"nations of servants"

Hong Kong writer Chip Tsao was not the first person who maligned Philippines or the Filipinos. Spanish colonizers call Filipinos then as Monkeys and Indios. Jose Rizal and his friends call them back as "mestizong bangus" (milk fish). Would you believed that some foreigners even call Filipinos as dogs and other degrading terminologies. And in some areas, our Filipinas are treated as a mere delicious sex object. "Bale, pana-panahon lang yan!"

I guess, my teacher was right when she told me then..."you cannot please everybody." But while I was asking why, I kinda look at Philippine history highlights and trivia. I could not believe what I discovered:

Would you believe that the life of Jose Rizal is being taught in graduate schools in Singapore? And as one Singaporean Indian says, "I am proud of being a South East Asian because of Jose Rizal." For us Filipinos, we are somehow complemented. But sad to say, technically we are still treated as 2nd class citizen by other nation. Though we continuously receive donations and grants from rich countries, our people are maligned and Philippines as a whole nation are disrespected in someway or another. Shame on them! If it was not to our fore fathers, some of these neighboring countries may not have reached the status they are enjoying right now. It only shows that they either forget or don't know history at all.

Do they know that many of their agricultural scientist have developed their skills at International Rice Research Institute Philippines and at our other agricultural universities? Same thing with aquaic studies as many nations send their scientist in UP Iloilo. As to global free trade in South East Asia, it did not started in Hong Kong but in the Philippines during Spanish era with the galleons. During the 20th Century, almost all ASEAN nations have been devastated by wars and poverty. Philippines is always there to support and help these struggling nations while they are rebuilding. Would you believe that the Philippines was one of the few graceous nations who accepted refugees like the Jews, Vietnamese, Chinese, etc. Philipines even accepted to preserve some of Africa's endangered species at Calauit Island in Palawan. Though Philippines was ahead to our ASEAN neighboring countries then, our country men seem to have no record of maligning struggling nation nor say something that they have no right to claim what is theirs.. Shame on other nation who continuously disrespect Filipinos though they capitalized on our people's skills and inventions. Look at the world today. What do you think how this world looks if it's not to Philippine OFW's? I have nothing against "servants" But what I don't uderstand is why the Philippines has always been labeled as "maid?"

I am still hoping that someday, other nation will also look at Philippines/Filipino's past to see who we really are. Philippines may have produce a Nobel Prize awardees yet but its ingenuity and contribution to world development have been the cornerstone of most industrialized nation's progress. Who would have thought that Filipinos were the first in many crucial inventions and discoveries? Did you know that first land moving vehicle to reach the moon was designed and developed by a Filipino? More discovered trivias and facts about the Philippine and its nationals:

Significant Inventions and contribution to development by Filipinos:

Moon Buggy
Filipinos consider Eduardo San Juan as the inventor of the Lunar Rover, or more popularly known as the Moon Buggy. The Moon Buggy was the car used by Neil Armstrong and other astronauts when they first explored the moon in 1969. Eduardo San Juan, a graduate of Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT), worked for Lockheed Corporation and conceptualized the design of the Moon Buggy that the Apollo astronauts used while in the moon. As a NASA engineer, San Juan reportedly used his Filipino ingenuity to build a vehicle that would run outside the Earth's atmosphere. He constructed his model using homemade materials. In 1978, San Juan received one of the Ten Outstanding Men (TOM) awards in science and technology.

New planet named after Filipino teacher.
BUTUAN CITY (31 March) -- "I am proud to be a Filipino, and since I defeated 4,000 other teachers from around the world including the American finalists in their hometown, I can say that Filipinos are really one of the bests".

This is what Dr. Josette Biyo said, the first Asian teacher to win the Intel Excellence in Teaching Award in an international competition held in United States in 2002, during the 34th Commencement Exercises of Saint Joseph Institute of Technology (SJIT) which was held recently here, where she was invited to speak in front of 462 graduates. Partially excerpt from by Robert E. Roperos write up.
Full story at
http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p060331.htm&no=45#TOP
Space Engineer

Also, an asteroid circling the Sun between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter has been named after famous Filipino scientist Dr. Roman Kintanar.
Measuring 4 to 9 kilometers in diameter, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) officially christened minor planet No. 6636 as “Kintanar” in honor of Dr. Kintanar, who headed, the weather agency PAGASA for nearly 36 years before retiring in 1994.

