*** Despite her struggle with Lupus, a determined 24-year-old managed to complete her college degree. Astrophysicist Dr. Reinabelle’s  interest in science led her to her current role as a Ph.d student at the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics, University of Chicago. According to an Inquirer News report,  Reyes  was awarded the Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Student Award for her work in discovering the largest quasars, which are gargantuan black holes in the galaxy’s centers, the report added. She received her degree in physics from Ateneo de Manila University. Reyes says she would like to go back to the Philippines to teach physics in the future.

*** Philippine Senator Edgardo Angara was honored with a title role  for his work  in improving the relations between the Philippines and other Latin American nations including Spain and Mexico, according to an Inquirer News report. He was appointed by The Hispanic American Royal Academy of Arts, Sciences and Letters in Madrid, Spain as the Corresponding Academic Member of the Academy.  Sen. Angara is the first Asian member to be appointed to the Spanish academy.  His responsibilities include overseeing the Royal Academy’s publications. Since 1987, Angara has served as a Philippine senator for four terms. He has served as Senate president from 1993-1995 during the term of Fidel Ramos. *** During the April 15 Binimbining Pilipinas contest at Smart Araneta Coliseum,  22-year-old pharmacist Janine Tugonon won the chance to represent the Philippines in the upcoming Miss Universe 2012 pageant. Last year, Tugonon was first runner-up to Shamcey Supsup, according to an Inquirer News report. It’s good she tried again and hit the bull’s eye.

*** After her own daughter became involved with drugs, Corazon Tomalinas decided to take action to prevent future youth from making the same mistake.  Tomalinas, a Nurse, was honored on April 5 at the White House for her leadership role in the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention. Her job is to help youth avoid drugs and gangs in the San Jose, California area. The forum was initiated by President Obama in 2010. In addition to her leadership role, she has worked with the San Jose Police Department for more than 30 years to combat youth violence, the report added. (By Grace Garcia)

Inumerable O. Cabiltes died on April 10 at the age of 80. He was a resident of Evanston and a native of Makati.
He was a retired Bank Clerk, member of St. Nicholas Parish in Evanston, and Couples For Christ.
He leaves behind his wifeAurora;his son Victor (Christine) and granddaughter Krista; his siblings Godofredo (Purificacion) and Alfonso (Thelma) Cabiltes, the late Visitacion Lagrimas and Nelly Masalihit. Wake was April 16 at the Haben Funeral Home. Interment will be at Maryhill Cemetery.

Fidel Escobar Sr., 88, Korean War Veteran

Fidel Escobar Sr. passed away on April 15 at the age of 88. Mr. Escobar was a native of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. He was a soldier for the Philippine Army and a Korean War Veteran.
He was preceded in death by his wife Maria Soledad; leaves behind  children Angelito (Ella), Rogelio (Evelyn), Estrella (Abe), Antonina (Lito), Edna (Mr. Ang), Fidelina (Daniel), Fidel Jr., (Baby), Rebecca (Nestor), Reynaldo (Girlie), Thelma (Rudy), Danilo (Cora), and Ferdinand (Arlyn); and his grandchildren. Wake was at Smith Corcoran Funeral Home on April 19. Interment will be at Maryhill Cemetery.

Evergisto C. deGuzman, 75

Evergisto  C. deGuzman of Morton Grove died on April 15 at the age of 75. He was originally from Lingayen, Pangasinan.He served as president of the Fil-Am Club of St. Peter Catholic Church and also of the Association of Filipino Free Masons.
He is survived by wife Lolita,  children Rose Villa, Rose Lilie, Roever (Katerina), Evergisto  Jr., Jess (Kate), and grandchildren.  Wake was at Haben Funeral Home on April 19. Interment was at Maryhill Cemetery April 21.

Angelina C. Samonte, 82

Angelina C. Samonte of Skokie died on April 14 in Wedgefield, Florida. She was preceded in death by her husband Virgilio. She is survived by her children Ruby Dahan (Edgardo), Rebecca Gimenez (Rodolfo), Rene Edgardo (Marilou), Rosalyn, Robert, and Roderick. Memorial mass was said on April 21 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Orlando. Another memorial mass will be celebrated on May 19. Interested party may call Ruby at 847-271-0073.

Consuelo B. Crame, 71

Consuelo Brosas Crame passed away on April 7 at the age of 71. She was a native of Liliw. She graduated from Adamsom University and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry.
She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph; survived by children Rafael (Rocio), Christopher (Anna), and Fitzgerald (Cynthia); and leaves behind grandchildren Isabella, Olivia and Milana. Her wake was held at the Benson Family Funeral Home April 11. Interment will be in Liliw, Philippines.

Loreto R. Tacmo, Sr., 81

Loreto R. Tacmo, Sr., died on April 13 at the age of 81. He is survived by spouse Juanita; his children  Amelia T. (Samuel) Yabes, Loreto Jr. (Lita), Hernando (Rose Marie), Evangeline (Rex) Basalatan, Yolanda (Melanio) Calub and Olivia; and his nine grandchildren. His wake was held at the Simkins Funeral Home in Morton Grove on April 19 & 20. Funeral mass April 21 at St. Martha Church. Interment will be at Maryhill Cemetery.

