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Sounds of Ex Marine charged Future U.S. Navy Roy Anthony Shabla with hacking pilot See Page 2 See Page 3 See Page 4 Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014 Vol. 12 No. 40 8301 E. Florence Ave., Suite 100, Downey, CA 90240 SHARED STORIES: THE TIES THAT BIND Benefit concert Downey’s Monday My childhood at St. Pius X DOWNEY – St. Pius X – St. Patty Rodriguez: Matthias Academy is hosting a Shirley Mark was a long-time member of the Memoirs class and active in the benefit concert this Monday as Downey community before she passed away last September at age ninety-three. it raises money to reconstruct Shirley had a zest for life even though her parents divorced when she was very a village in a section of the young and life presented many challenges. This story about her upbringing in rising entrepreneur Philippines devastated by a the multi-ethnic communities of New York, appeared in a published collection. typhoon last year. Shared Stories is a weekly column featuring articles by participants in a writing DJ Roy Samson and DJ VREAL class at the Norwalk Senior Center. Bonnie Mansell is the instructor for this free • Patty Rodriguez, producer will begin spinning music at 3 class offered through the Cerritos College Adult Education Program. Curated by of “On-Air with Ryan Seacrest,” Carol Kearns p.m., followed by the live concert starts Mala jewelry line. at 5. Scheduled to perform live are Paul J. Kim, Resonate, Jacob and By Shirley Mark Matthew Band. When I was four years old, I was sent to an orphan asylum, as it By Christian Brown Festivities also include a was called in those times. I remember the line of children waiting Staff Writer tailgate party with food trucks and to sit on benches at the long wooden tables like in “Oliver Twist.” a photo booth. Apparently it wasn’t too bad because I don’t remember anything else Admission to the event is about it. DOWNEY − Growing up, Patty $10, with all proceeds benefiting From there I went to live with my aunt’s in-laws. They spoke Rodriguez wasn’t quite sure what Human Nature USA, which is Russian, which I picked up quickly and spoke the language fluently she wanted to do, but she always partnering with St. Pius X to before I was five. The family was extremely musical: one daughter knew she wanted her voice to be build a 100-home village in the was a concert violinist like her father; the other a talented pianist. The heard. Philippines. pianist, whose name was Tamara, started my piano lessons. “Knowledge is my hobby -- I “It is our privilege to partner The mother of the family was a wonder whom I could not love learning new things,” she said. with Human Nature USA to help appreciate at my tender age. Aunt Sonia, as I called her, was a doctor. “I wanted to do something fun rebuild and transform the lives of That doesn’t seem so great in this era, but in the 1890’s and early where I worked behind the scenes those affected by the devastation 1900’s for a woman to become a doctor was a phenomenon – and to deliver news to people.” in the Philippines,” said Erick especially in those days in Russia, a Jewish female. Now I am amazed Today, Rodriguez reaches Rubalcava, principal at St. Pius X and wish I could have had the details on how she did it. millions of Angelenos every – St. Matthias Academy. “Through Sometime later, when they couldn’t take care of me, there was morning as the senior producer this benefit concert we will another change. I went into a school for a while. I don’t remember of KIIS FM’s “On-Air with Ryan witness and experience the power what kind of school or how my mother could have afforded it unless Seacrest,” but the Lynwood native of the gospel message to be people it was some kind of charity school. -- and recent Downey transplant “I’m very proud of being Mexican- In fact, on the cover of Rolling of hope as we share the love of I do remember coloring with other children. I needed a pink -- is hopeful her new jewelry line American, being able to shift Stone last October, Cyrus is wearing Christ with our Filipino brothers crayon and asked the child across the table if I could have it. He said Mala will inspire millions of young between two cultures, between an “818” area code necklace from and sisters through our support, no. I, who had never asserted herself in her entire five years, insisted. women to be proud of where they English and Spanish. It’s two the Mala jewelry line. love and prayers...I hope you can The boy protested, called the teacher, and I was put in a closet. I have come from. worlds, but it feels like