Asteroids are solid chunks of metal-rich rocks left over from the formation of the solar system some 4.5 billion years ago. They range from small pebbles and boulders to the size of islands hundreds of kilometers across.

“This is such a big honor for me,” says Dr. Kintanar, who is a physicist by training (He received his Ph.D. from the University of Texas in 1958). “I feel that my efforts in the past is well compensated by this unique accolade.”

Space Engineer
On June 25, 2002, the provincial government of Cavite awarded Edward Caro a plaque of recognition forhis 42 years of service at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the United States where he helped launch the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission or the Explorer. Caro, 70 and a native of Cavite retired from NASA in 2001. In return, NASA during the same year conferred Caro the Distinguished Science medal, reportedly the highest honor it gives to its employees. (Source: Philippine Star)

Fluorescent Lamp Inventor
Many Filipinos acknowledge Agapito Flores as the inventor of the fluorescent lamp, which is the most widely used source of lighting in the world today. The fluorescent lamp reportedly got its name from Flores. Written articles about Flores said he was born in Bantayan Island in Cebu. The fluorescent lamp, however, was not invented in a particular year. It was the product of 79 years of the development of the lighting method that began with the invention of the electric light bulb by Thomas Edison.

Among the other inventors who claimed credit for developing the fluorescent lamp were French physicist A. E. Becquerel (1867), Nikola Tesla, Albert Hall (1927), Mark Winsor and Edmund Germer. French inventor Andre Claude was recognized for developing the fluorescent tubular lighting systems. Yet, he was not officially recognized as the inventor of fluorescent lamp. It was reported that the General Electric and Westinghouse obtained Claude's patent rights and developed the fluorescent lamp that we know today.

According to Filipino scientists, fluorescent lamp was not named after Flores. The term fluorescence first cropped up as early as 1852 when English mathematician-physicist George Gabriel Stokes discovered a luminous material called "fluorspar", which he coined with "escence". The National Academy of Science and Technology also dismissed Flores being the inventor of fluorescent lamp as a myth. "No scientific report, no valid statement, no rigorous documents can be used to credit Flores for the discovery of the fluorescent lamp. We have tried to correct this misconception, but the media (for one) and our textbooks (for another) keep using the Flores example," a Filipino scientist wrote in her column at the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
The fluorescent lamps were introduced into the U.S. market in 1938. Still, Filipinos recognize Agapito Flores as the inventor of the product that illuminated the world.

He Discovered Erythromycin
A Filipino scientist reportedly discovered erythromycin in 1949. He was Dr. Abelardo Aguilar who died in 1993 without being recognized and rewarded for his discovery. Reports said Aguilar discovered the antibiotic from the Aspergillus species of fungi in 1949 and sent samples to Indiana-based pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly Co. The
drug firm allegedly registered the propriety name Iloson for the antibiotic in honor of Iloilo province where Aguilar discovered it. In 1952, Eli Lilly Co. began the commercial distribution of Iloson, which was sold as an alternative to penicillin. Erythromycin, the generic name of Iloson, was reportedly the first successful macrolide antibiotic introduced in the US.

Computer Guru
Diosdado Banatao, a native of Iguig, Cagayan and an electrical engineering graduate from Mapua Institute of Technology in Manila is credited for eight major contributions to the Information Technology. Banatao is most known for introducingthe first single-chip graphical user interface accelerator that made computers work a lot faster and for helping develop the Ethernet controller chip that made Internet possible. In 1989, he pioneered the local bus concept for personal computers and in the following year developed the First Windows accelerator chip. Intel is now using the chips and technologies developed by Banatao. He now runs his own semiconductor company, Mostron and Chips & Technology, which is based in California's Silicon Valley. (Source: Filipinas Magazine)

Modular Housing Inventor
Edgardo Vazquez won a World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) gold medal in 1995 for developing a modular housing system. Such a system called Vazbuilt is reportedly capable of building within weeks a house with prefabricated materials that can withstand typhoons and earthquakes. Ironically, Vasquez is not getting enough support from the Philippine government to propagate his technology, which could help provide shelter to some five million Filipino families without their own homes. Vazquez is the national president of the Filipino Inventors Society.