Jaime B. Dela Cruz, 67

Jaime B. Dela Cruz passed away on April 17. He was 67.  He is survived by wife Teresita; children  Janete (Jay) Cha, Jonathan T. and Jennifer; and grandchildren Evan and Melina. Mr. Dela Cruz’s wake was at Coglianese Funeral Home in Burr Ridge April  21. Interment at Clarendon Hills Cemetery.

Mariano J. Doliente, 92

Mariano Jimenez Doliente of Addison died at home on April 2 at the age of 92. He was a native of Pilar, Abra.
Mariano is survived by his wife Carmen Coliente and his children Emilio (Lilia) Doliente, Rodrigo (Alma Rose) Doliente, and Rosendo (Vilma) Doliente. He leaves behind grandchildren Rod Anthony (Susan) and Roma Maria (Kevin) and 11 great-grandchildren. Visitation was on April 9 at Oaks Funeral Home in Itasca. Funeral mass was on April 10 at St. Joseph Chruch in Addison. Interment will be at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.

By Eliseo “Jojo” Prisno

Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor

Early this year we talked about variable annuities as an asset class. We’ve learned the contract’s basics and the philosophy on why we want to own or put some of our monies into it. This time let’s talk about the key features and attributes of this investment, how your monies are invested, and the very reason why these are popular with people saving for retirement. In the current investment universe, this is the only asset class or investment type that offers a combination of accumulation potential (investment account) and guarantees not found in other investment formats. Let us move ahead with the third part of this financial educational series.

THE SEPARATE OR INVESTMENT ACCOUNT
Variable contract’s assets are typically invested in an investment account known as “separate accounts.”  Here the investor or account owner can direct or take control, with the help of a financial advisor on how his/her assets may be invested. The “separate accounts” normally employs a variety of investment options managed by independent money managers or investment firms. The investment options are generally in the form of “mutual funds” invested in a variety of disciplines, asset classes and/or industry sectors covering both domestic and international positions.

HOW TO CREATE A PORTFOLIO IN A SEPARATE ACCOUNT
As in any other investment set up, diversification is always a good strategy to spread an investor’s risk.  Variable contracts are great investment vehicles to achieve this and quite convenient considering that you can find this in one product. To achieve full diversification, you first have to know what your “risk tolerance” is (how you can take market movements/volatilities), your time horizon and your accumulation plan.

If you are “rolling-over” a lump sum amount to a variable contract, say from a pension plan, a  401K/403B or an IRA account and plan to create an income out right (if you have met the qualified age of penalty free withdrawals), the best stance is to adopt a “moderately conservative” risk perspective.  Moderate conservatives typically allocate assets with a ratio of 80:20, 80% to fixed income or bond investments and 20% equity or stock investments.

Those that have rolled over lump sum monies but still have some time before creating an income stream, in 5 to 7 years, have the best stance of adopting a “moderate” risk tolerance. Moderates normally invest in a balanced portfolio of 50% fixed income or bond instruments and 50% in stocks investments. While you’re within this waiting window and still would want to contribute to your account for further accumulation, the best placement strategy is to “time” the market.

“Timing” is simply being vigilant of the market and properly reading it. If the market is “bearish” or favors the “fixed income” side of the investment spectrum then direct your contributions to this side. If the market is “bullish” or favors stock investments then direct the new monies contributed to stocks. If the market is volatile or moving north and south, then place your new contributions to “stable investments” or money market funds, which are normally part of the asset class selection in the product’s  investment menu. When the market bottoms out (be vigilant of the market indices i.e. DOW Jones, S&P 500, etc.) re-balance your portfolio and place the “money market funds” accumulated in “stock funds”, here you’re buying at a low thus buying more units of the “stock fund.”

If you get into a variable contract and use it to accumulate future savings via regular monthly buy-ins or dollar cost averaging (DCA or the process of allocating a fixed amount every month to buy into an investment normally via an EFT, electronic fund transfer arrangement), the appropriate “risk tolerance” stance to take is “moderately aggressive”. Moderately aggressive investors are normally positioned in a 20:80 ratio of fixed income and stock investments.  Accumulation normally takes between 10 to 20 years of diligent contributions and this time frame normally completes a market cycles. From my learning of the market’s history, over the long term, a well- diversified moderately aggressive positioned portfolio will always deliver growth at par or better than the stock market average. If you look back the past 20 years, the S&P 500 delivered an average of 11% growth year on year.

I hope I don’t sound too technical but investing is simply straight forward, however if you don’t feel comfortable doing it by yourself, always employ the services of a financial professional.

In my next series, let’s talk about how guaranties work in variable contracts.

P/E Capital Investments manages the wealth of select families and business owners. P/E Capital Investments does not provide tax or legal advice.  It is strongly recommended you consult your professional advisor prior to implementing any of the strategies mentioned here within.  a complimentary analysis of your retirement readiness, call toll free to 1-888-929-2825 and follow us on Twitter.

