Showing posts with label California. Show all posts
Showing posts with label California. Show all posts

PostHeaderIcon Mrs. Celi Oracion celebrates 80th birthday

11/30/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post


With gladness and thanks, Mrs. Celi Oracion, loving wife of Mr. Lossiette Oracion celebrated her 80th birthday at Torrance, California. She was feted by her dermatologist son Dr. Renato M. Oracion of Odessa, Texas, daughther-in-law Megs Oracion, and close friends including Drs. Estrella Azurin-Aguinaldo, Ray and Ma. Rhodora Gonzales. (Photo Credit: RMO)

Happy Birthday Mama Celi!

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PostHeaderIcon Anthony Matthew Martires wins in Southern California Ballroom Competition

11/07/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post


A young Phil-Am has brought pride and honor at the Southern California Ballroom Competition held at Castaways in Burbank this year.

Anthony Matthew Martires (center), 11 years old, bagged the Top Male Performer during the competition. In a dazzling performance, he won 1st Places for all 4 entries of dancing including the Tango, Waltz, Cha-cha and Rumba with dance teacher Hadas Fisher (right). Also with the young dance champ in the picture is competition judge Dmitry Chaplin (left) of “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Dancing With The Stars” TV shows. (Photo Credit: Bicol Mail)

"More than 50 male and female students from 5 dance studios in Southern California; Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties participated in the said contest. Matthew was the youngest contestant...

"The 7th grader from St. Ignatius de Loyola School in Pasadena not only joins dance competitions, he also gets invited to perform in community ballroom blitzes like the one in Alex Theater in Glendale which was a production of Christian Perry, renowned choreographer for “Dancing with the Stars” and in December ’08 Matthew was part of the dance ensemble that performed in the opening act of “Dancing with the Stars on Tour” at the Staples Center [home of the LA Lakers] in Los Angeles." ---Bicol Mail (11/05/09, Imperial, S.)

The talented son of Tony and Yeye Martires of Baao, Camarines Sur and California started dancing lessons with his mom Yeye at Arthur Murray Dance School in Pasadena at age 9. Matthew had been thinking of returning to Bicol and take his high school at the Ateneo de Naga University, in Naga City Philippines. (Photo Credit: Bicol Mail) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Liz Taylor bids farewell to Michael Jackson

9/06/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post


On Thursday, Septermber 3, 2009, movie actess Elizabeth Taylor went to the burial of close friend Michael Jackson whose death was ruled as homicide resulting from toxic levels of a cocktail of medications that included a powerful anesthetic.

Celebrities who attended the ceremony 70 days after his death were Lisa Marie Presley, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Macaulay Culkin, Corey Feldman, Mila Kunis and Barry Bonds.

Riding a wheel chair and clad in black, 77 year-old Miss Taylor came teary-eyed to the Los Angeles Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale to also pay her last respects. The private interment was attended by Michael's children, immediate family, and close friends.

The King of Pop was interred in a golden casket under very tight security. The cost of burial was estimated to be $1 million dollars on top of the $1.4 million dollars prviously spent in a televised memorial service last July. (Photo Credit: Getty Images/ BBB.nes.com) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon California wildfires burn 21 homes and threaten 12,000 more

9/01/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post




The wildfire in the Angeles National Forest has raged for days and grown more than twice its original size burning at least 21 homes in the foothills and endangering 12,000 more.

Firefighters are battling the huge blaze which darkens the sky in the last 6 days, destroying 164 square miles of trees and vegetation. Using fire retardants and water, they try to protect Mount Wilson on whose slopes several edifices rest.

Defying evacuation orders, three people sustained significant burns. Five people have called for help near Gold Creek, Los Angeles, but rescuers find it hard to reach them.

On Monday, August 31, 2009, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in the counties of Monterey, Placer, Los Angeles, and Mariposa. The conflagration of about 20 miles fed on brush and inched through the terrain to threaten communication lines and an astronomy observatory in Mount Wilson.

Close to 7,000 homes were given evacuation orders as the wall of fire raged. Two of the 2,500 firefighters who battled the blaze were killed in line of their duty. (Photo Credi: Justin Sullivan/ Getty Images; Jason Redmond/ AP) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon California girl kidnapped for 18 years found

8/29/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post




A 29-year old woman who was reported missing 18 years ago was found in the creepy home of a convicted rapist in California. Jaycee Dugard was just an 11 year old girl when she was snatched while walking to a bus stop on her way home in Lake Tahoe, East of San Francisco. Until lately no word came about the bizarre case and her whereabouts until police caught up wth Garrido.

In spite of efforts to find her since June 19, 1991, Jaycee remained missing until a parole officer found her living with kidnapper-rapist Philip Craig Garrido. The sex offender was thought to have fathered the kidnapped woman's two girls---children, ages 11 and 15.

Apparently in good health with no health problems, the abducted woman and her kids were living in a complex backyard with concealed tents and sheds behind Garrido’s home. The children never attended school nor were they given medical care all their lives. Relatives of Jaycee cried upon learning of her rescue.

