Ted Regencia Reports

Letters from Chicago

2009-10-15T21:16:00.000-07:00

45th Chicago International Film Festival puts spotlight on 2 Filipino directors

By Ted Regencia

Chicago, IL -- Celebrating the 45th year since its founding, the Chicago International Film Festival shines its spotlight on two independent films from the Philippines.

Cinemalaya Special Jury Prize winner, The Rapture of Fe (Ang Panggagahasa Kay Fe) was selected for the After Dark Program, while the gay-themed, The Thank You Girls was picked for the World Cinema and OUTragegous categories.

"Chicago is a great global society. We live in a great immigrant community and we are very diverse. It [festival] represents the whole world," Chicago Mayor Richard Daley Jr., said during the opening night, where he also welcomed actress Uma Thurman, the Career Achievement Award recipient. Thurman also came for the premiere of her new movie, Motherhood.

Film festival founder Michael Kutza praised the participation of young Filipino filmmakers at the festival, the oldest in North America. "We have two great movies at the festival. One terribly, terribly dramatic ghost story, and the drag film which is a riot," he said.

A the same interview, Kutza recalled how he helped former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos organize the Manila International Film Festival.

Kutza stayed in Manila for two years, including the time that the controversial Manila Film Center was built. "I love her [Imelda]. She's fun. We had a lot of fun with Marcos, the family and everybody. We brought a lot of stars and directors there," he said.

"I love the Philippines. I've been there in some amazing monsoon, so I'll never forget that," Kutza added.

At the international premiere of Ang Panggagahasa Kay Fe, the film's executive producer Alem Ang, dedicated the work to the typhoons victims in the Philippines.

"The film is a testament to the Filipino people's resiliency," Ang said during a short presentation.

In an earlier interview Ang said that they wanted to present a "world-class" film that does not only center on poverty. "There's so much more about Filipino culture that needs to be discussed. So we thought of adding a new element to our story about battered women, which is Philippine folklore," Ang explained.

"We're very, very excited when we received the news," Ang recalled after hearing from the Chicago Film Festival committee. The next stop for the Alvin Yapan-directed film is Egypt for the Cairo Film Festival.

Meanwhile, The Thank You Girls, a story about drag beauty pageant contestants, had its Chicago premiere Monday, October 12. The Visayan-language film is directed by Charliebebs Gohetia, and backed by Brooklyn Park Pictures.

The festival runs until October 8 to 22, and will feature an estimated 91 films from around the globe. An Oscar buzz is already swirling around its festival centerpiece, Precious, a story of a 16-year old African American girl who defied the odds of poverty and personal tragedies. The film is backed by Chicago-based Oprah Winfrey.

The Chinese box-office hit, Red Cliff was featured in the Gala Presentation, attended by Director John Woo.

Last year, the eventual Oscar Best Picture winner, Slumdog Millionaire, premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival. Earlier this year, Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds was also featured at its Summer Gala.

Published in the Chicagoist online magazine 06/29/09

2009-06-29T21:22:00.000-07:00

Out of the window

Green Man!

Letters from Chicago

2009-06-24T03:56:00.000-07:00

Some of the best things in life are still for free, like a full rendition of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 by the Grant Park Orchestra, at Frank Gehry's iconic Pritzker Pavilion. Welcome to Chicago, where winter is characteristically brutish, and summer's infinitely rewarding, particularly to those who endured it's yearly cold blast.

Last Saturday was one of those hard-earned and much-deserved days of recreation. The sun was up and the afternoon air cool, just perfect to cap the official end of spring, and hail the beginning of summer, which was almost thwarted by a fierce thunderstorm the night before. It was unthinkable to stay indoors. Everyone was out, from die-hard Cubs fans who congregated at Wrigley to the Boriqueños for the Puerto Rican Day parade. And so we packed our picnic bag, took the "L" train and headed downtown.

Unlike many cosmopolitan areas, this city of three million people, puts premium on its public space. Parks are sacred grounds, and malls are anathema. So while Chicago boasts of a magnificent skyline, it also has an excellent and expansive greens that the whole population can enjoy. It was the industrialist Montgomery Ward who first led the fight to keep the lakefront free from obstruction. And so it has been since 1836.

At the heart of it all is Millennium Park, an over-priced but ultimately priceless piece of real estate that's becoming a draw to both locals and tourists. Situated right next to Lake Michigan, it is home to Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate, a.k.a The Bean, a sculpture that has managed to capture the hearts of the art cognoscenti and the masses alike. It's interactive nature is sure to make even an adult feel like a kid again. A week ago the infinitely youthful Ellen Degeneres even made a stop there, putting a stamp of approval to it's must-see status. The Crown Fountain by Catalan artist Jaume Plensa is also another hit. It's almost entertaining enough to just sit and people-watch. And if you have a camera, practice your lessons in apperture and shutter speed.

The entertainment we were there for on that particular afternoon, was Grant Park Orchestra's summer-long music festival. Appropriately enough, it was being played at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, a masterpiece by the world-renowed Gehry that opened in 2004. Echoing the sound of Rachmaninoff's concerto, the Pritzker Pavilion soars into the sky like an undulating clouds of steel. Every Chicagoan who has been there can attest to its massive size and its exclamatory impact. The open-air music shell is further enhanced by a trellis-like network that encompasses the Great Lawn, and carries the high-tech sound system, which makes it possible for the entire audience to hear the same quality "indoor" sound as those seated in the front row.

We found ourselves in the middle of the lawn, in the sea of wine-sipping, biscuit-munching concert-goers. Our picnic mat was half too small for four people, my mom included. But we still managed to leave enough space to spread our own nourishment. All that was left to do was to listen to the music.

I've been to a few of these concerts before, and they never grow old. I'm not even schooled enough in the classics. All I know is that it's soothing to the ears. It took a little convincing for some of my folks to come along with me. Now they are already planning for the next picnic.

It must have been Carlos Kalmar's animated movement that provoked their interest. Or his frizzy hair that moves mightily as he takes on his principal conductor's role. But the music he created with the 100-people strong orchestra and Christopher Bell's Grant Park Chorus surely made an impression on them. This year marks the twelveth time that Kalmar appeared on stage at the festival, and his tenth as principal conductor. A native of Montivideo, Uruguay, Kalmar also led the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra and Stuttgart Philharmonic. Concert pianist Jon Kimura Parker gave justice to Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3, with a heart-pounding finale that moved the crowd to a standing ovation. After the intermission, Michael Torke had his World Premiere of Plans, an equally powerful work that highlighted the voices of lyric soprano, Jonita Lattimore and tenor Bryan Griffin.

For a $4.50 per person train ride, it was certainly worth the trip. And much more.

For the same ride, a visit to the venerable Art Institute of Chicago can be had. During summer, Thursdays and Fridays are for free from 5 to 9 pm. But more than the tag price, the opportunity to admire great works of art is priceless. My personal favorite is Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte. Grant Wood's American Gothic is also housed here, as well as Monets, Picassos and Giacomettis.

Just a couple of weeks ago, the museum also opened its new Modern Wing, an architectural marvel by Renzo Piano. The building alone deserves so much admiration, with its very clean lines, its open and bright interiors, and its location that offers you a fresh and majestic view of the city. Willem de Kooning's Excavation has found a home here, as well as Jackson Pollock's The Key. Not to be missed is Charles Ray's Hinoki sculpture, an enormous piece of a tree trunk, and Lucian Freud's Sunny Morning. So far, I have visited twice, and this Friday I am coming back for more.

On a summer like this, it's hard not to fall in love with Chicago.

