Philippine Forum

JOIN THE FILIPINO IMMIGRANT/WORKER COMMUNITY

@ UPCOMING EVENTS TO BUILD UP TO MAY DAY

——-Monday April 23, 2012——-

9:00AM-on

Rally @ the Philippine Consulate to Demand Justice for the Florida 15

Sponsored by the Florida 15, NAFCON, and BAYAN-USA

In front of the Philippine Consulate of New York

5th Avenue between 45th and 46th Streets

6:00PM-8:00PM

May Day Open Organizing Meeting

Sponsored by the May 1st Coalition, Occupy Wall Street, labor unions, and immigrant rights groups

@ the Auditorium of 1199

310 West 43rd Street, bet 8th and 9th Aves., Manhattan

——-Wednesday, April 25, 2012——-

6:00PM-9:00PM

STOP: A Community Forum on the Case of the “Florida 15″ Workers

Sponsored by Anakbayan New Jersey

@ Pope Lecture Hall, St. Peter’s College

115 Glenwood Avenue, Jersey City, NJ

——-Saturday, April 28, 2012——-
2:00PM-4:00PM

Queens March for Workers and Immigrants Rights

Sponsored by the International Migrants Alliance (IMA)

Start at 69th Street and Roosevelt Avenue,

March to 83rd Street/Roosevelt Ave

4:00PM-on

Filipino Contingent Poster-making PARTY!

SPONSORED BY Anakbayan New York

@ the Bayanihan Filipino Community Center

40-21 69th Street, Woodside NY 11377

9:00pm-on

The May 1st Coalition May Day Fundraiser Party!

@ the International Action Center

55 West 17th Street, Between 5th and 6th Avenues, Manhattan

——-Monday, April 30, 2012——-

6:00pm-on

General May Day Poster-making Party!

SPONSORED BY MAY 1ST COALITION, LABOR UNIONS, IMMIGRANT RIGHTS GROUPS, OWS

@ Union Square

——-THE BIG DAY!!! Tuesday, May 1, 2012——-

12:00-4:00pm

May 1st Coalition Rally for Workers and Immigrants Rights

@ Union Square, south side

Look for our flags and posters!!!

WEAR RED

4:00-5:30pm

United Rally with May 1st Coalition, labor unions, immigrant rights groups, & OWS

@ Union Square

CHECK OUT MAYDAYSOLIDARITY2012.ORG FOR MORE INFO

5:30pm-on

United March from Union Square to Wall Street

Join the Philippine Forum’s members past and present as we celebrate 15 years of serving the Filipino and immigrant communities with dinner, dancing, performances and a fashion show!

Purchase tickets online now at http://philippineforum.org/bayanihan-gala/

Proceeds of this gala will benefit the Philippine Forum/Bayanihan Community Center in Woodside.

$100 – Ticket / $90 – Multiple tickets

For tickets, ad and sponsorship rates email gala@philippineforum.org

Special guests to be announced!

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About Dr. Benjamin Ileto

Dr. Benjamin Ileto, philanthropist and community advocate, is on the 5th year of retirement from professional medical practice. He has served the Filipino and medical/healthcare community in the United States, supporting the growth of organizations on the international, national and local levels, such as the Philippine Medical Association of America, Philippine Forum, the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), the Kalusugan Coalition, the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV/AIDS (APICHA), the Association of Philippine Physicians of New York (APPNY), Philippine Gift of Life Foundation, Gawad Kalinga, and Filipino American Human Services, Inc. (FAHSI). He has served as Chair and Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of Philippine Forum. In 2006, Dr. Ileto was a founding member of the Advisory Board for NAFCON. He has served on the Board of Directors of Philippine Forum, Parkway Hospital, APICHA, and FAHSI. He a member of the Ways and Means Committee of the Home Reach Foundation. He is a recipient of a Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino Award from the Office of the President of the Philippines. In 2003, he was cited by the New York City Council in recognition of his exemplary service to the Filipino American community. In 2004, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Philippine – New York Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees), Inc. He was cited by the Filipino Heritage Foundation as one of 10 Outstanding Filipino Americans in 2004. A native of Tondo, Manila, Dr. Ileto graduated from Far Eastern University in Manila. In honor and recognition of his service, Dr. Ileto has been elected to become the Chair Emeritus of the Board of Directors of the Philippine Forum.

About Philippine Forum

The Philippine Forum is a multi-sectoral community-based organization that serves and organizes the working Filipino community of New York City towards social and economic justice, cultural enrichment, and community empowerment. Celebrating its 15th Anniversary in 2012, the Philippine Forum remains one of the largest grassroots Filipino organizations whose vital social services and organizing initiatives have been a lifeline of support for working Filipino families. For the past 15 years, they have helped the Filipino and immigrant community succeed by providing award-winning programming, advocacy and vital services through our programs. Their programs have garnered the support of institutions such as the Ford Foundation, the Union Square Awards, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Office of Senator Charles Schumer, Office of Congressman Joseph Crowley, the Office of State Senator Jose Peralta, the Council of the City of New York, the Office of the Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, and countless others in the form of grants, awards, citations, and resolutions. To learn more, visit http://www.philippineforum.org/.

Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/202089826556762/

Contact: Melanie Dulfo
Phone: 718-565-8862
Email: mdulfo@philippineforum.org

Does America love its immigrants? It’s complicated

With February being the month when people talk about love and show their affection more openly, the Philippine Forum is taking the opportunity to assess how the United States is showing its love to the millions of immigrants who now call this country their home.

