WASHINGTON DC- On its 7th year, the Filipino Heritage Night (FHN), organized by Filipino-American Basketball Assn (FABA) of Metro DC’s Ken Mendoza, staged another successful “all tickets sold out” day of showcasing Filipino Heritage through the Philippines’ favorite sports- basketball during the NBA Wizards vs. Miami Heat game, Capital One Arena, Washington D.C. FHN endeavors to bring the Filipinos and non-Filipinos closer together in this annual event where FABA players are given a chance to play in the prestigious NBA court, meet their favorite NBA stars up-close inspiring them to do better in basketball.
Both US and Philippine national anthems were sang by Fil-Ams from New York City – the TOFA Artists & Performers led by Elton Lugay.
This year at the NBA Halftime show, two multi-awarded groups, the Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC) of Metro Washington D.C. spearheaded by Grace Divina Valera, Jesse A Gatchalian/ Arnedo S Valera and the Richmond Pilipino Class from Central Virginia (RPC) led by Maria Cielo Sinsioco, performed “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” dance to the music of “Piliin mo ang Pilipinas”.
Other performers with the group were from the Ilocano Society of America/ ISA’s Miss Teen Philippines-America beauty queens, some Mabuhay Inc. members and the eskrimadores of the Pinakatay Eskrima (c/o Lexi Crisostomo) in DC.
The two groups’ choreographers were Dennis Michael Hona-Hansinger and Ludwig Osorio.
A total of 90 dancers (56 from MHC and 34 from RPC) proudly performed waving US and Philippine flags, signifying the friendly ties between the 2 countries.
The dance showcase was initiated by MHC’s Executive Director & former Philippine Embassy’s Cultural Officer/ Attache’ Grace Valera who thought of encapsulating the diverse, vibrant and colorful cultures of the Philippines in one production number.
And to ensure a bigger participation, Grace asked the collaboration of Maria Cielo Sinsioco of Richmond Pilipino Class- a highly dedicated cultural group from Central Virginia, who agreed to do the Southern Philippines/Muslim suite while the rest of the suites will be done by MHC.
Both Valera and Sinsioco believed that showcasing the Philippines to the American mainstream is a great way to spread Philippine goodwill and promote the good image of the Philippines in the U.S.A.
With the big banner of “It’s More Fun In The Philippines”, the Halftime showcase in the US capital, featured the Philippines’ diverse cultures of 5 cultural suites namely: the Spanish/Maria Clara Suite, the Cordillera/ Mountain Province Suite, the Southern Philippines/Muslim Suite, the Tribal & Ati-atihan suite and the Rural/Barrio Fiesta Suite.
To the delight of over 20,000 arena audience, the two pride of the Philippines- Manny “PACMAN” Pacquiao (a Pacquiao look-alike Rudy Merc) and the Philippines’ Miss Universe (played by the 2011 Miss Teen Philippines-America title holder Chessa Taboada), joined in the halftime performance. The big event was also televised thru the NBA channel and Pay for View.
Ken Mendoza, the indefatigable president of FABA Metro DC, said “Through the annual Heritage Night at NBA Games, we can inspire the young generations that anything is possible if we put our mind into it, and that as Filipinos, we are proud of our heritage and culture”.

TACLOBAN CITY- Close to 500 students, barangay officials, and sectoral representatives got clearer understanding on the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill as the roadshows of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) rolled out in the region on March 28 and 29, 2019.
PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar led the team that flew-in for the special event in Calbayog City and Tacloban City.
In both fora, Andanar informed that the FOI Team has been holding fora around the country because they want people to get a clearer view of what FOI is and how people can better understand and appreciate it.
He said that the FOI of President Rodrigo Duterte is unprecedented that it was one of his top priority agenda when he assumed office.
In fact, soon after his assumption, Pres. Duterte signed Executive Order No. 2 which is aimed to “encourage people’s participation for a better transformation of their lives for the better.”
“Freedom of information is freedom for you to choose what is right that given the correct information, it will be your option to choose which can be better for you, your actions and behavior,” the PCOO Secretary said.
He cited for an example, the number of people who perished in the war on drugs.
According to him, it has been spread that more than 20,000 people have already died in the campaign but in truth, if one would just check the FOI portal, it will be gathered that no more than 5,000 people died in actual operation.
In the midst of fake news proliferated by a number of critics with their self-vested interests, Sec. Andanar further urged the audience to avail of the information that are made available in the FOI portal, where everything is true and correct.
“The FOI ideal is information for transformation. Clearly, it is not merely about knowing how our government functions, but a matter of acting about that knowledge for improving the work in government and the status of our people,” said Andanar.
The FOI team members included Usec Joel Egco and Asec Mon Cualuping who both welcomed questions during the open forum to the delight of the participants. (LDL/AEN/PIA-8)

