April 15, 2013 1 Vol. XXII, No. 11 Online: www. manilamail.us April 15, 2013 Bulosan’s poem theme of Asian Heritage Month For the 2013 Asian Ameri- highlight the poem by acclaimed can dream. Like Bulosan’s poem, For all the free. can and Pacifi c Islander (AAPI) Filipino American writer Carlos the AAPI community is aspira- I want the wide American earth Heritage Month in May, the Bulosan. tional, unwavering in its belief for my people. White House Initiative on Asian This year’s AAPI Heritage in the promise of America for all. I want my beautiful land. Americans and Pacifi c Island- Month celebrates the contribu- As Bulosan so eloquently writes: I want it with my rippling ers announced that the theme of tions of millions of AAPIs to the strength and tenderness this year’s observance is “I Want American story and reminds Before the brave, before the Of love and light and truth the Wide American Earth.” The us of the unique and emerging proud builders and workers, For all the free. Smithsonian’s Asian Pacifi c challenges facing AAPIs as they I say I want the wide American Carlos Bulosan. American Center selected it to continue to embrace the Ameri- earth Continued on page 23 WASHINGTON D.C. - Hundreds of Filipino and Asian Americans joined the massive demonstration in front of Capitol Hill April 10 to demand reten- tion of family-based visas and Foreign Sec. Albert del Rosario quick passage of an immigration reform bill. Manila hits Asian and Filipino Ameri- cans joined the demonstration to urge the retention of the family- China anew based visas in the bill that is now MANILA - Foreign Secre- being deliberated in Congress. tary Albert del Rosario used the TV stations estimated the launching of the 12-day Balika- predominantly Hispanic crowd tan manoeuvres to accuse China at more than 70,000. Simultane- of destabilising the region with ous demonstrations have been aggressive and illegal actions in held in California, New York, the South China Sea. Georgia and other cities. He said China’s “excessive FilAms proudly carry the Philippine fl ag at the rally (Photo by M.C. Branigin). Continued on page 22 Continued on page 23 PH duns US $1.4-M Presidential hug for Jessica OAVs start for damages to reefs mid-term polls MANILA - The Philippines Angelique Songco. MANILA - The Department will ask the United States to pay Two weeks after the salvage of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has P58 million ($1.4 million) in com- of the US ship, a Chinese fi sh- urged more than 988,384 regis- pensation for damage caused by ing vessel ran aground also at tered Filipino voters overseas a US minesweeper to the Tub- the World Heritage Site-listed to exercise their right and par- bataha Reef, the manager of the Tubbataha Reef. The 12 Chinese ticipate in the overseas absentee protected reef said. fi shermen, including what Phil- voting (OAV) for the mid-term The amount is based on ippine navy offi cials said were Philippine elections that started studies by Philippine agen- Chinese intelligence offi cers, Saturday April 13 and ends May cies, including the coast guard, were arrested. They reportedly 13, 2013. that found the USS Guardian offered $2500 to the arresting They will be joining some 20 damaged at least 2,345 square offi cers to release them. President Obama gives Filam singer Jessica Sanchez a hug after she sang million voters in the Philippines meters (25,240 square feet) of the Philippine Secretary of For- the US national anthem opening the White House Easter Egg Roll April. who will cast their ballots on reef, said park superintendent Continued on page 22 2. Looking on are First Lady Michelle, children and others. Continued on page 23 Kerry backs Pinay transgender Teach for WSF in Palawan Viloria loses arbitration P4 fi ghts P6 Philippines P8 P10 title P12 22 April 15, 2013 USMPH presses drive for Medicare portability The Washington D.C.-based by the Commission on Filipinos burse, to guarantee payments retired Americans living over- lower-cost healthcare options US Medicare Philippines advo- Overseas in Manila late in Febru- and to partner with Philippine seas and the millions more who abroad,” added Downs. cates are continuing to push for ary, 2013. hospitals for eligible Medicare travel extensively abroad must But the US Congress will the passage of a law by the US “Our goal is to promote patients visiting there.” either go without care until they have to fi rst amend the Medi- Congress to allow Americans and expand the current policy of One of the topics during the return to the United States or pay care law to allow Americans to Diaspora summit was Medicare out-of-pocket for the care they use their benefi ts in case they get portability -- a favorite topic need,” wrote Matthew J. Downs, sick abroad where medical care among Americans and Filipino