Photo Featured in the Chicagoist website

2009-04-30T18:34:00.000-07:00

Published in the online magazine Chicagoist

Photo published in the Chicago Public Radio website

2009-04-12T00:52:00.001-07:00

Photo published in the Chicago Public Radio website

Photo published in the Gapers Block

2009-04-12T00:48:00.001-07:00

Photo published in the online magazine, Gapers Block

PHOTOS FEATURED ON CNN iReport

2009-01-19T18:31:00.000-08:00

Exclusive Interview: Leon Depres on meeting Trotsky, Rivera and Kahlo

2009-01-18T20:05:00.000-08:00

Chicago's venerable alderman (retired) from Hyde Park, 101-year old Leon Depres, also known as "the conscience of the city" recalls his 1937 meeting with Leon Trotsky in Mexico, which led to his introduction to Diego Rivera and wife, Frida Kahlo. Rivera painted a portrait of Depres' wife, Marian. That painting now hangs at the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago.

Journalism in the time of Joe the Plumber

2009-01-18T17:21:00.000-08:00

By Ted Regencia

The other day, I watched with concern, as the nightly news carried a story on Election 2008 everyman, Joe the Plumber, becoming a foreign correspondent in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. I became more troubled when I read online that Joe, whose real name is Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, wanted the media "abolished" from the war zone. "I liked back in World War I and World War II, when you'd go to the theater and you'd see your troops on the screen and everyone would be real excited and happy for them," the Washington Post quoted him as saying. He went on to accuse reporters of not being "patriotic" for reporting the war.

The spectacle surrounding the Ohio native's trip to Israel, highlights the perils of citizen journalism going out of control. Instead of covering the news, Wurzelbacher became the newsmaker, advocating an overtly biased opinion of the conflict. By confusing his celebrity status with his message, he undermined the essence of serious journalism: The delivery of objective, informed and balanced news. What's most alarming is, he actually believes that he's reporting the "real story."

In today's free-for-all media environment, the role of professional journalists as gatekeepers of information has become even more critical. The dominance of 24-hour cable news and the Internet, allows information to travel the world in an instant. And the widespread use of personalized gadgets, only ensures mass transmission while spawning self-proclaimed reporters. But the responsibility to guarantee that, that information is factual and fair, fundamentally rests on the professional journalists.

Cut-throat competition and ratings game, however, caused the media establishment to put its guard down, and shrink from its sacred duty of safeguarding the accuracy of the news. The race to make it first, has compromised the need to make it right. Thus giving critics some ammunition to accuse them, of being no different from fly-by-night blogs and partisan online muggers.

Take the case of CNN. Last October 2008, it reported that Apple CEO Steve Jobs suffered a heart attack, causing a temporary drop of the company's stock price. The report was based on a posting on its innovative citizen journalist section, iReport. It turned out to be a hoax and was quickly yanked out. But not before doing some damage. CNN could have avoided the gaffe, by verifying the story with the source and cross-checking it with an Apple spokesman.

Notwithstanding the incident, citizen journalists are here to stay. It's a phenomenon that points to an empowered society, that refuses to take things sitting down. Indeed, it has transformed the meaning of democracy and press freedom. The challenge for professional journalists is to find a balance between advocating active public engagement, and preserving the sanctity of objective reporting in the service of the general public.

This new dynamics between professional and citizen journalists is still evolving, and if carried out right, could produce enormous benefits for greater public good. In cases of public corruption, citizen journalists can help expose dishonest politicians and bureaucrats. They can call attention to the government's inability to deliver basic services. Even prevent or solve crimes. They can also provide fresh and compelling first-person perspective of events, that might have been missed by the media, such as the Asian Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and the Sichuan earthquake in China.

Leading up to the November 4 polls, I had the chance to attend a forum on new media at Northwestern University. During the discussion, I asked the panelists about their thoughts on the issue of citizen journalism.

Ben Goldberger of Huffingtonpost.com, raised an important point by citing the story of Mayhill Fowler, an Obama supporter and contributor of the website's citizen journalism section, Off The Bus. Fowler broke the controversial "they cling to guns or religion" statement, which almost derailed Obama's candidacy. "She's not a reporter in any traditional sense. She's certainly won't be taking the place of many reporters...but she did break legitimate news, and it was the sort of news that has affected the campaign cycle," Goldberger said, underscoring the value of citizen journalists to serious journalism.

Meanwhile, Peter Slevin of Washington Post and Tom Bevans of Realclearpolitics.com, said that "heavy-lifting" in journalism are still carried out by professional journalists. Vivian Vahlberg, managing director of Northwestern's Media Management Center, added that according to their studies, readers still "very much value what journalists did, far more than other sources."

While Vahlberg's findings may be reassuring, it also serves as a stark reminder that in this era of Joe the Plumbers, the professional journalists ultimately bear the responsibility of guarding the truth. In order to do that, they must possess the spirit of enterprise, inquisitiveness, hard work, and above all, the highest standard of fairness and objectivity.

Photo Featured on Chicagoist

2008-12-18T09:35:00.000-08:00

Published in the Chicagoist

Election 2008

2008-11-05T05:42:00.000-08:00

How I met Barack Obama

Also published in the Inquirer.net's Global Nation Section

Text and videos by Ted Regencia

Chicago, IL -- Pressed against the steel railings, I struggled to keep myself from being completely crushed by the delirious crowd, all wanting to shake the hands of their idol. It was past 11 pm in Des Moines last January, and Barack Obama had just finished delivering his speech following a decisive victory in the Iowa Caucus that would propel him to the Democratic nomination.

Anxious not to miss a single moment, I feverishly clicked on my camera, now completely aimed on the subject who was inching closer and closer to me. All of a sudden, I hear Secret Service agents barking orders to people, "show your hands; show your hands." It was part of the security measure to protect the candidate.

I had to clear my hands too. The next thing I knew, I was face-to-face with the would-be American president. He extended his right hand to me and flashed a toothy smile. All I could say was, "Thank You" as he I shook his rather skinny hand and looked him in the eye. Thank you? What was I thinking?

Published in the ChicagoTribune.com

In fact, it was an improvement from the last time. In 2005, I had a chance to meet the freshman Illinois senator for the first time, when he campaigned for a Filipino-American candidate for village board in a Chicago suburb. I was completely tongue-tied. And I am the kind who rarely gets star-struck.

Nevertheless, both encounters were very memorable to me, because let's face it, meeting Obama was pretty unlikely for me. I'm from an obscure barrio called Dap-dap in a small town in northwestern Mindanao. That's about 9,000 miles and a Pacific Ocean away from Chicago. But there I was, a greenhorn journalist savoring a snapshot of history. I, who used to walk the few kilometers of dirt road to and from my elementary school, now working as a reporter in the big city.

I would also end up covering Obama's announcement to seek the presidency on a very very cold February morning in 2007, in Springfield, capital of Illinois and political home base of Abraham Lincoln. A couple of months after, I also covered Obama's Super Tuesday rally here in Chicago, his adopted hometown. But I would not get as close to him as when I was in Iowa.

In 2004, I interviewed Senator Obama by phone. He was only a state senator at that time, running for his current seat in the US Senate. But at that point, he had already achieved national prominence after delivering a powerful speech during the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston.

"It was a great honor to be able to speak to the nation. I am very flattered," Obama told me.

During the same interview, Obama also said that despite his left-leaning, pro-choice politics, he has a lot in common with the more conservative Filipino-American voters.

"I always believe that labels don't mean a lot to most people. You just have to show them that they can trust you to fight for the things that they care about, such as the delivery of healthcare, good education for their children, and creation of jobs," he said.