By Rhodora Derpo

Immigration Attorney

What is immigration marriage fraud?  Under the Immigration Marriage Fraud Amendments Act of 1986, marriage fraud occurs when an individual “knowingly enters into a marriage for the purpose of evading any provision of the immigration laws.”  Here are some typical fact patterns:

1) Lucy, a United States citizen, and Rudy, a noncitizen who has overstayed his visa, get married and they fulfill all the legal requirements for a legal marriage.  However, Lucy and Rudy never intended to live as husband and wife.

2) Cliff, a non-citizen whose work visa is about to expire, pays Samantha, a lawful permanent resident/green-card holder, to marry him so that he can obtain status as a permanent resident in the United States.

3) Reggie, a United States citizen, was not paid to marry Linda, a non-citizen, but there was an agreement between them that the marriage was created solely to enable Linda to obtain immigration benefits.

As seen in the examples above, marriage fraud occurs if the petitioner and beneficiary enter into marriage to evade immigration laws.  While a non-citizen can absolutely marry a United States citizen/green-card holder knowing that he or she will obtain an immigration benefit, he or she must not enter into marriage solely or primarily just to receive an immigration benefit.  The marriage must be based on the couple’s intention to spend their lives together as husband and wife.

Conduct of the parties

How is the government regulating fraudulent marriages?  United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has dedicated a substantial amount of resources to stop fraudulently married non-citizens from obtaining immigration benefits.  Each marriage-based green-card application is reviewed with scrutiny in order for USCIS to make a determination that a marriage is bona fide and legitimate for immigration purposes.

The examining officer may look at the conduct of the parties after the marriage to determine their intent at the time of marriage.  During the marriage interview, the examining officer may ask the couple, for example: whether they jointly own property; whether they are living together; and, whether they are conducting themselves as husband and wife.  Some officers also use visual clues and examine the parties’ body language and whether either one is wearing a wedding ring.

Sham marriage

What results if the marriage is a fraud?  If there is evidence of a fraudulent marriage, USCIS will deny immigration petitions and applications for adjustment of status.  Moreover, if a noncitizen is charged with marriage fraud, he or she will be barred from obtaining an immigration benefit under Section 204(c) Immigration and Nationality Act as amended.  A 204(c) finding has steep immigration consequences.  The noncitizen has a slim chance of obtaining permanent resident status in the United States.  Once a denial order is issued based on a 204(c) finding, the applicant is ineligible to receive an immigration benefit from any subsequent petition filed on his or her behalf.  The only exception is where a second petition is filed and approved based on the same marriage.

Furthermore, individuals charged with entering into a marriage to evade immigration laws face sentences of up to 5 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.  A noncitizen who enters into a sham marriage will also become subject to removal (or deportation).

What is the role of immigration attorneys?  Attorneys hold positions of public trust.  We are officers of the court and must inquire into the merits of every case.  We have a duty to get to know our clients and our case.  If something looks odd to us, we must perform due diligence.  We should not be facilitating or helping our clients to violate the law for our own personal profit.  Immigration attorneys must not present materially false documentation with the intention of defrauding the legal immigration system.  Immigration marriage fraud is serious business. •

CBS TV Channel 2 cameras were recently in front the Jose Rizal Heritage Center (Rizal Center) at 1332 Irving Park Road in Chicago filming the network’s investigative reporter, Pam Zekman, doing a story on a caregiver who allegedly bilked her aged patient of well over $500,000.

Zekman called it “one of the worst cases ever handled by the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office — the case of a man suffering from severe dementia.”

The Pinay involved in the case is Carmelita Pasamba, a certified nurse assistant who was hired to take care of Marshall Davies who was told by his doctor that he needed a full-time caretaker when he was discharged at St. Joseph Hospital in 2008.

Assistant public guardian James Burton said that his office is now trying to recover the money “stolen” from the 93-year old man.  He said, “Mr. Davies was extremely vulnerable…And so he was the perfect prey.”

It is indeed a disturbing case that has caused a negative ripple effect on the integrity of our medical professionals and to the reputation of the Filipino American community.

What has happened in the past two and a half years?  It is basically stated in the case which is docketed for a hearing in a Cook County court on April 26, and was summarized in the CBS report which follows:

First,  Pasamba brought Davies to the Filipino American Council to get legal help from Alfonso Bascos, a council board member and attorney who has offices there.

The Public Guardian’s office says Bascos prepared a new will and trust agreement for Davies giving $20,000 to various social service agencies affiliated with the Filipino American Council (FACC) and giving Pasamba and her family a total of $175,000 upon Davies’ death.

Bascos also prepared a power of attorney giving Pasamba authority to handle Davies’ financial affairs, including making withdrawals and writing checks from Davies’ bank account.

Records obtained by the Public Guardian’s Office show Pasamba used Davies’ money to make a $10,000 down payment on a new $50,000 Mercedes. She also wrote checks for thousands of dollars to pay for her daughter’s tuition and to finance her son’s dance studio.