Mole Remover
In 2000, Rolando dela Cruz developed an ingenuous formula that could easily remove deeply grown moles or warts from the skin without leaving marks or hurting the patient. His formula was extracted from cashew nut (Annacardium occidentale), which is common in the Philippines. The formula won for dela Cruz a gold medal in International Invention, Innovation, Industrial Design and Technology Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur in September 2000. In March 1997, dela Cruz established RCC Amazing Touch International Inc., which runs clinics engaged "in a non-surgical removal of warts, moles and other skin growths, giving the skin renewed energy and vitality without painful and costly surgery."

Karaoke Inventor
Roberto del Rosario, a Filipino is claiming the right for the invention of the Sing-Along-System (SAS) that eventually led to the development of Karaoke, a Japanese term for "singing without accompaniment". Among del Rosario's other inventions were the Trebel Voice Color Code (VCC), the piano tuner's guide, the piano keyboard stressing device, the voice color tape, and the one-man-band (OMB). The OMB was later developed as the Sing-Along-System (SAS).

Inventor of Incubator
Fe del Mundo, the first Asian to have entered the prestigious Harvard University's School of Medicine, is also credited for her studies that led to the invention of incubator and jaundice relieving device. Del Mundo, an International Pediatric Association (IPA) awardee, is an alumna of the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Medicine. Since 1941, she has contributed more than 100 articles to medical journals in the U.S., Philippines and India. In 1966, she received the Elizabeth Blackwell Award, for her "outstanding service to mankind". In 1977, she was bestowed the Ramon Magsaysay Award for outstanding public service.

Water-Powered Car
For more than three decades now, Daniel Dingel has been claiming that his car can run with water as fuel. An article from the Philippine Daily Inquirer said that Dingle built his engine as early as 1969. Dingel built a car reactor that uses electricity from a 12-volt car battery to split the ordinary tap water into hydrogen and oxygen components. The hydrogen can then be used to power the car engine.

Dingel said that a number of foreign car companies have expressed interest in his invention. The officials of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have dismissed Dingel's water-powered car as a hoax. In return, Dingel accused them of conspiring with oil producing countries. Dingel, however, was the not the only man on earth who is testing water as an alternative fuel. American inventors Rudolf Gunnerman and Stanley Meyer and the researchers of the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory have been pursuing similar experiments.

Others
Do you know that Diosdado Banatao, an engineer from Cagayan, Philippines, made GUI (graphical user interface (GUI) possible? Without which we will still be limited to that green monitor that can only display text?
I hope one of these Filipinos will make you proud, not to mention Carlos P. Romulo, Ben Cayetano, Lea Salonga, your mom and dad, and of course Jose Rizal

Carlos P. Romulo has played a significant role why Israel was again formed after World War II.

Sports and Entertainment

Did you know that the greatest football (socker) player ever played was a Filipino?(FOOTBALL) PUTTING as claimed on the website of the Philippine Football Federation?" asks Jerome Castro. He certainly is Jerome, with a phenomenal record of 356 goals in 357 games for the Catalans between 1912 and 1927. Prolific Paulino, who was born in Iloilo City to Spanish parents in 1896 and was the first Asian-born player to play for a European club, also remains Barcelona's youngest ever goalscorer after slotting home a hat-trick on his debut against Catalá SC at the fair age of 15. It should be noted that Alcántara's achievements may have been helped by the fact Barcelona played in an exclusively Catalan league at that time, rather than the modern La Liga, but they have never been seriously threatened. He also played for both the Philippines and Spain, but only a handful of times for each since he preferred to prioritise his medical studies ahead of his career. His boots remain on show in the club's museum.Excerpt from Guardian unlimittedPaulino Alcántara Riestrá (born October 7, 1896, Iloilo City, Philippines - died February 13, 1964,Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain) is a former Filipino/Spanish football player and manager who spentmost of his playing career at FC Barcelona. He also played for the Catalan XI, the Philippines, and Spain.Alcántara made his senior debut for FC Barcelona at the age of 15 and remains the youngest player ever toplay or score for the club. He also scored a remarkable 356 goals in 357 matches, making him theclub's all-time leading goalscorer. Alcántara is also the first Filipino and Asian player to play for aEuropean club. After retiring as a player in 1927 atthe age of 31 he became a doctor. On July 5 1927, FC Barcelona played against Spain in a testimonial in hishonour and he later served as a club director between 1931 and 1934. In 1951, Alcántara was one of threeselectors that coached Spain for three games.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Martial Arts

Did you know that one of Bruce Lee's instructor and co actor in his film was a Filipino? Dan "Danny" Inosanto (born July 24, 1936) is a famousFilipino American martial arts instructor fromCalifornia who is perhaps best known for being both ateacher (FMA) and a student of Jeet Kune Do/Wing Chunto late martial artist Bruce Lee.