"Ultimately, what the average guy on the street cares about is, how to pay the bills, save for his kid's college education. That's what really matters to voters," Obama added.

"I also believe that people should be rewarded for their hard work and I know that Filipinos are hard-working people," he said. As a young man who grew up in Hawaii, Obama also said that he had good memories of his encounters with many Filipinos there.

On immigration, Obama expressed his support for proposals that would give long-time undocumented residents a "path to citizenship". "Obviously after 9/11, there were changes that we have to impose to secure our borders. At the same time, we have to recognize that the United States is a country of immigrants. The continuing influx of new immigrants, the new energy and ideas that they bring, that's what make this country even more dynamic," he said.

One other thing that struck me was his honesty. When I asked him how he could help Filipino veterans of the World War II, he readily admitted that he was "not familiar" with the issue. It was a refreshing answer because politicians usually tell people what they want to hear, and say anything even if they know nothing.

Obama was quick to add: "But this I can say, any man or woman who served his or her country must be properly honored and cared for."

He followed through on that promise when he came to Washington D.C., by supporting $221 million worth of benefits for the Filipino veterans. Voting on the bill, he said, "for far too long, these heroes have been denied benefits they are owed."

At the time of that interview, the political world was already buzzing about Obama as a "future presidential candidate" and I asked him about that. He replied, "It is not something I take seriously. At this point, I am working to win this Senate contest and serve all the people of the State of Illinois."

How amazing that after four short years, essentially a sprint for an American politician, Obama is now on the brink of taking his place in the annals of history, as the first African American president. And I'm here to witness it unfold.

Election 2008

2008-11-03T20:57:00.000-08:00

Virginina: Key to Obama's Victory

By Ted Regencia

The storied Commonwealth of Virginia was the epicenter of the most intense fights between Abraham Lincoln's Union Army and the audacious Confederates during the Civil War of 1861 to 1865. Stonewall Jackson made his name here, and General Robert E. Lee saw his army surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant in Appomatox. From Shenandoah Valley to the trenches of Chesapeake and the Potomac, history was written in blood.

On the 4th day of November 2008, the Old Dominion, seat of the Confederacy, hotbed of late 1960s school busing and integration, and now ground zero of the 2008 battle for the White House, could once again play a defining moment in history, by electing the first African American president.

Cognizant of its historical significance, and mindful of the electoral college equation, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will put an exclamation point to his 21-month old quest for the Oval Office, by closing out his campaign in Virginia. On the night of November 3, he will hold a rally in Prince William County, and is expected to attract as many as 100,000 people. Summoning the troops in the heavily-Democratic Northern Virginia, the Illinois senator hopes to drive up voter turnout to record numbers, and then deliver the state to the Democratic column for the first time in 44 years.

It's a very, very tall order. Virginia last voted Democratic in 1964, when Lyndon B. Johnson, a true-blue Southerner, scored a landslide against Senator Barry Goldwater. Incidentally, Goldwater hails from Arizona, and until his retirement in 1987, held the Senate seat of the current Republican presidential candidate, Senator John McCain. Since then, Virginia has been reliably Republican, due in part to the Grand Old Party's Southern Strategy, as perfected by President Richard Nixon in 1968 and 1972. Neither President Jimmy Carter, nor Vice President Al Gore, both Southerners, could carry the state. Not even the Bubba candidate, Bill Clinton could do it, in the rout of Bob Dole in 1996.

In 2000 and 2004, President George W. Bush carried Virginia with a margin of eight percentage points against Gore and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry respectively. That cemented the conventional wisdom that Virginia will remain a bulwark of the Republican Party in the elections to come.

To be sure, Virginia will remain a conservative to moderate state, making it a natural fit for Republicans. But shifting winds during this current electoral season have created a perfect storm for change. Should that happen, ABC News analyst and former Bush 43 pollster Matthew Dowd predicted Obama to win.

Economy
Top concern is the economy. Virginians have a reputation as fiscal conservatives, and the current financial meltdown, said to be the worst since the Depression of the 1930s does not sit well with them.

In the year 2001, Bush inherited a budget surplus of $128 billion. In 2009, the deficit is projected at $482 billion, according to a CNN report. That's before the crash of the stock market, and the passage of the $750 billion Wall Street bailout plan that has enraged voters across the spectrum.

Home foreclosures are on the rise. In Richmond, once the capital of the Confederacy, a local newspaper reported that home foreclosures have tripled in the third quarter of 2008, from the year-earlier period. In Prince George, even as home sales surged, the median sale price of single-family houses plunged 41 percent in the past year, according to an October 17 article in the Washington Post.

It doesn't help that people are losing jobs, albeit not as bad as other states. According to Forbes magazine, Virginia's unemployment rate for September 2008 was 4.2 percent, up 1.2 percent from a year ago, and the highest since 1996. Inflation, however, remains low mitigating a harsher effect on the overall economic health of the state.

According to analysts and historians, the incumbent party always loses the White House during an election period "a definable economic downturn." The elder President Bush learned that the hard way in 1992. According to Cybercast News Service, only once since 1876 has the party in the White House managed to retain the presidency during such period. That year, Republican Rutherford B. Hayes succeeded President Ulysses S. Grant in a race against Democrat Samuel Jones Tilden. But that was only because Hayes, who was tied with Tilden in the electoral college, was backed by a Republican Congress, which broke the tie in favor of their partymate.

That precedent is bad news for McCain.

War in Iraq
Yet, the former Vietnam POW and war hero remains a formidable figure particularly within Virginia's large military population. His strong support for the war in Iraq still reverberates among the war hawks. His independent streak also enamored him to the troops. But among younger military families, who are bearing the brunt of a prolonged Iraqi occupation, Obama is reported to be making some in-roads. It remains to be seen how many votes can Obama chip away from that block.

The economic turmoil have also "marginalized" McCain's clear edge on national security and the war, said veteran conservative columnist George Will, who himself excoriated the Arizona senator for picking up Sarah Palin as vice president, and for being erratic at the height of the stock market plunge.

But one group expected to be loyal to McCain are conservative evangelicals as well as pro-life and pro-Second Amendment voters in the Appalachian region and other rural areas. They include a handful of Hillary Clinton supporters, who will never vote for an African American.

Flushed with overwhelming cash and an outpouring enthusiasm, Obama is unfazed by that reality, choosing instead to go on a full-court press offensive.

All politics is local
Since he launched the general election campaign in Bristow, at the heart of Prince William Country, he has already visited Virginia at least a dozen times, not typical for a Democrat. On Tuesday, October 28 for instance, Obama ventured into George W. Bush territory of Harrisonburg, which voted 57 percent for the current White House resident. The idea is to minimize losses there, while racking up huge margins in the reliable Democratic counties to maintain a lead.

Harrisonburg's Daily New Register wrote: "Should Mr. Obama meet with more success in the Valley than expected, he will have proven that Virginia is a truly 'purple' state and that the Commonwealth’s Republican era, vis-à-vis federal elections at least, may well be ending."

It's also a clear manifestation that the former community organizer understands the credo, "All politics is local."

Demographics
More than that, Obama may be helped by the changing demographics. To push him over to the finish line, Obama will have to rely heavily on counties such as Fairfax and Prince George. Here, red is turning purple, with a population explosion of young families, college-educated professionals, and D.C.-type voters.