Her sister, Jocelyn Baker, also worked as caretaker for Davies. Over and above her caretaker salary, she got more than $20,000 she used to remodel her apartment and buy furnishings.

And after Carmelita Pasamba helped Davies sell his condo for $189,000, she gave herself a $50,000 “bonus” from the proceeds, Burton says. She also withdrew $50,000 from his bank account on three other occasions.

“I call it theft — that’s what it is,” Burton says. “We tend to be jaded sometimes because we see this type of stuff all the time, but this one takes the cake…Essentially Mr. Davies was their own personal ATM machine.”

The Public Guardian’s Office is planning to sue everyone involved in this case to try and get back some of Davies’ retirement money.

This brings us back to why the CBS cameras are at Rizal Center.

The Filipino American Council of Chicago, which allegedly was the recipient of $20,000 from Mr. Davies, owns and manages Rizal Center where it holds offices and its activities since its acquisition of the building in 1974.  Mr. Bascos had been its president for two non-consecutive terms to a total of eight years. He conducts his legal practice there in exchange for his “pro bono” legal work he is doing for the FACC.

The FAAC, which used to be the most powerful  Filipino federation in the Chicago area, has lost most of its influence in the affairs of the greater Filipino American community. Many attribute its dwindling membership generally to petty politics and particularly to Mr. Bascos whose critics call him “untrustworthy” and “power hungry.”

During the marking of the martyrdom of the Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, last December 30, one of the pioneers of the FACC, Eliodore “Ely” Faypon, in his speech before the members of the Knights of Rizal, lambasted the FACC leadership  for their exclusionary attitude and lack of vision which he claimed to be primarily the reason for the sad state of the organization.

There is no indication that the FACC is distancing itself with Mr. Bascos or if the amount involved will be returned to Mr. Davies.  (PINOY tried to solicit the comment of its president Rene Abella but we did get any up to the time we went to press.)

Next month brings to a conclusion the sesquicentennial celebration of Dr. Jose Rizal’s birthday.  The ideals and noble dreams of the Philippine National Hero certainly are pushed under the dark clouds of this tragic case where the “memorial building” named after him became the prop of the CBS investigative report.

The leaders of the FACC should recalibrate the group’s moral compass.  They have to shore up the eroding moral foundation of this 50-year old federation, if it must be true to its original goals. If the leaders do not have the moral courage to do the right thing—the least they can do is to drop the name of Dr. Jose Rizal from the FACC building as we wind down our celebration of the National Hero’s 150th birthday.
***
(On the matter of the Davies Case–Pam Zekman warns:  To prevent this from happening to you or a loved one, experts say you should hire an attorney who specializes in estate planning and make your wishes for your care and finances known in writing. And always hire caretakers from licensed agencies.

The Illinois Department of Aging has more information on the warning signs of financial exploitation of a senior on its website.

To report a possible case of elder financial abuse, you can also call the agency’s hotline: 1 (866) 800-1409.

In Cook County, you can call the Cook County Public Guardian’s office at (312) 603-0800.) •

By Mariano “Anong” Santos

Publisher/Editor

A real estate broker once joked about a lawyer who got his real estate license.  “Why did he?,” asked his fellow brokers.  “So he can mess up his own deal!,” came the answer.

Of course there are even several books of jokes about lawyers.  Sharks, it was said, are not happy about those  jokes—because they feel insulted being compared  with lawyers.  Sharks won’t sue because they don’t like using the services of lawyers.

Be that as it may, lawyers are very much in the topics of many a conversation in the community in the recent days.

People were going out of their way to get a copy of the last edition of PINOY. The reason?  They wanted to read a brief community news item about a Filipino American lawyer who was sentenced to two years in jail for participating in marriage scams involving undocumented immigrants.

Some  dinner ball conversations focused on the resident attorney of the Filipino American Council of Chicago (FACC) at the Jose Rizal Heritage Center.  Speculation swirled around how much the FACC will put up again in legal defense cost now that the Cook County Public Guardian office plans to sue everyone involved in the alleged scam to separate a 92-year old man from his lifetime savings.

The Filipino American attorney who served for eight years as president of the FACC and now serves as a member of its board and as a legal adviser for the 50-year old federation got the FACC in a very sticky situation when he included three of the service groups affiliated with the organization as recipients of $5000 each in the event of the death of the man whose will and trust he helped changed.

He got a modest fee for his lawyering but the Public Guardian smelled something rotten in the way the man’s  Filipina American caregiver helped herself and her family with the man’s money.  The government is suing to recover no less than $500,000.  The news made ABS-CBN  Balitang America, the CBS Channel 2 TV News and our hardworking reporter, Joseph Lariosa going over voluminous court transcripts at the Richard J. Daley Court House in the Loop.

FACC is still smarting from the hefty amount of legal fees it coughed up to settle the court suit from disgruntled former council members who felt short-shrifted by the group identified with their legal adviser.