In addition, did you know that the latest knife fighting and martial arts being shown at Steven Segal selected movies, Bourne Identity, etc. are filipino martials arts fighting techniques coreograph by a Cebu black belter instructor.

Arts
In the late 1800's when most Asian and South East Asian countries were still trying to figure out the meaning of modern art, Filipinos are already making waves and were winning awards in Europe. And decades before Hollywood captured the Roman gladiators on film, Juan Luna from Philippines already captured its moving reality on canvas .

The first time the art world sat up and took notice was when Luna entered his first masterpiece, The Death of Cleopatra, at the 1881 Madrid Exposition of Fine Arts and won second-place silver medal for it. What was more important was that several critics thought his painting far surpassed the Italian and Spanish entries. The Filipino community in Madrid was watching closely the progress of this young painter from then on. Luna was then barely 24, an ex-naval officer and pensionado of the Philippine Colonial Government. He had briefly attended classes at the Academia de San Fernando and was now protege of Alejo Vera, one of the young Filipino so impressed Vera that he took Luna along with him when he went to Rome to undertake some commissions. In Rome , Luna imbibed the classical spirit of Michelangelo and Raphael and worked hard---for eight months---on an immense canvas which measure roughly 4 x 7 meters. The painting, which now hangs in the
hall of Flags, Department of Foreign Affairs, a gift from the Spanish government in 1958, is the Spoliarium. This was to be his entity at the Madrid Exposition of 1884. It was an immediate sensation. It won not only the highest possible honor, the first of three Gold Medals, but also enthusiastic notice in the newspaper columns of Madrid, Barcelona, and Paris. Many of the notices were extravagant raves. Here is a sampling taken at random: "The largest work, the most frightful, the most discussed work of the Exposition." "It is more than a painting, it is a book, a poem." "It is something more than the mere mechanism of genius, of the art composition. . . Luna is a thinker." "The superior qualities of Luna are: as an artist, his ambition to produce great designs; to subdue the multitude with the resources of the highest class in art; serious and rough, not with vile adulations from the pencil nor of color in beautiful lines; as a painter, his energetic style, broad and noble, truthful and on occasion fantastic." "A giant of art, a kind of Hercules, that enters furiously leveling down all the gods with blows from his club, bringing in a new art, full of ideas and forms, carrying a Spartan soul and the brush of Michelangelo. More than sixty years did Michelangelo study! How many years did Luna study? Six! Let us wait." Such adulation is a bit lavish, you say. But his was heady wine to the Filipinos in Europe.

"Nilampaso lang naman ni Juan Luna at ng ibang Pinoy artist ang mga tinuturing na pinakamagagaling sa painting sa Europe at buong mundo nuong panahon nila."

Consensus of opinion among critics, painters, and the press of Madrid and Barcelona was that Luna deserved, besides his gold medal, the rare and more prestigious "Prize of Honor" award, which had previously been conferred on Francisco Padilla, the greatest contemporary Spanish historical painter, in the 1878 Madrid Exposition. It must be remembered that in this same Exposition of 1884, another Filipino, Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, won a silver medal for his entry, Christian Virgins Exposed to the Populace. No wonder the Filipino community in Madrid went wild with joy. The double victory called for a celebration, and a banquet was held at the Café Inglés, to which were invited some European friends. On this occasion, Rizal delivered his speech extolling the two winners to such majestic heights that today it is difficult to criticize the works of Luna and Hidalgo without inviting the censure of conservative admirers of their kind of painting. Rizal interpreted the Spoliarium as a symbol of "our social, moral, and political life: humanity unredeemed, reason and aspiration in open fight with prejudice, fanaticism, and injustice." On another occasion, Lopez-Jaena likewise read political implications in the Spoliarium, as follows: "For me, if there is something grand, something sublime, in the Spoliarium, it is because behind the canvas, behind the painted figures . . . there floats the living image of the Filipino people sighing its misfortune. Because. . . the Philippines is nothing more than a real Spoliarium with all its horrors."
Excerpt from the Article of Eric Tores
Remarkable discovery

Fish in 12-hour waterless sleep
Excerpt from Likha C. Cuevas article

A technology invented by a Filipino for Filipinos will help raise the competitiveness of the country’s millions of fisherfolk in the global market. Boni Comandante, an enterprising agricultural engineer from Dumaguete City, has developed a technology that can make fish hibernate up to 24 hours without water. This halves the cost of exporting live fish from the Philippines and also reduces mortality.