Indications of a movement in the demographics first surfaced in 2002, when Democrat Mark Warner was elected governor. Then in 2006, Jim Webb knocked down a popular Republican incumbent George Allen. On the same year Lt. Governor Tim Kaine succeeded the very popular Warner as governor. Now, Warner is running for senator against another former governor, James Gilmore. Mark Warner is expected to win that race to replace retiring Senator John Warner (not related), and his presence in the ballot could also help Obama.

Groundgame
But even that may not be enough for Obama, a Virgnia outsider whose politics is left of Kaine and Warner, even Webb.

Enter the ground game.

Taking advantage of the prolonged primary process, Obama built an army of volunteers and expanded his effort to register new voters. That greatly benefited him. He resoundingly defeated Hillary there.

After clinching enough delegates for the nomination, he immediately transitioned to the general election. By the time September came, Obama has already opened 41 offices across the state: An overwhelming effort to secure the state's 13 electoral votes.

The strategy paid off handsomely in voter registration.

The Times-Dispatch reported that for the first time, more than 5 million Virginians are registered to vote, with a total net gain of 436,000.

The same report said that nearly 40 percent of the newly registered voters are under 25, and overall, 53 percent of the newly registered voters are female. Both constituencies lean heavily for Obama. Many of them are also from the urban areas and college towns like Williamsburg, home of the College of William and Mary.

Meanwhile, in predominantly African American areas of Petersburg and Richmond, registration also increased dramatically.

Race factor
This dramatic increase in young voters and African Americans could blunt any residual bias against a Black candidate.

Indeed race remains an influential factor in Virginia. Just ask the first African-American Governor L. Douglas Wilder. In the 1989 race for governor, Wilder was leading by double-digit points. Exit polls also showed the same trend. But when the votes were cast, he only won by 6,000 margin, or less than one percentage point.

Obama himself learned it the hard way in New Hampshire, when Hillary came from behind to defeat him. This despite media predictions and polling data showing an Obama win.

Twenty years after Wilder's successful run, only the final result on the night of November 4th, can validate or invalidate that Wilder effect on Obama's candidacy.

In one interview, Larry Sabato, a University of Virginia political scientist, predicted a 2 percent dip in white support for a black candidate on Election Day - not enough, he said, to tilt victory to McCain nationally or in Virginia.

As of November 2, the newspaper Virginia-Pilot reported that a survey among 625 likely voters showed a 47-44 advantage for Obama, with 9 percent undecided and a plus or minus 4 percentage points margin of error. That's a red flag for Obama who still struggles mightily to cross the 50% mark in some polling.

Obama will win by a whisker
Since Wilder's nail-biter victory, Virginia has become more diverse. When Wilder ran, 77 percent of Virginia residents were white. Today, that number is 73 percent. In 1989, voters in Northern Virginia accounted for 22 percent of the electorate. Today, Northern Virginia voters make up about 30 percent, and they have been increasingly siding with Democrats, the Washington Post reporter.

"It's a much better state for Obama," Robert Lang, a demographer at the Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech, was quoted as saying in the same article. "Had Wilder been running the same race, he would have won by a much bigger margin."

This year is no ordinary year. While Barack Obama may have put to good use his charisma to attract new voters, he will most certainly drive up votes for his opponent as well, by virtue of his color. Still, he has shown steadiness and discipline beyond his years, thus making voters comfortable of him. In the final analysis, when all votes are counted, Virginia will once again claim its title as "Mother of Presidents" by electing him over John McCain.

FRONTLINE: BEST SHOW ON TELEVISION

2008-10-14T20:09:00.001-07:00

FRONTLINE represents the best not only in public television, but TV as a whole.

Dela Hoya-Pacquiao in Chicago

2008-10-04T06:32:00.000-07:00

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Photos and Chicago video clips by Ted Regencia

Election 2008 and New Media

2008-10-03T19:21:00.000-07:00

Ben Goldberger, Chicago Bureau Chief of the Huffington Post talks about the relationship between the media and citizen journalists in an era of instant communication. Goldberger was one of the panelists of the conference, "Election 2008: New Voters, New Media, New Engagement" hosted by Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and the new Center for Civic Engagement, last October 2. (Video by Ted Regencia)

Op-Ed: Obama and the Fil-Ams

2008-08-08T03:40:00.000-07:00

Barack Obama and the re-education of Fil-Am voters

Text and photos by Ted Regencia
Also published in the Inquirer.net's Global Nation Section
and Destin de l'Afrique

Chicago, IL -- At the height of the US presidential primaries that pitted Chicago's very own Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, one Filipino American social butterfly emphatically said, "Ay, ayaw ko kay Obama! Baka yung White House magiging Black House (Oh, I don't want Obama! The White House might turn into a Black House)."

It's a sentiment not so few of Chicago's Filipino Americans feel towards their very own senator, who is an African-American. Now that he is the Democratic nominee for president, a historic achievement for a black candidate, the antagonism has only intensified.

It all started when Obama won the Iowa caucus on January 3. Shortly after, an online group of Filipinos received a forwarded email attacking Obama's "Muslim upbringing."

The email asked, "Are you aware that Obama's middle name is Mohammed (It's actually Hussein, which means "the handsome one" in Arabic). Strip away his nice looks, the big smile and smooth talk and what do you get?"

It warned that Obama is "possibly a covert worshiper of the Muslim faith, even today." "This guy desires to rule over America while his loyalty is totally vested in a Black Africa," it added.

Witch-hunt
The smear provoked a sharp response from Chicago-based Filipino publisher and editor, Mariano Santos, who described it as "worse than witch-hunt."

"People who started this fear-mongering are more dangerous than their black propaganda. Filipinos had lived through this dark age, when they can not even rent a house in a white neighborhood, or date a white American without being in danger of lynching. Now these pathetic Pinoys are circulating this email like they are scions of the Ku Klux Klan," he said referring to the white supremacist group, KKK.

"These rumor mongers have only prejudice and lies to peddle. They are the danger to true American way of life," Santos said while castigating the source, a Filipino American and devout Catholic.

The online message turned out to be just an initial assault of the candidate. A second version of the email immediately followed. This time, it accuses Obama of having "a black Muslim" father "a white atheist" mother, and "a radical Muslim" Indonesian step-father.

"Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's presidential candidacy. The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the US from the inside out, what better way to start than at the highest level," it warned.

Curiously, the attacks were not based on Obama's liberal policy positions, like his support of abortion rights and civil unions for gay couples. Or even his Iraq withdrawal plan. Rather, it was an in-your-face attack of his race, and his "Muslim links."

Reports of Obama's Muslim upbringing, however, have been repeatedly debunked by international news organizations like CNN and New York Times.

Americans of the Muslim faith also assailed the malicious implication that being a Muslim automatically equates to being unpatriotic, or worse, a supporter of terrorists.

Truths and untruths
By March, as the odds of an Obama nomination increased, the voices of opposition within the Filipino community became even louder.

A former president of the Filipino American Council of Greater Chicago taunted the Chicago-based publication, PINOY Newsmagazine, by e-mailing altered pictures with the heading, "If Obama wins." One image shows the Kentucky Fried Chicken logo with Colonel Sanders wearing a turban. Another photo shows the iconic McDonald's sign changed to McHammed's.

The Chicago alumni president of a very reputable Catholic university in Manila chimed-in by forwarding a message with the subject entitled, "Interesting: Barack H. Obama, 50 Lies and Counting." Asked by one of the recipients, who is he recommending for president, his loaded reply was, "The one who tells the TRUTH." When confronted, he feigned innocence by saying, that he was only trying to pass the information around.

