for my family to stay permanently in the United States. So, I bought this existing travel agency — lock, stock, and barrel. I had to learn the ropes quickly.”

Johnny’s San Francisco office in the historic Flood Building at Powell and Market Streets, close to the daily cacophony of cable cars’ bells and shoppers’ traffic at nearby Union Square, has proven to be an ideal location. “The overhead was pretty low. There were no computers then. With one other person helping me, we used an index card system for our reservations. It was all about hard copies before the era of the database system,” he recalls. Francisco was confident about Travelfast’s product mix, comprised of carriers such as Philippine Airlines, Pan American Airways, and Northwest Airlines.

Johnny’s entrepreneurial spirit also honed his guerrilla marketing techniques for building his company from the ground up. His belief in the power of “personal connection” meant distributing fliers to Filipinos he met at the crowded Market Street corridor and members of Filipino community-based organizations. San Francisco, during the late 1970’s, was home to a larger Filipino population compared to Los Angeles or Chicago.

“I was one of the first to add my photo to my business cards so that people could relate the name to a face. I inherited existing clients from the previous business owner but I still had to win their trust. My word had to be good,” Johnny said. “After the first year, I was hooked. The commissions at that time ranged from 10% to 25% per plane ticket. There was also a lot of competition from five large Filipino-owned travel agencies that controlled the market in 1979. These agencies eventually closed shop.”

Dealing with an economically-diverse clientele, Johnny marketed a Fly Now, Pay later program for the next 10 years. A relationship with an established Asian Indian wholesaler gave Johnny Francisco the break he needed for “direct blocking” with Japan Airlines and China Airlines.

Johnny ventured into the corporate market in the 1980’s. “There were two of us who got the Pacific Bell contract. From this experience, I realized that there was a glass ceiling for minority-owned businesses. In fact, most minority-managed or owned travel agencies were really owned by big corporations. I decided to concentrate on the Filipino market.”

In 1996, the forward-thinking entrepreneur analyzed the technological trends affecting the business of travel. Johnny reveals, “My edge is my basic knowledge of the industry — from ticketing to restrictions. I’m one of the few who understands the business in relation to the market. For instance, after 9-11, there were zero commissions since travelers could book their domestic tickets directly with the airlines. To counteract the loss in commissions, the airlines decided to assign a few agents to handle their international ticket sales. Travelfast International consolidates for 10 airlines to Asia with the ability to offer cheaper airfares versus the airlines’ published rates. I would like to think that Travelfast’s credibility and financial stability were deciding factors for these carriers.”

Johnny Francisco’s foresight about the emergence of internet airfares as the industry’s premier sales and promotions vehicle helped him develop Travelfast International’s 21st century business model which included “easy name and number recall” and branding for the toll-free telephone numbers and retail websites selling wholesale consolidator tickets, the opening of branch offices and retail kiosks from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and a Hongkong office. “We are the only US-based consolidator that has a fully-owned corporation in the Philippines and a 24-hour call center staffed with trained travel consultants. Since the previous business owner retained the Travelfast International business name in the Philippines, we chose the name Mango Tours for our ancillary and overseas operations,” Francisco explains.

The Travelfast International and Mango Tours infrastructure and operations, linked by telephone and the internet, are handled by approximately 80 employees. At any given time, Johnny Francisco knows how many people are logged into their computer network. He discloses, “We field an average of 2,000 telephone calls a day plus handle the activity in the websites that provide online bookings: MangoTours.com, FlyToManila.com, FlyToCebu.com, IFlyPAL.com, and FlyToAsia.com. We also saw a need to bus and house our customers so we started offering value-priced tour packages to the Philippines.”

Since online booking also means electronic tickets, Francisco urges travelers to obtain their internet airfares from online booking engines that are supported by established consolidators. “When you receive your confirmation number after your online booking, we direct you to a website where you can check your reservation. You can also call the airline to confirm your flight,” Johnny points out.

When asked what advice he has for the Filipino immigrant who wants a career in the “Wild, Wild West” world of entrepreneurship in the United States, Johnny Francisco thoughtfully enumerates his life lessons: “Be patient. Wait for your time. Don’t do everything overnight. Wait for the right moment and opportunity. Find your niche — where the glass ceiling doesn’t exist. You don’t have to be a jack-of-all-trades. Always deliver your promises. And, just remember that we’re the most affluent among the ethnic groups in the United States.”

With a twinkle in his eyes and a satisfied smile, Johnny terminates his reflective mood. “We haven’t reached 50% of our objectives yet. This is only the beginning,” Johnny Francisco adds.

Lorna Lardizabal Dietz, a Filipino community publicist, writes profiles about people, places, and events. She is based in San Francisco, California.