Because there is a high demand for live and high-quality fish in the world market, Filipino fishermen and aquatic farmers can now tap this technology to enable them to transport their products all over the country and overseas.
Comandante developed this technology of making fishes, like the grouper (lapu-lapu), sleep and lie on a “tripod state” (fins and tail lie flat on a surface) without water in hibernation tanks while being transported from fish farms to the place where they are sold or processed.

The technology, operated by Filipinos on departure and arrival at the destination, includes waking the fish up alive and well, and in a better state than those transported in water tanks. Comandante first discovered the possibility of developing—and perfecting—this technology while he was in Palawan. He was trying to achieve sex reversal with groupers, which are hermaphroditic, to make reproduction easier and more numerous.

“I just threw this fish in an ice chest at 11 p.m., thinking that it would be a good viand for the next day. I woke up at 5 a.m. the next day and saw the fish on a tripod position. I saw that it was still alive and counted that it had been six hours. My eyes suddenly became dollar signs,” he said.

‘Buhi’ technology Recognizing the potential marketability of this discovery, he tried to pursue its development through the support of friends and investors. Comandante is now mum about how this technique was done because many foreign entrepreneurs are interested in acquiring what he calls now the “Buhi” technology. He shelved the project for 14 years and pursued his Master’s in coastal management at Siliman University and used his discovery for his graduate thesis. At that time Coman­dante was engaged in a direct marketing business. When his business slackened and he saw the viability of his study, Comandante decided to go back and work on perfecting his technology. In 2004 he won a Department of Trade Industry-sponsored competition and used the prize money as capital for his fish marketing company.

A Chinese Filipino investor supported his business and started marketing his technology in trade fairs, where Comandante attracted an Australian investor who injected money for global patent, which requires at least US$200,000.

Buhi International Group, owned by a majority of Filipinos including Comandante, will soon transport temperate fishes like salmon (which can hibernate for six hours) from Australia to Japan. However, Comandante gave the assurance that this business venture would not be in direct competition with Philippine products.

Purely organic
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture has certified that this technology uses purely organic materials and that the products are safe for human consumption. Comandante said the Buhi technology can reduce the cost of transporting live fishes by 75 percent since it eliminates the need for water. Ordinarily and without use of his technology, for every kilo of fish, about 3 kilos of water is needed. The need for ice is also minimized and this also brings down the cost. The Buhi technology also prevents the rigor mortis curling of fish.

According to historical writings in Spain libraries as per relayed, unexpectedly, Spanish colonizers saw merchants and communities with modern lifestyle then when they arive Philippines (espcailly in Luzon/Manila area). Trade is on-going already with the Chinese and Indians (Hindus). After EDSA revolution of 1996, Philippine historians adminittedly distorted historical writings both by colonizers and the dictator for control. But history repeat itself as what the Jose Rizal novel's title ... Noli Me Tangere (Touch me not). Philippines may not have the advance resources and always been maligned. But history repeats itself that has both the minds and heart to tople even super power conquerors and the dictators.

OFW

MARIA LUISA TAYCO : Charity Group Founder’s Woes Hobble OFW Philanthropy - TAYCO’S preference for charity work began eight years ago during her sixth year as a domestic worker in Singapore. She said she formed Pinokyos in 1999 “to save Filipino children back home from lack of support so that they avoid lying and doing bad things”. She said this approach is such because many mothers like her are working abroad and cannot directly take care of their children. The group got acclaim when Tayco won the Good Samaritan award from the Rotary Club of Singapore in 2002. The PhP4-million cash prize that went with the award she donated entirely to Pinokyos. (OFW Journalism)

MARLENE DELA PENA – Reign as the First Filipina Superstar in Japan, she is the Pilita Corales of Japan too. (Phil Star/Newsflash.org)

Melitza Anne Chan, a 27-year-old nurse from Manduriao, Iloilo, works as assistant to the chief of the Dental Department of the Marabi Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Chan was recently commended for honesty after reporting to her bank some 10 million Saudi riyals (around $2.6 million or more than P150 million) erroneously credited to her own account. Chan had first discovered the 10 million Saudi riyals in her account while applying for a visa to the United Kingdom. (Manila Times)

MIG AYESA - Filipino-Australian rock star , launches in the New Year his debut international album. Known in rock circles as MiG, attained stardom when the joined the worldwide reality television program “Rock Star: INXS” last year. He wound up making the final three and earned a lifetime of memories as well as a record deal with Universal Music.