(The Global Nation of the Inquirer. Net also carried a report which we reprinted in our community news section.  It is also the subject of our editorial on page 5.)

Impeachment Lawyers

The immigration lawyer mentioned earlier is contrite enough to plead guilty and is to pay a $10,000 penalty.  He will be in a minimum security prison for the next two years.  I am sure he found it not a smart gesture to stand-in as a sponsor or a witness to arranged marriages.

After all, he claimed to be an immigration expert. Any Pinoy fresh off the boat knows that fixed-marriages are illegal.  But then some lawyers think they can always outsmart the law.  Some think they have OJ Simpson for a client—you know, getting away with murder, literally.

Let us not also forget that the telenovelas were put to the back burner all because of the lawyers back home battling for the attention of TV cameras in the Impeachment Trial of Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona. What could had been a summary dismissal for a public official not worthy of the public trust, the trial is now being milked by almost everyone to his personal  political advantage.  You guessed it right, most of those involved are lawyers.

***
Democratic Nominee

Jessica Arong O'Brien

But it is not all bad news for our lawyers in the community.  In 2008, PINOY carried a feature article on Jessica Arong-O’Brien after she received that year’s Cook County States Attorney Asian Pacific American Community Service Award.

She is back in the news recently after she won the Democratic Primary to fill in the vacancy in the Cook County Circuit Court vacated by Judge Henry Simmons.  That made her the first elected Filipino American nominee for a judicial position in Illinois.

Ms. Arong-O’Brien  was born and raised in Cebu City. Before she launched her legal career, she finished her culinary arts degrees in London and Switzerland.  She made a name in the food industry.  At one point she was the manager of about 1000 workers.

In 1998, she took up law at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago.  She earned her Master of Laws degree in Employee benefits in 2002. She is an outstanding member of the Illinois, Chicago,  Asian-American and Filipino American Bar Associations.

Her election is a culmination of a brilliant public sector judicial career.  She is presently the  acting chief counsel for the Illinois Lottery.  Ms. O’Brien is married to Brendan A. O’Brien, a law partner at Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP. They have three daughters.

That is not the only good news in our community legal circle.
***
Good news for Asian American Pacific Heritage Month

Lorna Schofield

As we go to press , we received the news of President Barack Obama nominating a Filipino American lawyer to serve as a Federal District Court Judge for the Southern District of New York.  A nice gesture from the US President on the occasion of the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month of May.  Here is the scoop from Erin Pangilinan, the KAYA National Communications Director in LA.(erin@kayagrassroots.org)  Another first for our national community.•

“Forgotten Soldiers” POW documentary, May 26

The Pritzker Military Library will be showing on May 26 the documentary film about WWII Filipino and American soldiers who were left behind to face the Japanese death march in “Forgotten Soldiers.” Film showing will be at 1:00 pm. The film is narrated by Lou Diamond Philips.

“Forgotten Soldiers” focuses on 10 Philippine Scout survivors, their surrender and triumph. There are reenactments and actual footage of the events, according to the Pritzker Military Library press release.

Skokie Festival of Cultures, May 19 & 20

(Skokie, Ill.): More than 30,000 people are expected to visit the 22nd Annual Skokie Festival of Cultures on May 19 and 20, where they will savor exotic tastes, listen to the traditional sounds of ethnic music, and experience the dozens of cultures, languages and traditions that make up the Skokie community.

The 2012 edition of the festival will also feature Schaefer’s International Beer Tasting from 2-6 p.m. on both days.

Skokie’s unique cultural journey launches at Oakton Park in Skokie and will kick off when visitors receive their free “Passport to the World,” the official guide to all festival happenings. The passport will include a schedule of hourly ethnic performances, educational information, and a festival map, which will help attendees make their way through the 19-acre park full of attractions.

In addition, the festival will feature an International Games demonstration area and a variety of ethnic food vendors.

The more than 35 cultures represented at the festival will range from Albanian to Japanese, Pakistani to Mexican — and Russian to Thai.

Oakton Park is located at the corner of Oakton Street and Skokie Boulevard in Skokie, at 4701 Oakton St. The festival will begin at 11 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday, ending at 7 p.m. A free shuttle will be available to deliver attendees to the Festival grounds from Oakton Community College at 7701 Lincoln Ave., from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., on both days.

For more info, call the Skokie Park District, (847) 674-1500 or visit the official Skokie Festival of Cultures Web site at www.SkokieCultureFest.org.

Newly elected Cook County Circuit Court Judge

Filipina-American lawyer Jessica O’Brien was elected Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County during the primary elections on March 19. She is a graduate of the John Marshall School of Law, Class of 1998, and the first to finish a JD/LLM in Tax Law joint degree program in only 3 years, according to her Web site.  O’Brien works as Special Assistant Attorney General  with the Illinois Department of Revenue and her role is to litigate cases regarding partnership, corporate and individual income and sales taxation. She also works as Acting Chief Counsel for the Illinois Lottery by supervising the agency’s litigatation docket. Previously she worked for Schuyler Roche & Zwierner PC, practicing in employee benefits, estate planning,  and corporate taxation.
She is married to Brendan A. O’Brien, a partner at Hinshaw and Culbertson and they have three children.