For Leyte’s 2nd congressional district

TACLOBAN CITY- Second district Representative Henry Ong is grateful with all the support he has been receiving months before the mid-term elections on May 13.
He was recently endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte in one of the sorties of Hugpong ng Pagbabago in Isabela, presidential daughter Sarah Duterte and former special assistant to the president ‘Bong’ Go.
“I am humbled and honored by their endorsement, it makes me more eager in my campaign knowing that their support is tantamount their support to the people of the district,” Ong said.
What makes the lawmaker happier is the result of the latest survey of Pulse Asia Limited Inc. where he remain the top choice of the voting population in the second district of Leyte.
Ong garnered an overwhelming 74% trust rating compared to other candidates listed in the coming elections.
In the survey conducted last January 14-16 by Pulse Asia with 900 respondents from the 14 municipalities in Leyte’s second district, Ong got the people’s nod compare to 11 % of other congressional hopeful Karen Javier and 4 % for Niccolo Villasin.
About 11 % of the respondents are undecided.
He was unanimously chosen from the towns of Carigara, Burauen, and Dulag which has the largest voting population in the second district.
Ong also garnered significant statistical points against opponents from other vote-rich towns such as Dagami, Capoocan and Pastrana.
On January 26-29, the Social Weather Station SWS also conducted survey and the result overwhelmed the lawmaker for the people of the district still chose him to be their representative.
Ong receive the highest percentage of votes with 71% of the total 900 respondents included in the survey compared to other candidates in the upcoming elections.
Javier garnered 14% while Villasin got 3%, the other 12% remained undecided.
Ong said that his first term as congressman was fulfilling as he was able to facilitate the completion of several projects that has brought impacts to the ordinary lives of the people from his district, he also authored laws that made significant effects on Filipino lives.
It was Ong’s honor to be named as the chairman of Congress’ committee banks and financial intermediaries which is a feat for a first termer congressman like him. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON,PALO,Leyte- The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) through its Communication Electronic Service-Regional Communications Electronic Office 8 (PNP CES-RCEO8) distributed around P24 million worth of internal security operations (ISO) and office equipment to line units and offices.
Police Brig. Gen. Dionardo Carlos, police regional director, said that last Monday (April 1), distributed the ISO and office equipment at the PRO8 Grandstand during the morning flag raising ceremony.
PBGen.Carlos reported that the P24 million worth of equipment are the Harris very high frequency (VHF) low band radios and the Codan high frequency (HF) manpack radio.
Carlos said that as a backgrounder, Harris VHF radio is a portable and interoperable tactical radio ideally used for traditional combat and delivers a highly secured, clear, reliable voice and data communication.
The Codan HF manpack radio, meantime, is a tactical radio that is used for long range communications and provides highly reliable secured full voice communications.
Each unit of Harris VHF radio costs P1.14 million while the Codan manpack costs P366,400.
The recipients of said ISO equipment are the Regional Mobile Force Battalion and its provincial headquarters in Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, and Southern Leyte.
Likewise, 10 units each of air conditioning and laptops were distributed by the regional PNP headquarters to its different offices.
“PRO8 is more than happy to have these newly procured equipment which will definitely boost our operational capability and mandated functions,”PBGen Carlos said. (RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT, LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA, RONALD O. REYES)