MICHAEL ABU BAKAR : Acivil engineer who worked in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for 27 years, came home to build homes for the homeless in conflict-stricken Sulu. While most people would agree that addressing the issue of homelessness in Sulu is absurd, Abubakar thought otherwise. (OFW BAlita)

MONIQUE LHUILLIER : Receives the Presidential Medal of Merit for being the Filipino talent in the world of fashion design in the US — particularly in Hollywood. Lhuillier has dressed famous Hollywood stars, including Oscar best actress winners Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Connelly. (Phil star / Newsflash.org)

MYLEENE KLASS : Fil-Brit Model Hosts New CNN Program - Myleene Angela Klass is a former member of the UK pop group Hear'Say. Born in Gorleston, Norfolk on April 6, 1978 to a Filipino mother and an Austrian father, Klass comes from six generations of classical musicians, thus, the decorated career from doing back up vocals for K.D. Lang, Cliff Richard and Robbie Williams to West End's "Miss Saigon" and the 2001 the ITV1 show "Popstars," . (Goodnews Pilipinas)

NICOLE SCHERZINGER: Pussycat Dolls’ Lead Vocalist Singer - Nicole Elikolani Prescovia Scherzinger, a Pinay who used the stage name Nicole Kea when she joined an open audition for Pussycat Dolls, was born on June 29, 1978. Fondly called Cola (same nickname as Zanjoe Marudo’s ex?) by her chums, she grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, where her family relocated when she was seven. According to her official biography, Nicole began her life as a performer in Louisville, attending the Youth Performing Arts School at duPont Manual High School and performing with Actors Theater of Louisville. She majored in Theater Arts at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio (state of Sam Milby), but put her studies on hold in 1999 to be a back-up vocalist for the rock band Days of the New. (Phil Star/Newsflash.org)

NORMA MACALINDONG from Batangas worked in Rome, Italy as a parttime domestic helper cleaning several houses in a day. She finally ventured into selling Filipino food and products in Rome, which proved to be successful. (OFW Balita)

Norma Rieza Benzon from Houston, Texas is the Executive Director of the YWCA in Houston. When Hurrican Katrina struck nearby New Orleans, about 300 Filipino families fled to Houston with little more than the clothes on their backs, losing all their prized possessions. The Fil-Am community, under Norma's leadership, organized the Filipino Disaster Relief Task Force. For the Katrina victims, Non-stop Norma (as she is fondly called) organized accommodations and housing, food, child-care and education for the children, employment referrals and FEMA application assistance. (Rodel E. Rodis / Rodel50@aol.com)
:: Blind Filipino-American lawyer Olegario Cantos VII, as Most Outstanding Overseas Filipino who managed to become a top official in the White House despite his disability. (Phil Star/Newsflash.org)

PETERSON JASON PASCUAL: Pinoy Editor of Oprah Magazine - Peterson Jason Pascual, simply PJ to family, friends and associates works as an editor of O, The Oprah Magazine owned by billionaire, philanthropist and award-winning talk show host Oprah Winfrey. He considers himself amazingly blessed to have this opportunity to get hired as accessories assistant for the lifestyle and fashion magazine that has become so popular worldwide. (Goodnews Pilipinas)

DR. PRIMO ANDRESS AND WIFE: PINOY DOCTORS IN U.S. RETURN TO REBUILD MOTHERLAND - Dr. Primo Andres and his wife Sylvia, doctors Dionisio and Zita Yorro and Jose and Stella Evangelista have spent half of their lives serving the United States as top physicians. Now, they have deemed it is time to give back and serve their native land by helping Gawad Kalinga (GK).Being the most successful and richest doctors in the US, they have been actively involved in various charitable organizations, but none has had as much impact on them as the GK project. These doctors believe that giving their wealth to GK is not just doling out donations. For them, getting involved in the GK project is doing their share of the work of nation-building. The GK project is the greatest cause of their lifetime. (Phil Star/Newsflash.org)

