II. BREAKING NEWS: Bush assures PGMA to support two bills for Filipino vets
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I. Sayaw ng Silangan
Hey everyone! Angelica here. Hope that all your summers are going well. But do you have a sudden craving to go fishing? Or perhaps you dare to balance candles or glasses of water? Looking for a fun time throwing people onto bangkos?
Guess what? Sayaw ng Silangan, the dance troupe under Samahang Pilipino that performs traditional folk dances, is in need of dancers, teachers, and other things too! So if you're taking summer session C or in the LA area, this may be for you!
For those who have experience in certain dances, we'd like for you to consider helping us teach dances; if you don't feel comfortable teaching, it's ok! cause we're looking for dancers, too. Doesn't matter if you have experience, or are just looking for a good time; this is a great opportunity =).
Also, for those in the rural suite in PCN...Don't know what to do with your barney colored costumes? We have a solution! Contact either me or Sean Canullas (info below) if you are interested.
So here's the gist:
*WANTED: Sayaw ng Silangan TEACHERS, DANCERS, COSTUMES
*WHO TO CONTACT?:
Angelica Bato
angelica.bato@gmail.com
or facebook me!
Sean Canullas
sean.canullas@gmail.com
Thanks!
PS from Sean: Our first meeting and practice will be next Wednesday, Sept 12th from 4-5:30 pm at Westwood Plaza's Stage. Please contact me beforehand so I know to expect you. Thanks and see you there!
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II. BREAKING NEWS: Bush assures PGMA to support two bills for Filipino vets
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and United States President George W. Bush had a brief meeting on Saturday, first day of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in Sydney, Australia.
Presidential Spokesman and Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, in an email, said the two leaders had a chat for about five to seven minutes and talked about two US bills that would benefit some 18,500 surviving Filipino World War II veterans -- around 6,000 living in the United States and around 12,000 in the Philippines.
He said the US President has promised President Arroyo to sign The Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007 (HR 70), which was sponsored by Chairman of House Veterans' Affairs Committee Rep. Bob Filner.
HR 70 is a stand-alone bill specifically intended to cover benefits for Filipino veterans.
Another bill, The Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 (S-1315), which was introduced by Chairman of Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Senator Daniel Akaka, is an omnibus veterans' bill covering benefits for all US veterans.
It is hoped that once the final version of the veterans' bill is sent to President Bush, he will sign it into law immediately, said Bunye.
He stressed this issue is very important for the Philippines and the Filipino people, "as it will finally mean the end of a decades-long struggle for Filipino veterans to be recognized for their meaningful contributions to the campaign for democracy during the Second World War."
"Through the Filipinos' valour and courage -- fighting side by side with American soldiers -- the ramparts of freedom were strengthened in Asia," he added.
Bunye said the passing into law of these two bills in the US Congress "will be a profound gesture reflective of the deep and abiding relations between the Philippines and the United States and the Filipino and American peoples' shared commitment to uphold the values of freedom, democracy and justice for all." - PNA
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Arroyo asks Bush to support Pinoy veterans bills
President Arroyo has urged US President George W. Bush to immediately sign into law two bills that will benefit Filipino veterans once they are passed by the US Congress, Malacanang announced Saturday.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the two leaders discussed the bills - the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007 and the Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 - at the sidelines of the 15th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Sydney, Australia.
Presidents Bush and Arroyo talked for a few minutes before the meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council began at the Sydney Opera House.
Bunye quoted Mrs. Arroyo as saying to Bush: "Passed into law, this will be a profound gesture reflective of the deep and abiding relations between the Philippines and the United States and the Filipino and American peoples' shared commitment to uphold the values of democracy and justice for all."
The presidential spokesman said Mrs. Arroyo also stressed the importance of the passage of the bills to the Filipinos, adding that signing them into law will end the decade-long struggle of Filipino veterans to be recognized for their contributions during World War II, according to Bunye.
The Filipino Veterans Equity Act, which was sponsored by Rep. Bob Filner, chairman of US House veterans affairs committee, is a stand-alone bill specifically intended to cover benefits for Filipino veterans.
As a stand-alone bill, the House version provides more benefits specifically for Filipino veterans, Bunye added.
The Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007, on the other hand, was introduced by Sen. Daniel Akaka, chairman of the US Senate veterans affairs committee. The measure is an omnibus veterans' bill covering benefits for all US veterans.
The press secretary said Akaka put to a committee vote his bill after he realized that "the Senate version of a stand-alone measure for Filipinos veterans would not have enough support in the Senate."
Bunye said about 18,500 Filipino veterans will be benefited if the bills are passed into law. About 6,000 Filipino veterans are now living in the US while 12,000 of them are in the Philippines.
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