Noli: The Opera at Harris Theatre, May 26 & 27

Jose Rizal’s: famous novel NOLI ME TANGERE (Touch Me Not), was written in l887, yet resonates with the “social cancer” it hoped to quell in many present day countries, even after 125 years. It will come alive in da Corneto Opera’s US premiere presentation at the Harris Theatre for Dance and Music, on Sat., May 26 at 7pm and Sun., May 27 at 3pm.

“NOLI” as the novel is popularly called, is one of two books written by the Philippine National Hero, Jose Rizal, a renaissance man, writer, poet and physician, whose monument can be seen along Chicago’s Lake Shore. The Opera was composed by Philippine National Artist, Felipe de Leon and this presentation celebrates Master de Leon’s centennial. It recounts the struggles of Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin who returns to the Philippines after seven years of academic studies in Europe. He plans to wed his betrothed and fulfill his father’s dream of opening a school to pave the way for his country’s progress through education. In all things, he is thwarted by the notorious and influential Padre Damaso, creating a dramatic storyline of unrequited love, betrayal and revenge – that great operas are made of. The opera premiered in the Philippines in l957 and was re-staged in l987 with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra to commemorate the centennial of the publication of the Noli by the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The Chicago premiere is the first outside the Philippines. There are six filipinos in the cast.

Mila Koleva (L) and Steven Wallace, ,playing Maria Clara and Don Crisostomo Ibarra along with the accompaniment of Anatoliy Torchinskiy (R), performed three songs for guests April 11. (PINOY Photo)

da Corneto Opera has been in existence since l997, and has received critical acclaim by the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun Times music critics in its productions through the years.
Tickets range from $35 to $90, and are available from Harris Theatre, 205 E. Randolph Street, Chicago, 312 334 7777. Box Office Hours are: Monday to Friday, 12noon to 6pm. Or: online at harristheatrechicago.org/events/2011-2012 season/11-12-dacorneto.  For more information visit www.DiversityThroughTheArts.org.

Illinois marks April 9 as Bataan Day

(PDI) To honor the memory and gallantry of the Filipino and American soldiers who fought in Bataan, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has declared April 9 as Bataan Day in Illinois, Chicago Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim said in a statement.

A Bataan Day in Chicago and in the Village of Skokie were also proclaimed by Mayor Rahm Emmanuel of Chicago and Mayor George Van Dusen of Skokie, Illinois, respectively, Herrera-Lim said. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan presided at the Bataan Day proclamations in the state, which were attended by some 200 government officials, World War II veterans and their relatives, as well as members of the Filipino community in Illinois.

Madigan said honoring the heroism of the soldiers in Bataan showed that “we are forever grateful and indebted for their incredible sacrifice to ensure the triumph of liberty and democracy over tyranny and justice.

Veterans Sidney Adelson and  Cleopatra Dulay-Pactol were also honored with the  Philippine Liberation Medals (Philippine Independence Medal, Philippine Defense Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badge) and Certificates to World War II Veterans.

By Rhodora Derpo

Immigration Attorney

Note from the author:  Last month, I wrote a fictional story about Consuelo, an immigrant woman from the Philippines, and John, her abusive spouse.  In that article, I explained how Consuelo is eligible to receive legal remedies under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in light of the abuse she suffered from John.  Because abusers often use their partners’ immigration status as a tool for control, this month’s article is written to provide non-citizen victims further information about their rights under immigration law.  This article specifically discusses Safety Planning for immigrant victims of domestic violence.

**I wrote a version of this article for Safety Planning for Stalking Victims:  A Victim Advocate’s Guide to Responding to Victims of Stalking (June 2003) published by the National Center for Victims of Crime.
Domestic violence is a significant problem for both women and men in the U.S., but non-citizen victims of domestic violence face a more difficult time escaping abuse due to their immigration status.  Non-citizens may suffer higher rates of abuse because of unfamiliarity with their legal rights under U.S. law.  Immigrant and ethnic minority victims encounter unique problems that their American counterparts may not.  These include language barriers, social isolation, prejudice, discrimination, different cultural value systems, lack of financial resources, and lack of familiarity with and/or trust of the legal system.

Specific Safety Planning Recommendations for Immigrant Victims
A domestic violence victim may be required to leave her/his home for an extended period of time to seek refuge in a safe place.  In these situations, immigrant victims will need to take important papers and documents with them.  The following items or copies should be packed and stored in a safe place or given to a trusted friend in case the victim needs to leave the house:
*Birth certificates for victim and children, immigration papers, and school records;
*Social security card(s);
*Work permits/work authorization cards;
*Alien registration card (green card);
*Passport(s);
*Identification cards;
*If married to the abuser:  a copy of the marriage certificate, and copies of documents in joint names, such as leases, bank statements, loan papers, income tax returns, and utility bills.  Photographs of victim and spouse/family, wedding pictures and cards, correspondence between victim and spouse, and any other documents or material showing that the victim and spouse have lived together will be very useful.