TEDY LACAP BRUSHI : Tedy Lacap Bruschi (born June 9, 1973 in San Francisco, California) is an American football player. He has been an inside linebacker for the NFL's New England Patriots since 1996. He is of Filipino and Italian descent. Off the field, Tedy Bruschi is an accomplished saxophonist and has played with the Boston Pops. Tedy resides in North Attleboro, MA with his wife, Heidi, and his three sons Tedy Jr., Rex and Dante. (Wow Philippines Yahoo Group)

PRUDENCIO "Dengcoy" MIEL JR. - An from Singapore's Straits Times won an excellence award for editorial cartooning in the recent Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) awards, Asia's premier publishing competition. Miel was editorial cartoonist of the Philippine Star before migrating to Singapore more than a decade ago. He now has a daily local comic strip in The STAR titled "MacBayan," whose lead character Pen Ramas is a virtual alter ego of Miel as a Filipino worker at large in the global setting. (Goodnews Pilipinas)
:: RODOLFO ASER TOR : EXPERIENCED FILIPINO BECOMES POLICE COMMISSIONER OF UN MISSION IN TIMOR-LESTE - The United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) announced that a senior police adviser from the Philippines has been appointed as the Mission’s new Police Commissioner. (UN)

SAL MALAKI : Filipino Tenor stars in L-A Opera - Filipino tenor, Sal Malaki, is one of Los Angeles Opera's most seasoned artists. Now on his 12th consecutive season with one of America's most prestigious Opera houses, he has appeared in over 60 opera productions with the company including distinguishing roles in the company's most recent production of La Traviata, Madama Butterfly, Der Rosenkavalier, La Rondine, and Fantastic Mr. Fox. (goodnews Pilipinas)

RAFAEL T. DAVID - Saudi Based OFW Advocate - ENGR. Rafael T. David, former chair of the Filipino Community in Yanbu (FILCOYAN) in the western region of Saudi Arabia, joined Our Creator last April 24. He was 58. Among advocates of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Kingdom, David is renowned to be helping countless numbers of distressed OFWs, many of them domestic workers. David is also a recipient of the Bayaning Pilipino Awards given by ABS-CBN Channel 2 and the UGAT Foundation. (OFW Journalism Consortium)

SOS (SOCIETY OF SEVEN) : Inducted into Las Vegas Walk of Stars - The Society of Seven whose career started and flourished in Honolulu is known for its lavish productions and unique blend of high energy entertainment- combining singing, dancing, comedy, broadway musical skits and celebrity impersonations in a one-of-a kind performance. The powerhouse group which was originally an all-Filipino group has through the years evolved and now includes in its ranks two Americans of Japanese and Chinese descent. The other current members are Bert Sagum, and SOS original with Ruivivar, Hoku Low, who has been with the group for almost 30 years, Vince Mendoza, Roy Guerzo, Wayne Wakai and newcomer Vince Mendoza and March Escueta. When performing at the Flamingo, SOS now is joined by two-time Philippine Entertainer of the Year, Lani Misalucha, who adds a sexy vibe to the group with her sultry voice and natural stage presence. (Goodnews Pilipinas)

Virgina Calderon Alarcon from Lessburg, Virginia founded the Feed the Hungry Foundation in 1993 together with her husband, Pablito, after they encountered a young boy begging for food in Los Banos, Laguna. The boy told them over lunch that he had not eaten for more than a day. That one incident spurred Virginia, a retired employee of the International Monetary Fund, to organize her foundation and to recruit Filipino volunteers in the U.S. to distribute food, toys, medicine, school supplies and toiletries to those in need in provinces throughout the Philippines. She has raised over $1-M towards this massive humanitarian effort. (Rodel E. Rodis / Rodel50@aol.com)

Zenaida Batillano - Bagong Bayani Outstanding Employees based in Kuwait, a recipient of the OFA Presidential Citation for her courage and leadership during the Iraqi conflict in 2003. Batillano is also the founder of an organization that collects donations for disaster victims. She is also the Awardee for Blas F. Ople Award para sa Natatanging Bagong Bayani. (Manila Times)