Yet another personality, who was crowned Mrs. Philippines in Chicago, was more direct. Santos, the newspaper publisher, recalled that after writing about Senator Obama, he was confronted in public by the said individual who claimed "in loud and emotional outburst" that Obama is an "evil man." That same community leader also heads the Philippine Lions Club of Chicago.

The onslaught of racially-charged denunciations continued by the start of Spring.

On the 40th Death Anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. last April, for instance, this reporter invited a friend to watch a one-act play honoring the legacy of the foremost civil rights leader. Out of nowhere, a pointed rejection came: "Those blacks are parasites" followed by an Obama-bashing comment.

Another friend, a graduate of the Philippines' oldest university, could not hide his disdain of Obama either. As a healthcare practitioner, he said that he had encountered a number of African-American patients. He said that they are "lazy" and dependent on government dole-outs. He concluded that a win by Obama will only perpetuate the black's sense of victimhood.

Suspicions and mistrusts towards the African American community run deep, and the Filipino community is not immune to those false impressions.

For one, many Filipino immigrants have limited understanding of the very violent black experience in America. As Filipinos migrate to America, many bring with them, some deep-seated prejudice against people of darker color, in itself a product of colonial mentality that dictates that everything white is superior.

Even religious upbringing may have unwittingly played a role in forming these pre-conceived notions about color. In church, black always represents sin and bad omen. A wild child in the family is called a "black sheep."

Racial and economic disparity
It's not always the fault of Filipinos migrants to have brought with them these views from the motherland. Many are hard-working, decent and God-fearing individuals who only have the best interest of their families and community in their hearts. But, as they become part of a multi-cultural and pluralistic society like the United States, it is also necessary for them to understand the new dynamics of the whole community, including the important issue of race. Ignorance of that can create misinformed if not bigoted views.

A deep economic disparity, however, generally prevents Filipino Americans from interacting with their African American brothers and sisters. An estimated 60 percent of Filipino Americans have income over $50,000 a year, allowing them to live in middle-class and upper middle-class neighborhoods.

Meanwhile, majority of blacks who suffered many decades of racial discrimination remains disproportionately stuck in the lowest income level, pushing many of them to live in urban ghettos. Many become unemployed for long periods and get involved in various crimes.

Absent those physical bonds, the opportunity to have a healthy social integration and interaction between the African American and Filipino American communities is vastly limited. The only exposure many Filipinos may have of blacks is when they appear in the news about gang shootings and drug arrests, and that only exacerbates the already dysfunctional view towards the black community. The recent spike in murder rate in Chicago, which is naturally getting intense media attention, only highlight those existing unease.

It's not unusual to hear comments by Filipinos like, "They're lazy! "How come we've managed to improve our way of life here in America, when we are only here for five, ten year?" "These blacks have been here in America their whole life, and they're still poor." While maybe true, comments such as those, are myopic and ill-informed. It does not take into account the long history of slavery and racial discrimination. It also misses the fact that a significant number of African Americans have climbed up the economic scale by sheer hard work, just like many others.

Indeed, even here in the Windy City, home of well-loved African Americans like the entertainment titan Oprah Winfrey and sports legend Michael Jordan, racial understanding still has a long way to go.

And that's the fragile scenario, where all these political dramas about Senator Obama are being played. As the new face of politics, the Hawaii-born and Harvard-educated politician has become "a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views."

As CNN political commentator Donna Brazile said, "Race is one of the most difficult issues to navigate in presidential politics especially when often the race card is played. So it all depends if the race card is play and whether or not barack obama will be able to navigate that. Bottom of the deck."

In this 2008 presidential derby, the challenge for the Filipino American voters is to avoid being dealt with those race cards, as they decide on their choice for president. A vote for Republican candidate Senator John McCain, should not be a vote against Senator Obama's skin color. Rather it should be about what the Arizona senator stands for on critical issues at that matter. Let it be about the debate on the economy and national security, and never about who does and doesn't look "All-American."

It was not too long ago when Filipinos from all over the world were up in arms over the perceived racist treatment of Filipino doctors by the popular US television show, "Desperate Housewives." And rightly so, for indeed Filipino doctors are of the highest caliber.

Locally in Chicago, Pinoys slammed the department store H&M for the racist slur directed at a Filipino-American customer Frannie Richards, who is a nurse and a U.S. Air Force Reserve Staff Sgt.

There was also the brouhaha over the identification by a local television station, of a crime suspect as "Filipino." The protesters argued that by calling the suspect by his country of origin, it stigmatized the whole Filipino community. The station would later apologize, while the suspect was convicted.

Filipino Americans cannot claim to be victims of racism, while turning a blind eye on its own prejudice towards the black community and the candidacy of Barack Obama.

The larger point is, Filipino Americans cannot allow the stain of racism smudge its image as a model community. It must confront it head-on and condemn it with full force. So when history is written, we will not be sidelined with a footnote as a bunch of racist minority.

Fil-Ams for Obama

2008-07-19T23:49:00.000-07:00

Published in the Global Nation Section of Inquirer.net

Presumptive Democratic nominee for president, Sen. Barack Obama
with one of his campaign aides, Filipino American Mario Bonifacio.
(Photo courtesy of Mario Bonifacio)

Exclusive Interview: Fil-Am Army captain hits the trail for Obama

By Ted Regencia

Chicago, IL – As an army captain assigned in Iraq, Mario Bonifacio experienced the war firsthand. Now, he is in a different battlefield helping Barack Obama get elected president of the United States.

“This is an extremely historic event and I am very proud to be a part of it,” Bonifacio said, referring to the Illinois senator's candidacy.

Bonifacio is the Regional Field Director of the Obama campaign for the state of New Jersey. He is one of the very few Filipino-Americans with an inside look at the campaign from its early stage. Recently, the campaign also recruited Charmaine Manansala as director of the Asian American Pacific Islanders voter outreach program.

During Obama’s crucial primary campaign in North Carolina, Bonifacio was in the trenches, mobilizing voters as Obama’s regional Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) coordinator. The effort paid off with a decisive 14-point victory in the Tar Heel State, cementing Obama's delegate lead.

On June 3, Obama officially clinched the Democratic nomination, becoming the first African-American major party presidential candidate in the nation’s history.

“It felt very good,” Bonifacio said of Obama’s victory. He said that despite the intense fight between Obama and New York Senator Hillary Clinton, which dragged on for months, the contest was good for the party.

“It was encouraging for the campaign because it included a lot more people in the nominating process,” he said.

Bonifacio expressed confidence that Clinton supporters will embrace Obama’s candidacy, saying that “people are really hungry for change.”

“I think people recognize the very serious issues that we face in this election, and I think that it will override any sort of feelings” people had during the primaries, he said.

Political awakening
The California native was not always this political. As the eldest son of an accountant and an engineer, he is good with numbers. In college, he steered clear of politics, instead taking up economics at the University of California at Berkeley.

“I really never had any inclination towards politics, although I always voted,” Bonifacio said.

Half-way through his major, 9/11 happened and it altered the course of his career and outlook in life. The terrorist attack prompted him to sign-up for the ROTC.

"My parents have always been grateful for the opportunities they've had in America, and I'm grateful to them in turn. They've worked hard to be able to buy a home, raise four kids and send us to college."

Bonifacio's mother, Marilen, is a native of Manila, while his father, Oscar, is from San Jose City, Nueva Ecija. The Bonifacio family now resides in Orange County, California. His two younger brothers, Jordan and Michael, attend school, while his younger sister, Lauren, lives and works nearby in Los Angeles.

Bonifacio said that joining the military at a time of crisis was his way of expressing his gratitude to the country that welcomed his immigrant parents.