founder and president of the is cheaper. While the system will Americans who plan and hope Center for Medicare Portability, save money, the main stumbling to retire in the Philippines. based in Washington, D.C. block is how to manage medical Currently, Medicare prohib- “We see this as a fundamen- reimbursements. its coverage for Americans resid- tally unfair situation for retired ing, retiring or traveling outside Americans who have paid into Previous cases of fraud of the US. And the cost per ben- Medicare their entire working allegedly committed by doctors efi ciary over the years has risen lives. This restriction on Medi- in claiming reimbursements for --signifi cantly doubling, from care coverage is also unfair to medical care for American war an average of $6,000 in 2005 to American taxpayers because it veterans living in the Philippines $12,000 per benefi ciary in 2010. ignores the potentially huge cost have cast some doubts about the “The nearly half-million savings to Medicare offered by system. US Medicare Philippines offi cers meet with Manila hospital offi cials. Among those in photo are Daisy Tucay, Dr. Bambi Lamoglia, Rodel Rodis and Eric Lachica. and Filipino American retiring in temporary ‘emergency/urgent the Philippines to avail of their care’ coverage in the Philippines Medicare benefi ts. under the Medicare Advantage These advocates have also or Part C plans of major US expanded their base in Manila health insurance companies,” by renewing partnerships and said Eric Lachica, organizer and alliances with Philippine health incorporator of US Medicare PH. offi cials and local accredited He said the group’s plan is hospitals when they attended to “encourage US health insur- the Diaspora summit sponsored ance companies to directly reim- April 15, 2013 3 Pinoy convicted for fl eecing elderly of $10-M FLORIDA - Decades ago, a she could not recall if she had a an’s mental condition to their with exploiting the elderly wom- Richard Sherman, a prosecutor savvy woman bought stock in a hysterectomy, and she did not attorney when she signed the an’s now-deceased sister, the in offi ce’s Elderly Exploitation little company called Apple. That Attorney’s Offi ce said. Unit. move, plus some skillful margin “Elderly abuse is a serious “We will continue to aggres- trading, made her a millionaire. problem in this community and sively prosecute elderly exploita- Now, age 94 and suffering it will become even more seri- tion in our community to protect severe dementia, she has noth- ous as the population ages,” said our seniors.” ing ‘duped’, say authorities, by a pair of South Florida con artists into signing over her $10 mil- lion estate and disinheriting her family. Cynthia Franke and Tyrone Javellana, of Hollywood, were convicted March 26 of fi nancial exploitation of an elderly person, a fi rst-degree felony that could result in up to 30 years in prison. Sentencing is set for April 10. The defendants, fully aware of her mental condition, knew that the victim lacked the ability Cynthia Franke and Tyrone Javellana to consent at the time she signed the ocuments, said Ron Ishoy, a know where her sons lived.” amendment that would leave spokesperson for the State Attor- Franke and Javellana, a everything to them” rather ney’s Offi ce of Broward County. stockbroker and fi nancial plan- than the victim’s family” Ishoy “The victim thought it was ner, explained. 1990, did not remember her respectively, had a business Adult Protective Services mom’s name, could not draw and personal relationship with launched an investigation after the face of a clock, could not tell the victim that spanned 30 years. someone submitted an anony- an APS (Adult Protective Ser- vices) investigator what she had “However, the victim never mous tip to the group’s hotline. for breakfast, lunch or dinner,” gave the defendants anything “Within 24 hours of a com- Ishoy told the Daily News. until she began showing signs of plaint, APS sends out an inves- “She could not name all of dementia,” said Ishoy. tigator to follow up,” Ishoy her siblings, she did not know Neither Franke nor Javel- explained. the value of a dime or a nickel, lana disclosed the elderly wom- Javellana is also charged 44 April 15, 2013 Kerry supports Manila’s decision on UN arbitration WASHINGTON D.C. - US to settle the disputes peacefully provocation is an important will continue to cooperate in the eign Affairs Assistant Secretary Secretary of State John Kerry and in accordance with the rule part of this cooperation. In this areas of humanitarian assistance Carlos Sorreta, Deputy Chief says the Philippines’ decision to of law.” context, we discussed our joint and disaster relief,” the Secretary of Mission Maria Austria, and elevate the confl icting claims in Del Rosario said he also efforts to build the capacity of emphasized.