Filipino Achievers in USA and Canada

Pacita Abad: New York's World Class Artist
Daniel D'Umuk Aguila: Ace Cartoonist-Editor
Onofre George and Estrellita Aguinaldo: Ambassadors of Filipino Culture
Reynaldo G. Alejandro: Multi-Dimensional Artist
Genara Banzon: Nature Artist in the U.S.
Maniya Barredo: Atlanta and the Philippines' First Prima Ballerina
René Dalandan: Concert Pianist with a Mission
Evelyn Mandac: World-Class Lyric Soprano
José Romero: International Acrylic-Impressionistic Artist
Lea Salonga: Toast of the World
Larry Asera: Noted Engineer, Entrepreneur & Public Servant
Orlino C. Baldonado, Ph.D.: Top Scientist-Entrepreneur
Veltisezar B. Bautista: Pioneering Author-Publisher
Marcial A. & Flor Carbonell: NY Insurance Leaders
Lilia Calderon Clemente: Smart Global Money Manager
Zen and Wil Coronado: Cosmetics Magnates
Fritz Friedman: Top Hollywood Executive
Mercedes Del Rosario Huang: Outstanding Entrepreneur
Rupert Jacinto: Photographer of the Rich and Famous
Loida Nicolas Lewis: Head of $1.8-B Business Empire
Chapter 21Fernando M. Mendez: NY Magazine Publisher
Josie Cruz Natori: International Fashion Empress
Mark V. Pangilinan: Guam Tycoon-Publisher
Eduardo U. Tioseco: Prominent Texas Banker
Emelio Y. Uy: Filipino 'Godfather' in Guam
Mona Lisa Yuchengco: Filipinas Magazine Publisher
Natividad G. Barranda, Ph.D.: Distinguished Poet-Educator
Eliodoro G. Robles, Ph.D.: Management Consultant
S. Binavince: Outstanding Canadian Lawyer
Ronald E. Quidachay: California Municipal Judge
Mel Red Recana: First Filipino Judge in the Western Hemisphere
Cecilia Manguerra Brainard: Prizewinning Writer in the U.S.
Ninotchka Rosca: Award-Winning Novelist
Leo B. Cunanan: Journalist-Civic Leader in Canada
Tita Dioso Gillespie: Newsweek General Editor
Gil B. Abelita, M.D.: Psychiatrist-Educator
Sariel G. G. Ablaza, M.D.: Prominent Thoracic Surgeon
Domingo T. Alvear, M.D.: Superb Pediatric Surgeon
Manuel B. Datiles III, M.D.: Noted Ophthalmologist
Rolando A. De Castro, D.D.M.: Famous Dental Professor-Artist
Antonio T. Donato, M.D.: Well-Known Laser Surgeon
José Evangelista, M.D.: Michigan Hall of Famer & Presidential Awardee
Stella Evangelista, M.D.: Michigan Hall of Famer & State Board Member
Jorge M. Garcia, M.D.: World-Class Heart Surgeon
Enrique M. Ostrea, Jr., M.D.: Famed Inventor-Researcher
Edgar C. Sideco, M.D.: Rehabilitation Medicine Specialist
Neonilo A. Tejano, M.D.: 'Flying Doctor' of Kansas
Ben Cayetano: First Filipino U.S. Governor
Juliet Abad Cuenco: Social Activist in Canada
Marilyn Ranada Donato, R.D.: Social Activist-Dietitian
Ernesto Mercader Espaldon, M.D.: Doctor with a Heart of Gold
Maria Luisa Mabilangan Haley: Top Filipino at the White House
Gene Canque Liddell: First U.S. Filipino Woman Mayor
Eduardo G. Manuel: CA Ex-City Mayor
Irene Natividad: Famed Political Activist
Gloria A. Ochoa: Politician with a Dream
Rey D. Pagtakhan, M.D.: Canadian Parliament Member
David M. Valderrama: Political Trailblazer in the U.S.
Velma Veloria: First Filipino Solon in Washington State
Hawaii, WV Representatives & Senators: Alcon, Amores, Bunda, etc.
Domy C. Adriano: Soil Expert-Writer
José B. Cruz, Jr.: Eminent Engineer-Professor
Manuel M. Garcia, Ph.D.: Research Scientist
Leonardo M. Gasendo: Engineer-Inventor
Angelita Albano Castro Kelly: NASA Operations Manager
Miguel A. Ruelan, Ph.D.: Scientist-Educator
Camilo M. Tabalba: Outstanding Engineer

There's more!