After graduation, he formally joined the Army, and eventually rose up the ranks to become an army captain.

Mario Bonifacio in full military gear poses with his family.
(Photo courtesy of Mario Bonifacio)

The view from Iraq
In 2006, at the height of violence in Iraq, he was deployed there. He served as a trainer and liaison to the Iraqi Army, a dangerous assignment, given the fact that he had to interact with former soldiers of Saddam Hussein.

Along the way, he had to fend off hostile fire and evade roadside bombings. Luckily, he wrapped up his tour of duty and returned unscathed.

But it was in Iraq that Bonifacio first realized how decisions in Washington D.C. impacted the execution of the war on terror.

“I came to realize and believe that politicians really affect how I lived my life,” while fighting in Iraq, he said. He cited the deep disconnect between Washington and what was happening in Iraq during his time there.

“I thought that we really needed a better leadership.”

Signing-up for Obama
As soon as he finished his active duty, he began to explore political activism. As a military man, he was a natural fit for Senator John McCain, now the presumptive Republican nominee, who is a decorated Vietnam War hero. Instead, he signed up for the Obama camp on June 4, 2007.

“I never joined the Obama campaign to be against anything,” he stressed. He said that he admired Obama’s support of the GI Bill, and most of all, his position in ending the war in Iraq.

It all began in Iowa
After a short stay in Chicago, where the Obama headquarters is located, Bonifacio was dispatched to Iowa, where the first-in-the-nation caucus was held.

In the dead of Winter of 2007, when “Obama was 20 percent behind in the polls,” Bonifacio put to good use the skills he learned in the military. As a field organizer, he knocked on doors and registered new voters.

Bonifacio credited his military experience for instilling in him the value of discipline, adaptability and leadership, skills that were very useful in his first political work.

“I easily adapted to the early morning wake-up calls and long hours of work,” he said.

At the Hawkeye State, he engaged college students, veterans, farmers, and housewives.

“We kept on talking about Senator Obama and pushing the message. We had a chance to talk to people, and they asked us questions. And after taking a long and fair look at the candidate, they came on board” Bonifacio explained.

He also pointed out that the small Filipino community in Iowa was very receptive of Obama's candidacy.

As a then 27-year old veteran of the Iraq War, Bonifacio was also an authoritative face in reaching out to the veterans population in Iowa.

On January 3, Obama won Iowa, a state with a 97 percent white population, catapulting him into front of the pack. On the night Obama delivered his victory speech and declared, "We are one nation; we are one people; and our time for change has come" Bonifacio was in the crowd cheering and savoring the victory.

Bonifacio also played a supporting role when Obama made a very strong showing on the night of Super Duper Tuesday. Leading the the February 5 multi-state contest, Bonifacio was assigned at the Chicago headquarters helping coordinate strategy for the campaign's Latino outreach.

During both occasions, Bonifacio witnessed the event in person and he would only describe it as "powerful."

Skepticism
As the campaign enters the general election phase, Bonifacio directly addressed the prevailing skepticism among the Filipino American community towards Obama. He urged them to study the policy differences between Obama and McCain.

"Once they listen to him explain his policies, they will come around," he said, adding that issues such as immigration, healthcare and education, that are important to the Filipino American voters are top priorities of an Obama administration.

As the very first African American nominee for a major party, Obama also faces questions about his race. Bonifacio admitted that even within his extended Filipino family, there were many doubters, especially those who belong to the older generation. But after seeing him reap the fruits of success as a new political operative, "now, they are all supporters of Senator Obama," Bonifacio proudly said.

FINC at the 2008 Chicago Gay Pride

2008-06-30T13:29:00.000-07:00

Inquirer.net Global Nation Section

Also featured on GMA News and Ambibo.com

Filipino contingent shines at the Chicago Gay Pride Parade

Text, Photos and Videos by Ted Regencia

Chicago, IL -- For the first time in the 39-year history of the Chicago Gay Pride Parade, a contingent of Filipinos joined in the festivities Sunday, June 29, capping their trailblazing participation with a victory in the Best Organization Float category.

An estimated 450,000 people -- 25,000 more than last year, according to reports -- gave the Filipinos and Friends in Chicago (FINC) and other parade participants a wild and frenzied welcome. FINC is an organization of young Filipino professionals in the Windy City.

"We really want to highlight the rich and colorful culture of the Philippines, and make known to the world that as Filipinos, we are proud to be a part of the Chicago community," Oliver Cutamora, a founding member said.

FINC's street performance, a fusion of native Filipino dances and modern rhythms, conceptualized by professional choreographers Mike Vallente and Chip Payos, sent the crowd into loud cheers.

Featured on CNN.com's iReport Section

As the performers entertain the crowd, other FINC members distributed pink beads, while an advance party carried the group banner, the American and Philippines flags, and the rainbow-colored flag of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender community.

An intermittent rain and a minor accident stalled the parade for nearly an hour, but the revelers stayed put in solidarity with the performers.

The parade featured scores of floats decked in colorful designs. Hundreds of organizations also participated, including Lambda Legal, a national civil-rights group and Lake View East Chamber of Commerce, which shares the same award with FINC.

Recognizing the political force of Chicagoland's gay community, political leaders such as Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and North Shore Congressman Jan Schakowsky also marched. Schakowsky is hinted as Senator Barack Obama's replacement, should he win the presidency in November 2008, also marched. Obama himself did not show up, but a group of supporters distributed leaflets and stickers promoting his candidacy.

But not all who showed up were in support of the event. A group of evangelical Christians rallied at the southwest corner of Clark and Belmont to condemn the parade. But their group was drowned-out by a bigger group of counter-protesters. Later, they moved to Diversey to resume their protest.

The theme of this year's march "Live, Love, Be Proud" took on a greater significance with the legalization of same-sex marriage in California. Expanding on the theme, hundreds carried placards calling for equal treatment of all people.

Serving as grand marshal was Eric Alva, a gay rights advocate and ex-marine from Texas. Alva is calling on the government to allow gays to serve openly in the military.

Other major cities such as San Francisco, Toronto in Canada, Mumbai in India and Brno in Prague also held their parade last Sunday. The event commemorates the bloody riot in New York City in 1968 that sparked the gay rights movement.

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky chats with FINC organizer Oliver Cutamora.

From the Mountain Province to the Windy City

2008-06-19T23:57:00.000-07:00

Pacquiao's foe David Diaz trains with Fil-Am from Mountain Province

WBC Lightweight boxing champion David Diaz during workout.

David's sparring partner: Diamond Gut-oman Baier, a 31-year old native of Mountain Province.

Text, Photos and Video by Ted Regencia PINOY Newsmagazine

Chicago, IL -- As he prepares for his biggest fight against the Philippines' Manny Pacquiao on June 28, lightweight champion David Diaz now spars with a Filipino-American southpaw.

Diaz has enlisted the help of Diamond Gut-oman Baier, a 31-year old native of Bontoc, Mountain Province, as one of his three sparring partners, all lefties.

Diamond, as he is popularly known in Chicago's boxing community, is an amateur boxer and trains with the Chicago Boxing Club. He is also an entrepreneur and long-time resident of the Chicago's South Side. At the age of 10, Diamond moved to Chicago after he was adopted by his aunt. He took his last name Baier, from his German-American uncle.

"I hope he doesn't get in trouble," Diaz jokingly quipped after revealing Diamond's name. "We didn't just get him because he's Filipino. We got him because his style is similar to Manny's. He is fast, he's pretty strong and he's from around the area," Diaz said.