one.” “Everyone dreams of being join us.” never forgotten the fear and terror. “If someone would have told Rodriguez said it was those on the cover of Rolling Stone -- I The concert and festival is from In New York the houses were so close to each other, neighbors me last June that I’d be starting a feelings of culture, roots, pride and didn’t think it would happen this 3-7 p.m. on the school campus, could share conversations, radio programs, even food, which could jewelry line, I would have laughed heritage that sparked the idea for way,” Rodriguez said with a laugh. located at 7851 Gardendale St. in be put in a package and sent across on the clothesline. in their face,” said Rodriguez, who her jewelry line of gold and silver “I feel very blessed and humbled, I Downey. A Spanish family moved in across from us. Their windows were started as an intern at KIIS FM necklaces, Mala. feel like I’m living in a dream.” A live web stream of the almost next to ours. Their family name was Alegria. The father was almost 14 years ago. “But I decided “Mala means ‘bad’ in Spanish, Since launching her line, event will be transmitted to the from Peru, the mother from Barcelona. I don’t remember the names to throw the ball and see where it but it also means ‘tough’ or Rodriguez now has more than ‘proud,’” she said. “It’s targeted to 10,700 followers and counting Philippines. of the parents – the boy Alberto was a year older than I; his sister, l an d s .” women. I want them to be proud of on the popular social network Conchita, was a year younger. As senior producer of “On- where they come from. Lynwood, Instagram. Although the Mala The family was wonderful to me. The father belonged to a Air,” Rodriguez says her task is very simple: come up with creative Compton, Downey, South Gate jewelry, which can be viewed on Peruvian Club that held dances every month. I guess on a Saturday ideas. -- the media often shows them in malabypattyrodriguez.com, has night. I don’t recall how it came about – perhaps my mother had dates Community “It sounds easy, but it’s hard. a negative way, but there are good, garnered attention, Rodriguez on those nights – but it seems like I was always going to the Peruvian Ryan [Seacrest] is just a hard hardworking people in these cities.” continues to encourage women to Club events. Development worker and a professional -- he Rodriguez continued: “We embrace their roots and purchase With my green eyes and long blonde hair, you can imagine what creates magic,” she said. “I work shouldn’t be embarrassed so I a necklace that truly reflects their a contrast I was to most of the people there. They loved me – when forum Jan. 29 with a team putting together the bottled up all those feelings into heritage. they discovered I could play piano, I entertained by playing tangos show every morning...a show one tiny thing, a necklace that “There was a girl who didn’t DOWNEY – The public is and other Spanish songs, picking them out by ear. I learned the words everyone can relate to. You have to represents our colorful culture.” want to order a Compton necklace invited to attend a forum to to “Amapola” and other Spanish classics and have never forgotten. think in and outside the box.” Since their launch last because she didn’t want people to discuss development processes I fell in love with the language, the music, the people, the culture. Rodriguez, who studied radio September, Rodriguez’s flashythink she was ghetto, but good and procedures within the There were a lot of hard knocks in my childhood and worse knocks as and journalism at Cerritos College, necklaces, which depict city things come out of Compton,” Community Development I got older, but I am grateful that I had the opportunity to meet and believes the job comes naturally to names, area codes and staple Latin Rodriguez said. “I told her, ‘you Department on Wednesday, Jan. associate with different people during my formative years. Some were her because she understands the American foods, have already need to be proud of who you are 29, from 6-8 p.m. at the Columbia good, some not so good, but none were labeled according to culture, community she grew up in. struck a chord among young and where you come from.’ She Memorial Space Center. race, or religion. “I came from this side of town women in Hollywood, including changed her mind -- and got a The city is seeking feedback -- we’re colorful, fun, community- Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, and Kobe Compton necklace.” from residents, businesses oriented people,” Rodriguez said.

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