Category: Politics

Filipino contingent shines at Chicago’s Pride parade

by Ted Regencia, posted in Community, Lifestyle, Politics

Philippine News and GMANews.TV
July 2008

Text, photos and video by Ted Regencia

CHICAGO — 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.

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.

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Pinay lawyer wins primary, eyes history in Illinois Assembly

by Ted Regencia, posted in Community, Politics

PINOY Newsmagazine/Philippine News
February 2008

Text, photo and video by Ted Regencia



CHICAGO — A top Filipino-American real estate lawyer is eyeing history in Illinois, as she makes a run for a seat in the State Assembly.

Aurora Abella-Austriaco, ran unopposed during the Democratic Primary, garnering 9,875 votes, almost double the votes of the 16-year Republican incumbent she’s facing in the November 4 general election.

Austriaco still faces an uphill battle since her district has been under Republican control for 118 years. But she expressed confidence that she will prevail, citing a “shift in demographics” and the voter’s appetite for “change.”

If elected, Austriaco will be the first ever Asian American state representative in Illinois, also known as the Land of Lincoln, for being the hometown of the Civil War-era President Abraham Lincoln. She will represent a district, which includes the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge, where former first lady and New York Senator Hillary Clinton grew up.
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Obama, Huckabee win Iowa on message of change

by Ted Regencia, posted in Community, Politics

PINOY Newsmagazine/Philippine News/Inquirer.net
January 2008

Text, photos and videos by Ted Regencia

DES MOINES, Iowa — For one night on January 3, the midwest state of Iowa became the epicenter of American politics, as voters participated in the traditional caucus, catapulting Senator Barack Obama and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee to the top of the Democratic and Republican race for the White House.

Running on the message of change, Obama and Huckabee wrest Iowa from their better-known and well-financed rivals, such as New York Senator Hillary Clinton and multi-millionaire former governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney. The first-in-the-nation Iowa Caucus, a rudimentary process of securing votes by hours of debate, deliberation, even horse-trading, and eventually show of hands, could create momentum for both candidates as they move the next states.
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NaFFAA’s Loida Lewis stumps for Hillary in Windy City

by Ted Regencia, posted in Community, Politics

PINOY Newsmagazine/Philippine News
December 2007

Text and photos by Ted Regencia

CHICAGO — “As a woman, I am calling all the women of America to rise up. We rise up this time, and get the first woman president elected to the White House,” Loida Nicolas-Lewis, former president of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) declared.

Lewis made the assertion in a one-on-one interview, before she spoke to an assembly of Chicago-based Filipino American supporters of New York Senator Hillary Clinton, who gathered in Chicago last November 20, to show their support for the presidential bid of the former First Lady.

While Clinton operatives try to play down the role of gender in the campaign trail, Lewis took the issue head-on saying, “America is still very sexist. There’s a lot of baggage in the American psyche, and one of them is the gender issue.”
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Couples for Christ in the US splits up

by Ted Regencia, posted in Community, Politics, Religion

PINOY Newsmagazine/GMANews.TV/Inquirer.net
August 2007

Text and photos by Ted Regencia


CHICAGO — In a struggle often described in biblical terms, the Couples For Christ (CfC), one of the biggest Catholic lay organizations in the Philippines, with membership in 160 countries, announced that it has split into two, with the larger segment remaining as CfC.

“It is with a heavy heart that I relay to you the Joint Statement of Frank Padilla and the CfC International Council declaring the split,” Ricky Cuenca, CfC USA Country Coordinator, said in a letter to CfC members in the US.

This developed as Cuenca urged dissenters “to stop all these negative emails, accusations and personal attacks on certain leaders and all other conduct unworthy of Christian leaders.

Like Joshua, today we crossed the river Jordan under the continuing guidance of the Lord,” Cuenca told the members of CfC. “Just like most of you, I had agonized and struggled with the conflict within CfC.”
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Fil-Am seeks to topple top Chicago alderman

by Ted Regencia, posted in Community, Politics

PINOY Newsmagazine/Philippine News
March 2007

Text and photo by Ted Regencia

CHICAGO — A Filipino American community leader moves closer to making history in Chicago.

Naisy Dolar captured 28.3 percent of the votes in the city’s 50th ward during the February 27 local elections, forcing the 34-year incumbent Bernard Stone into a run-off on April 17.

“We are a step closer to a whole new ward,” declared Dolar to a cheering crowd of supporters on election night. “It’s time for a change.”
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Filipino-Americans warm up to Obama’s bid

by Ted Regencia, posted in Community, Politics

PINOY Newsmagazine/Inquirer.net/Philippines News
February 2007

Text and photos by Ted Regencia

SPRINGFIELD, Il — US Senator Barack Obama formally kicked off his bid for president on February 10, preaching his message of hope and transformation to a crowd of 17,000 supporters.

“Let us begin this hard work together. Let us transform this nation,” he told his visibly jubilant audience who braved the near-zero temperature outside the Old State Capitol, just to witness what one observer dubbed “history in the making.”

Obama began his speech by saying, “praise and honor to God,” then he channeled the legacy of former President Abraham Lincoln, who like the senator served in the Illinois state legislature in Springfield before moving on to the White House.

“In the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a divided house to stand together, where common hopes and common dreams still, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for President of the United States of America,” he declared to the cheering crowd.
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Filipino Americans join massive immigration rally

by Ted Regencia, posted in Community, Politics

PINOY Newsmagazine/Philippine News
June 2006

Text and photo by Ted Regencia

CHICAGO — Despite the chilly weather and a threat of rain, about 40 Filipinos marched through the streets of Chicago on May 1 to show solidarity in the call for immigration reform.

The Filipino and Filipino American marchers, representing organizations such as the Committee on Pilipino Issues, Fellowship of Filipino Migrants (FFM) and Gabriela USA waved Philippine and United States flag, while chanting immigration reform slogans.

By police estimates, 400,000 people, predominantly from Chicago’s Latino population, joined the march.
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Filipino groups brace for May 1 immigration rally

by Ted Regencia, posted in Community, Politics

PINOY Newsmagazine/Philippine News
May 2006

By Ted Regencia

CHICAGO — Preparations are in high gear in the Filipino community for the May 1 immigration reform rally, Nerissa Nabua, of the Fellowship of Filipino Migrants (FFM) said.

As this developed, PINOY has learned that dozens of Filipino healthcare workers, were arrested and detained by immigration agents in Wisconsin.

According to a close relative of two of the detainees, the arrests were conducted third week of April, following a tip by a disgruntled individual, who also happens to be a Filipino.
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Exclusive Interview: Chicago’s top cop is Fil-Am

by Ted Regencia, posted in Politics

PINOY Newsmagazine
September 2005

By Ted Regencia

CHICAGO — In an unprecedented development for the Filipino American community in Chicago, one of its own has been designated by Chicago Police Superintendent Philip J. Cline as district commander.

Charles “Chuck” Dulay officially took over his post as head of District 17 covering Albany Park, last July 1, capping 37 years of service in the Chicago police force, and making history for the Filipino American community in the Chicagoland.
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