On Thursday, June 19 as Diaz held court with the Chicago media, Diamond kept a low-profile staying at the back of the Jabb Boxing Gym, where the press conference took place.

David Diaz is being interviewed by a Chicago journalist.

In an exclusive interview with this reporter, Diamond said that he has been boxing for six years. In 2004, he met David through his coach, who encouraged him to watch the Olympian shadow-box.

"I learned a lot from David. It's a small world, years later, here I am helping him out for his championship fight," Diamond said in a soft-spoken voice that belies his hard-hitting punches.

"This is going to be a great fight," Diamond predicted of the match between the two boxing champions, Diaz and Pacquiao. "For all the boxing fans out there, I hope they'll get a chance to see it."

He also offered some analysis about the sports, particularly on the advantages of lefty boxers like him, saying that "they are just awkward to fight." "Most people who are right-handed usually fight right-handed fighters. So, when you fight someone who is left-handed, you're thrown-off just because of all the angles."

What makes the fight between Diaz and Pacquiao interesting is that both are lefties, Diamond pointed out. "This will be a great fight. I can't wait to see it."

While Diamond was not picked by virtue of his birth as a Filipino, he said he is proud of his Mountain Province ancestry.

"I'm always gonna be Filipino. Absolutely" Diamond said adding that he still loves to eat adobo, pancit and lumpia. Last year, he returned to the Philippines to attend the funeral of his mother, and will visit anew in September.

Diaz's two other sparring partners are Oscar Leon of Colombia and Ivan Popcea of Mexico. He is being trained by Bob Arum and promoted by Top Rank.

Just a little more than a week before his fight at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Diaz said as of June 18, he weighs 137 lbs., two pounds above the lightweight division that he is fighting.

Asked whether there's still some part of his training that he needs to work on, Diaz said that "like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, it's all coming together." "What we need is conditioning, so we need to work on that conditioning until the couple of days before the fight. And then from there, see what happens."

As to his psychological readiness, the Chicago-born pugilist said that "he doesn't think about it too much." "I just go with the flow and see where it takes me. If the day of the fight, I have to do something, then I'll do it. Other than that, just go forward man."

David Diaz with his father, Anselmo a native of Mexico. David is the youngest of nine children.

David Diaz: Chicago Cubs' "Pitcher for a Day"

2008-06-19T18:49:00.000-07:00

Text, Photos and Video by Ted Regencia

Chicago, IL -- If only for a few hours, boxing was not the center of his attention, as WBC lightweight titleholder David Diaz watched his favorite baseball team, the Chicago Cubs play at the historic Wrigley Field on Tuesday, June 10.

Not only did he watch the game, he threw the ceremonial pitch, an honor reserved for celebrities and presidents. As the announcer called Diaz to the mound, a crowd of more than 40,000 cheered the hometown's top boxing champion.

GMA television was the only Filipino media company allowed at Wrigley Field to cover Diaz.

"I'm going to try and see if I can make it to the plate. If in fact I can make it to the plate, I'd be happy," Diaz said just before the start of the game.

And in what could be a good sign for Diaz, the Cubs delivered the necessary "hooks and jabs" to beat the visiting Atlanta Braves, 10-5.

The Chicago pugilist is only a few days removed from his biggest bout, and it looks like he has also ramped up his training.

"It's great. It's doing good. We are in good condition. We're doing already pretty good rounds and working hard to try to stay in good shape," Diaz said. As part of his training he runs 6 miles near his Northwest Side home.

He said he is ready to keep his title from being snatched by famed Filipino fighter, Manny Pacquiao, who now holds three world titles.

"I think [our chance] is great. I'm gonna be fighting a smart fight, an intelligent fight. I'll try to out-point him and beat him. Let's see what we can do," Diaz said.

"Train hard buddy, because we are gonna have a good time," Diaz said, directly addressing Pacquiao.

Diaz, however, hesitated to predict the possibility of him knocking out Pacquiao, who is also a lefty.

"I don't know if I can knock him out. But I feel comfortable and confident that I will do a good fight," Diaz said.

My dad, my hero
As Diaz talked about his upcoming fight, he quickly pivoted the discussion towards the role of his parents in his career.

"My dad is my hero. He didn't even go to kindergarten, didn't finish first grade and he was still there able to support and provide a roof for his kids. If he can do that, I can do anything as well," Diaz said. "I am very proud of my mom and my dad. I'm fortunate to be their son," he added.

Diaz's father, Anselmo is from the state of Guerrero in Mexico. He came to the US in the 1950s and toiling in the fields of Sacramento, California. He later moved to Chicago and later had to opportunity to work for R.S. Owens, maker of Oscar statues for the Academy Awards.

Meanwhile, Basilisa, David's mother is from Acatlan, another remote part of Mexico. Not too long ago, his mother faced some health-related problems. For five years, she was on dialysis until she finally got a kidney transplant. She also suffered a heart attack after the transplant, complicating further the challenges Diaz had to face. As the youngest of nine children, the responsibility fell on him to take care of his ailing mother.

Asked how they feel about his upcoming fight, David said that both his parents "are comfortable. They feel happy. They know the type, the line of work I am in, so we got to roll with it."

10-year old FilAm breaks own Guinness world record

2008-05-23T09:34:00.000-07:00

Steven Purugganan to star in new McDonald's commercial

Steven Purugganan displays his cup stacking skills.

Text and Photos by Ted Regencia

Chicago, IL -- He has no mutant powers, but with his skills he can give the comic super-hero, Speed, a run for his money.

Ten-year old Steven Purugganan smashed his own Guiness Book world record last April, to keep his title as the fastest cup stacker. The fifth-grader from Massachusetts made his mark during the 2008 World Sports Stacking Championships in Denver, Colorado.

Steven set a record-breaking 6.21 seconds in the "Cycle Stack" category, a solid improvement from his previous world record of 7.23 seconds, which he set only last October 2007 in New York. He beat over a thousand competitors to claim the grand prize. Prior to the Denver championship, he already broke his original record twice, in February (6.65 seconds) and March (6.52 seconds).

Steven also holds two other world records in the "3-6-3" (2.34 seconds) and "3-3-3" (1.86 seconds) individual categories. The numbers refer to the pieces of cups involved in the routine. "Cycle Stack" is a more complicated combination using 12 cups.

Asked by this reporter whether he feels pressure now that he is the champion, Steven sheepishly said, "Not really because my time is really fast and not many people can get that time."

Sports stacking, or more popularly known as cup stacking, is a fairly new phenomenon. The game was believed to have started in the 1980s during summer camps. But it was only in 2001 when organizers formed the World Sport Stacking Association, that the game was elevated to a competitive level.

To play the game, each competitor is required to stack and unstack specially designed plastic cups in pre-determined sequences. The fastest competitor wins. Contestants can work with a team or compete individually.

Celebrity Status
Even before this latest record, Steven was already launched into the spotlight when he was featured last January in the NBC prime-time special, "Guinness Book of World Records: Top 100". He was ranked No. 72 as the most fascinating world record-holder.

After setting his newest record, he was featured anew on TV, appearing on ESPN's "Top 9 Play of the Day" segment. In his town of Longmeadow, Massachusetts where his family resides after moving from Chicago, Steven is being treated like a mini-celebrity, and sought after by different media organizations.

Recently, local politicians from Massachusetts welcomed him to the State House to witness his stacking prowess, according to CBS station WBZ-TV in Boston.

It was only in late 2006, when Steven and his older brothers Andrew and Brian learned about cup stacking, while watching ESPN. Sensing their interest of the game, their mother Victoria bought them a cup stacking set for $30.