“Post-Valentine Reflection: Does America love its immigrants?” is a forum that will examine the complicated relationship between the U.S. government and its immigrants.

The forum, which will be held on February 26, Sunday, at 2 p.m., at the Bayanihan Community Center in Woodside, Queens, will provide an overview of the current immigration situation and recent developments concerning U.S. immigration policy.

The Bayanihan Community Center is located at 40-21 69th Street, Woodside, NY 11377.

The forum will be the first of a series of forum offered by “Café Migrante” a monthly coffee break aimed at helping the immigrant community understand fundamental immigration rules and recent developments that every immigrant in the U.S. must know.

Coffee and light refreshments will be served while supply lasts.

Immigration lawyer Cristina Godinez, who has helped hundreds of immigrants with visa, green card and citizenship applications for nearly10 years, will be the resource speaker for the forum series.

The Café Migrante monthly forum series is initially set for six months, and will run from February to July. All sessions will be held on the last Sunday of the month, at 2 p.m. at the Bayanihan Community Center in Woodside, Queens.

Among the topics lined up are tips on maintaining legal non-immigrant status, spouse and other family-sponsored green cards, work authorization for non-citizens, humanitarian benefits under U.S. immigration law, how to become U.S. citizens, and prospects for legalization of status.

To get to the Bayanihan Community Center, take the 7 Train and get off at 69th St. and Fisk Avenue stop along Roosevelt Avenue.

For more information, please call Melanie Dulfo of the Philippine Forum at 718-565-8862 or email at mdulfo@philippineforum.org.

The Philippine Forum is a New York City-based not-for-profit organization that provides direct services, training and advocacy to Filipinos and people of Filipino heritage in the United States. It is also a prime mover in coalitions with other immigrant groups in the U.S. in advocating for immigration reform.

Contact: Melanie Dulfo
Phone: 718-565-8862
Email: mdulfo@philippineforum.org

Café Migrante: a monthly coffee break discussing immigration issues, launched

The Philippine Forum will formally launch a monthly discussion on immigration basics as well as issues affecting immigrants and non-citizens.

“Café Migrante” is a monthly coffee break aimed at helping the immigrant community understand fundamental immigration rules and recent developments that every immigrant in the U.S. must know. The forum will be held every last Sunday of the month. Coffee and light refreshments will be served while supply lasts.

For its first offering, Café Migrante will provide an overview of the current immigration situation and recent developments concerning U.S. immigration policy. With February being the month of love, the first forum will be a post-Valentine reflection that will answer the question: “Does America love its immigrants?”

The opening salvo will be held on February 26, Sunday, at 2 p.m., at the Bayanihan Community Center at 40-21 69th Street, Woodside, NY 11377.

Immigration lawyer Cristina Godinez, who has helped hundreds of immigrants with visa, green card and citizenship applications for almost 10 years, will be the resource speaker for the forum series.

The Café Migrante forum series is initially set for six months, and will run from February to July. All sessions will be held on the last Sunday of the month, at 2 p.m. at the Bayanihan Community Center in Woodside, Queens.

Among the topics lined up are tips on maintaining legal non-immigrant status, spouse and other family-sponsored green cards, work authorization for non-citizens, humanitarian benefits under U.S. immigration law, how to become U.S. citizens, and prospects for legalization of status.

To get to the Bayanihan Community Center, take the 7 Train and get off at 69th St. and Fisk Avenue stop along Roosevelt Avenue.

For more information, call Melanie Dulfo at 718-565-8862 or email at mdulfo@philippineforum.org.

The Philippine Forum is a New York City-based not-for-profit organization that provides direct services, training and advocacy to Filipinos and people of Filipino heritage in the United States. It is also a prime mover in coalitions with other immigrant groups in advocating for genuine immigration reform.

A Love Letter to Filipinos in the U.S.

14 February 2012

Dearest Filipino,

I love you with all my heart and soul!

I have always admired you and felt inspired by your many wonderful talents; your voice so beautiful it gains the most votes in American Idol; your fantastic ability to move to the rhythm of the music you shine to the top of America’s Best Dance Crew, your intellect so smart you invented the karaoke sing along system.

But what I love about you the most is your courage to face the hardships and challenges of our people because our love is born in the hope and struggle for a better future.

I adore that you have critical thoughts about what is going on in the Philippines and I think it’s so sexy that you won’t accept the corruption of the Philippine government. You inspire me most by your commitment to not only talk about the problems but to do something to resolve them.

Darling, I affirm my love and commitment to you and I promise that I will stand by you and continue to fight for you to protect you no matter where you are. When you were in the U.S. and the authorities threatened to deport you, we organized together, we gathered thousands to stand beside you, and together we succeeded in giving you the choice to stay.

But even after this one success you impressed me so much because you knew our relationship had higher mountains to climb. You knew that the true fruit of our love was to not only keep you in the U.S. but to one day raise a child who could grow up in a vibrant homeland where all our children wouldn’t have to make the difficult decision to migrate in order to survive.

I know you are the one for me my sweet because our love inspires me to action, motivates me to make a change, and gives me the hope that we can make a difference in the lives of many. You and I together remind me of a famous saying that someone once said, “Justice is what love looks like in public!”

Happy Valentine’s day, mahal!

Mahal kita sa aking puso!

NAFCON

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