Immigration Law Remedies
There may be legal immigration remedies that can help non-citizen victims acquire or retain legal status in the U.S.  Many immigrants who are not U.S. citizens or nationals of the U.S. or legal permanent residents fear that they may be removed from the U.S. if law enforcement or immigration authorities become aware of their presence in this country.  Additionally, many victims who are or were married to the abuser fear that their spouse or former spouse may report them to immigration officials.

Contact An Immigration Law Expert
Depending upon the victim’s circumstances, she/he may be eligible for immigration law remedies, which may lead to legal permanent resident status.  Potential remedies include a Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA) self-petition, U Visa for victims of certain crimes, cancellation of removal in immigration court, asylum, or an I-751 waiver of the joint petitioning requirement for conditional permanent residents.

Rights of Non-Citizens
Non-citizens have rights when they encounter immigration officials.  Immigrants have the right to speak to an attorney before answering any questions posed by immigration officials.  Immigrants should never sign any papers without first speaking with an immigration attorney.  Giving away one’s rights, intentionally or inadvertently, may result in swift removal from the U.S.  Leaving the U.S. following an order of removal may have lasting long-term adverse or irreversible consequences for an immigrant.

Contacting Law Enforcement
Know the risks associated with involving the police.  Generally, law enforcement officers should not inquire about the immigration status of the victim.  However, in the post-9/11 environment, some policies and practices involve cooperation with immigration authorities to report the presence of undocumented persons to the Department of Homeland Security.  If you are undocumented, call the local law enforcement agency with a “hypothetical” situation to determine their agency’s procedure on reporting illegal presence to the Department of Homeland Security.

Resources for Immigrants
All immigrants are entitled to access victim services programs regardless of their legal status in the U.S., including police, fire, ambulance, and transportation services.  All immigrants also remain eligible for:
*Emergency Medicaid
*Certain immunization programs
*Short-term, non-cash, in-kind emergency disaster relief
*Community based services, which are necessary for the protection of life or safety including:  domestic violence shelters and counseling, soup kitchens, community food banks, and other nutrition programs such as WIC, housing assistance for the homeless, and violence prevention programs.
Contact my office at 773.687.9282 regarding eligibility for immigration benefits or how receipt of those benefits may impact your status in the U.S.  Nagsasalita po ako ng Tagalog.•

By Eliseo “Jojo” Prisno

Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor

j.prisno@PECapitalinvestments.com

Before we headed to our annual back packing trip (this winter we covered the sub-continent of India and the highlands of Nepal), most of my clients have ask me what my investment theme will be for 2012 after a flat 2011. The direction I advised them is to focus on “dividend investing” or simply putting their money in stocks that pays considerable annual dividend ranging between 2-3%.  Thus, let me put on hold the 3rd series on variable annuity fundamentals and focus on this topic.

Dividend investing
Dividends are annual pay-out of your ownership of the stock and independent of the stock value. For example, if you buy a Procter and Gamble share for say $60, and P&G commits to pay $2.00 per share of annual dividend, your dividend yield will be about 3.33%. If the share increases its value from $60 to $66, a 10% gain, the total investment gain will be 13.33% (dividend plus capital gains). In the same token, if the share price goes down by 10% ($60 to $54), your investment loss will only be 6.67% (total loss less dividend income).  Dividend income, (the 3.33%) are guaranteed cash incentive for owning the stock and are taxed separately from capital gains (the 10% if you realize the gain, meaning you liquidated or sold the stock at $66).

Where are we at after Q1 of 2011? Let me quote a very recent article of Reuters written by Rodrigo Campos:
“The S&P 500 extended its rally on March 19 to climb within 10 percent of its historic closing high, after Apple said it would pay a $10 billion annual dividend and buy back stock. The benchmark index is now at its highest level since May 2008 and 10 percent below the record close of 1,565.15 set in October 2007.
“This is the type of thing that typically gets retail investors back in the market,” said Peter Jankovskis, co-chief investment officer at OakBrook Investments in Lisle, Illinois. Analysts have said a flow of retail investor money could fuel the next leg of the rally that has driven the S&P 500 up 12 percent so far this year.

Apple Inc (NSQ:AAPL – News), the world’s most valuable publicly traded company, rose 2.7 percent to $601.10 – marking the first time the stock has ended above $600 – and inching closer to a 50 percent gain this quarter. Apple, the maker of the iPad and the iPhone, said it will pay a dividend of $2.65 a share quarterly, starting in July, and also announced it will buy back $10 billion in stock, starting in the next fiscal year.

The announcement from Apple comes less than a week after major U.S. banks responded to the results of the Federal Reserve’s stress tests by announcing bigger dividends and billions of dollars in stock buybacks. These increases, alongside a steady stream of upbeat U.S. economic data, have cleared the way for more investment in stocks.

“You’re getting initiations and increases in dividends, and people are starting to recognize there is nowhere else to go,” said Jack de Gan, chief investment officer at Harbor Advisory Corp in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.”