Only 18 months after, the Purugganan household headed by their father, Dan, had a certified champion in their midst. "It was well worth it [$30]," Steven's mom jokingly quipped in a radio interview.

Steven trains every day for one hour. He also devotes time for his studies, as well as other extra-curricular activities like baseball, soccer, basketball and golf.

Steven with mom Victoria, grandpa Ding and grandma Lourdes.

Deal with McDonald's

Because of his achievements, the fast-food giant McDonald's offered Steven to star in a new television commercial, which will run in the US.

Last May 15, accompanied by his mom, Victoria, Steven flew in from Boston to Chicago to shoot the commercial. The McDonald's headquarters is based in the Chicago suburb of Hoffman Estates.

"They knew of Steven's world record because of the website and his YouTube videos. They contacted people out in Denver and asked, 'Do you think Steven would be interested to coming over to Chicago for a McDonald's commercial," a visibly excited Mrs. Purugganan recounted. "They called me and we said, yes!"

"I was excited because I also knew it's my hometown, so I was thinking that we can visit all our best friends and cousins," Steven said. "I'm just excited to shoot my first commercial."

Steven's family from the maternal side are from Manila. His father, Dan was born in the US but grew up in Manila.

The television commercial will be aired in July or August. Steven's mom said she hopes it will boost awareness of the game.

This is the sixth year the World Sport Stacking Association has sanctioned the World Sport Stacking Championships.

Pinoys mob Pacquiao in Chicago

2008-05-22T07:07:00.000-07:00

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Text, Photos and Video by Ted Regencia
Article also published on GMANews.TV

Chicago, IL -- Nobody can fire up a crowd of Filipinos in Chicago more than boxing champion Manny Pacquiao. Not even Chicago's very own senator and presidential candidate, Barack Obama.

Manny Pacquiao face-to-face with David Diaz in Chicago.

On his first visit to the Windy City on Wednesday, May 21, the WBC super featherweight champion sent his Filipino fans into a frenzy as they warmly welcomed their hometown hero during a chilly noontime pep rally.

Pacquiao is in a multi-city tour to promote his June 28 fight against another champion, WBC lightweight titleholder David Diaz. He is also in a chase to become the first ever Filipino and Asian to hold four titles in four divisions.

"Thank you to all Filipinos, my countrymen," Pacquiao said, as his fans of about two hundred, interrupted him with roaring cheers. "It's very nice to be here in Chicago. It is my first time to be here and I am surprised by your warm welcome."

Chicago Sun-Times Assistant sports editor Roman Modrowski interviews Manny Pacquiao.

Earlier, at a news conference, Pacquiao vowed to "give a good fight for the honor of our country, in the name of Jesus Christ." He said that he is making progress with his training, adding that he currently has four sparring partners.

One of the earliest fans who greeted Pacquiao in Chicago was pharmacy technician, Rey Ramos, originally from Davao City. He wore a specially-designed "Pacman" headgear in honor of his hero.

"I had to miss work today in order to see Manny in person, and welcome him to Chicago," Ramos said. "I'm really a huge fan. I'm from Chicago, but everytime Manny has a fight, we always go to Las Vegas."

Pacquiao poses with his Chicago fans.

Another Chicagoan Steve Ravino, originally of Roxas City, could not wait for the rally to meet Pacquaio. He sneaked into the press conference held at a restaurant, and managed to have his photo taken with the boxing sensation from General Santos City.

A number of Filipino office workers in the downtown Chicago area also spent their lunch break, cheering for Pacquiao.

One of the most prominent Pacquiao fans who showed up was former North Cotabato governor, now Vice Governor Manny Pinol.

Pinol, who is in the US to visit a family member, said that he is "very proud" of Pacquiao's achievements.

"I'm proud because Manny has this character of not forgetting the people who were able to help him in the past," said Pinol, one of the earliest personalities who supported Pacquaio as a young boxer. "One thing I appreciate about Manny is his ability to remember people who helped him along the way. And this is a virtue that we seldom see today."

Of his upcoming fight, Pinol said that it could reveal "a lot of unknowns" about Pacquaio as a fighter. "I would like to see him fight a lefty. I'd like to know how Manny would take the body-punching of Diaz."

Team Diaz
Chicago native, David Diaz was not to be outdone, bringing with him his family including his mother and father and a band of supporters some wearing specialized "Team Diaz" vests and jackets.

"It's gonna be an all-out war between Manny and myself. Manny is a straightforward fighter as I am, and we're both going to go at it. But the only thing that's going to happen there is I am going to win the fight," Diaz said. "We're going to bring back the belt to Chicago."

"Hopefully the Filipino people out there can forgive for that, but I can't allow it [Pacquaio victory]," he said. "We've been in this situation before. This is not a strange territory for me. We've been the underdog, but we've managed to somehow, someway come out with a victory and I don't see why we can't do it on June 28. May the best man win, and I believe that man's is going to be me."

Meanwhile, boxing promoter Bob Arum lavished his praise of Pacquiao saying he is a "consummate fighter" and a "great professional" He also called Diaz "a real gentleman."

"It's gonna be one of the most exciting fights that we've seen: Two guys who do nothing, but keep punching. Manny is the faster guy. David is the bigger and stronger guy, so it's gonna be one of the classic fights of our time."

Last year, Diaz, 31, (34-1-1, 17 KOs), successfully defended his title by defeating another Mexican star Erik Morales, whom Pacquiao also defeated in the past.

Pacquiao (46-3-2, 34 KOs) currently holds four world titles, including the World Boxing Council super featherweight belt.

Pacquiao fans crowd around the boxing champion, asking for an autograph.

(Please check back for videos of the press conference and rally)

Details on Pacquiao visit to Chicago out

2008-05-15T21:45:00.000-07:00

By Ted Regencia

Chicago, IL -- In an effort to rally his Filipino supporters in Chicago, reigning WBC super featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao will breeze through the Windy City on May 21, and assert his presence at the home turf of WBC lightweight champion David Diaz.

Pacquiao and Diaz will host a media roundtable luncheon at Lalo's Restaurant at 10:30 AM, to be followed by a public pep rally at the Federal Plaza. They will drum-up support for their world title fight, according to Bernie Bahrmasel of Double B. Publicity, Inc. This was also confirmed by Ace Freeman of FightFan.com.

It will be Pacquiao's first visit to Chicago, according to Bahrmasel, who handles the publicity of the fight.

Bahrmasel urged the Filipino fans of Pacquiao in Chicago to show their support and join the rally.

Lalo's Restaurant is located at 500 N Lasalle St, Chicago. The Federal Plaza sits next to the Klucynski Federal Building in the corner of Adams and Dearborn in downtown Chicago.

In an exclusive interview last May 4, Diaz said he and Pacquaio are "made for each other."

"I think we're going to give a great and exciting fight for the public. This is what the fight is all about, to make the public happy and the fans happy," Diaz said.

Last year, Diaz, 31, (34-1-1, 17 KOs), successfully defended his title by defeating another Mexican star Erik Morales, whom Pacquiao also defeated in the past.

Pacquiao (46-3-2, 34 KOs) currently holds four world titles, including the World Boxing Council super featherweight belt.

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2008-05-15T20:12:00.000-07:00

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From the Archive: Obama campaign manager David Axelrod

2008-05-13T01:54:00.000-07:00

David Axelrod meets the horde of press people, to give an informal briefing on the night of the Iowa Caucus, when it looked like his candidate, Sen. Barack Obama will prevail in the Hawkeye State, ahead of John Edwards and Hillary Clinton. (Video by Ted Regencia)