So there it is, quite a validation of the investment direction I’ve instituted to my client’s portfolio for 2012. If you are interested to invest some of your money in the stock market, consult an investment professional before engaging.

P/E Capital Investments manages the wealth of select families and business owners. P/E Capital Investments does not provide tax or legal advice. For over a decade Eliseo Prisno  has managed client relationships and identified custom solutions for each client’s unique circumstances. If you  desire a complimentary analysis of your retirement readiness, call toll free to 1-888-929-2825 and follow us on Twitter.

Letter from Washington

By Jonathan Melegrito

jonmele@aol.com

It hurts. Getting laid off can be very stressful, especially if you have mouths to feed and bills to pay.  I’m sure you know of friends or loved ones who are out of work through no fault of their own.

And then there’s the case of Filipino teachers at Prince George ’s County Public Schools who lost their jobs because the school system bungled its recruitment process. They had to uproot their families once again after selling their possessions in the Philippines just to fulfill a promise that they thought would not be broken. Picking up the remnants of shattered dreams, many have relocated to Arizona where, thankfully, their special skills are still appreciated.

But what of the individual who has worked hard not only to keep her job but tried her best to excel in everything required of her, only to be dismissed by a supervisor with an axe to grind, who sorely lacks any skills in cross-cultural communication, treats subordinates like chattel and rules with a heavy hand?
Such was the case of Eva Balino of Arlington, Virginia.

Eva Balino was terminated last Dec. but defended her actions. She claims she was allegedly “singled out and harassed.”

A 45-year-old patient care assistant at the Virginia Hospital Center for nine years, she was terminated in December last year for “poor performance and insubordination.” Knowing that her firing was grossly unfair, having consistently received superior evaluations from two previous supervisors, Eva chose to fight. “I love my job,” she says. “But I was set up to fail because my supervisor singled me out for harassment.”

Cross cultural communication break down
It all started when her father died a year ago and she had to take an extended leave to go home for the funeral. “She held it against me, taking time off from work,” Eva recalls. The next time she requested a one-week vacation to be with family during the Christmas holiday, the supervisor promptly denied it, claiming inadequate coverage. Granted, that’s a supervisor’s call. But when Eva found out that there was, in fact, enough personnel to cover for her absence, she tried to seek her supervisor’s reconsideration. That’s when cross-cultural communication broke down. The supervisor wrongly assumed that Eva defied an order and promptly wrote her up, citing her intent (including purchase of plane tickets) as sufficient grounds for insubordination. “How could that be, when I complied, cancelled my tickets and never took my vacation?” Eva was baffled, angry and frustrated. Shortly thereafter, she received a letter of dismissal.

She appealed, but the deck was already stacked against her. The termination was upheld. Her designated representative at the review hearing – chosen by the Human Resources director – acted not as Eva’s advocate but management’s tool to legitimize the process. The “poor performance” issues were questionable at best because, according to Eva, “the supervisor was already biased against me. She expected me to do my hourly rounding and if I don’t finish on time, she’d write me up. But I am also expected to attend to the needs of patients and some require more time and attention than others.” In other cases, there were extenuating circumstances that the supervisor chose to ignore, even when patients themselves said it wasn’t Eva’s fault. In a couple of instances, the charge nurse was partly responsible.

During Eva’s interview for unemployment compensation, the hospital’s Human Resources director tried to justify Eva’s firing. I personally intervened by writing the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) that the Virginia Hospital Center erred in terminating Eva, who served commendably for many years. The VEC agreed, decided there was no “misconduct” on Eva’s part and approved her claims.
Vowing to fight further, if only to bring attention to egregious management practices at the hospital, Eva plans to file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. “I know of co-workers who are being mistreated but are afraid to speak out,” she says. “I don’t want to see anyone harassed and intimated on the job.”

Back-breaking chore
Born in Abra, Eva was barely 20 years old when she, like thousands of overseas workers, went to Saudi Arabia to work as a care giver for a diplomat’s family. Another diplomat brought her to the United States several years later where she worked as a nanny for the family’s children. Meanwhile Eva’s sponsors got her a green card so she could find other employment. The Virginia Hospital Center hired her as a nurse aide and also paid half of her tuition fees while taking courses to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN).

Care giving is a back-breaking chore. “My patients have been very happy with my work and have even written good commendations about me, which are in my file,” Eva wrote to the hospital’s Human Resource Director in September, three months before she was fired. Her letter basically disagreed with her supervisor’s oral evaluation that “I do not belong in her unit, I am better off working in a nursing home, I never learned to work well with others.” Apparently, the supervisor found Eva’s defiant spirit too much to handle and singled her out from then on, suspending her for petty reasons, even warning her “to leave if you don’t like it here.”

Eva may be out of a job for now but she is determined to find employment at another hospital, preferably one where her skills and work ethic are appreciated, where she is treated with dignity and respect.
She’s come a long way from Abra, via Saudi Arabia , to America and she’s not about to let a temporary setback stop her now. •