The break to find Jaycee and her girls came when police became suspicious of the children who came to the University of California, Berkeley to distribute religious fliers. Garrido, 58, and his wife Nancy 54, were apprehended in connection to Dugard's protracted detention and were being readied to be charged of the crime. With some religious delusions, neighbors regarded the Garridos to be strange,
(Photo Credit: Reuters/ FBI; AFP/ El Dorado County Sherif) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon 6.9 quake in Baja California

8/04/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post


A huge earthquake rocked northwest Mexico today, Monday August 3, 2009, registering 6.9 in the Richter’s scale. The tremblor caused buildings in California to shudder raising fears of a tsunami. No significant casualty and physical damage were so far reported.

“The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck inside the Sea of Cortez, 76 miles (122 km) from the town of Santa Isabel on the Baja California peninsula and was 6.2 miles (10 km) deep. The figures were revised from its initial estimates. There were no initial reports of deaths or serious damage. Baja California, home to desert and mountains, is sparsely populated.”---Reuters (08/03/09)

Reports said the quake was most felt in San Diego California.(Photo Credit: wwwhorizon-taal.nl) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Ibalon friends in New York

7/04/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post



Among recent visitors of New York City, Ibalon friends Mrs. Modesta Wilson and Mr. and Mrs. Lossiete and Arceli Oracion of Carson, CA and Harbor City, California respectively breezed trough the big Apple for the Independence day weekend.

Mrs. Wilson, the widow of Fred B. Wilson is from Indianola, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Oracion, originally from Fairview, Quezon City are the loving parents of Dr. Renato M. Oracion, a well-known dermatologist in Odessa, Texas. They are house guests of Dr. Marietta F. Mesia. (Photo Credit: AFM) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Barbara Boxer’s narcissistic request from a military general---“ Please, call me senator!”

6/21/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post


I only knew of US Sen. Barbara Boxer (Democrat-CA) when she complained to General Michael Walsh of the US Army Corps of Engineers to stop addressing her as “ma’am.” She demanded to be called “senator.” According to her "she worked so hard for earn that title." Hmmm.

In the military lingo, "ma'am," and "sir" had been time-tested addresses that express respect. Gen. Walsh replied “ma’am” to one of Boxer's questions during a hearing in Capitol Hill on Tuesday, June 16, 2009. The general didn’t mean any insult, disrespect or usurpaton of rank, but Boxer wasn't happy:

"You know, do me a favor," Boxer told the general.

"Could you say 'senator' instead of 'ma'am?'"

"Yes, ma'am," Gen. Walsh answered.

“It's just a thing, I worked so hard to get that title, so I'd appreciate it, yes, thank you," she said.

"Yes, senator," he responded.

Sen. Boxer’s words were not totally unexpected. It seemed few people were aware of what she represented as a person and as a politician. Perhaps on the verge of melancholia or for lack of esteem, she might have inwardly fallen to crave for self-importance. She is the chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Not so many remember the California senator who voted against a resolution condemning MoveOn.org, a political group questioning Gen. David Petraeus patriotism--- negating his admirable military leadership in the stabilizing Iraq.

For sure, our military servicemen like Generals Petraeus and Walsh deserve respect. They must not be subjected to the arrogant narcissistic condescension of elected officials like Boxer. The woman seems too touchy to be out of climacterium. She can have problems that the public doesn't know.

Government officials must serve the people to the best of their ability. Never should they act like dysmature prima donnas who remind us of foul eggs in public service that bring bad example to our nation. (Photo Credit: http://boxer.senate.gov/) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon California inches close to bankruptcy

6/16/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post


Affected by the biggest recession gripping the country, the state of California has failed to come up with a budget, bringing the golden state near financial insolvency. The state is spending like crazy more than it can generate income. Government revenue is down by 27%. Business has been slow forcing companies to down-size or stop operation.

If no budget is agreed upon, the state is expected to run out of money by the end of July.

“It will run out of cash within weeks if it does not balance its books, leaving it little option but to postpone a variety of payments, according to State Controller John Chiang, who estimated last week that California was "less than 50 days away from a meltdown of state government."---Reuters (06/15/09, Christie, J; Gevirtz, L.)

California's income has dwindled with rising joblessness rate of 11% and unchecked housing crisis making it hard to close the budget gap of about $24 billion. One option is to cut spending --- the curtailment of entitlements and welfare programs including health insurance.

Budget cuts may be needed by putting teachers, firefighters and police officers out of work and stopping medical-care services. More taxes could be levelled on the residents to generate income. Unlike in the past, Californians are learning to live within their means just lilke Americans across the country. (Photo Credit: Jose Antonio Galloso) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon HIV infections sweep California porn industry

6/14/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post


As the Los Angeles County Health authorities announced of a sex worker having contracted HIV in the last five years, they say 16 more porn stars had been infected by the dreaded virus.

Public Health Officials said the 16 cases of HIV/AIDS were not investigated and unpublicized because of privacy rules enforced before 2006 which prohibited the disclosure of names to government agencies. It was unclear whether all of them got their illness at work.

“No state laws specifically require condom use and the vast majority of heterosexual porn movies are shot "bareback," an industry term for unprotected sex.

State labor codes, however, do require use of personal protective equipment and protection against blood or bodily fluids in the workplace. Since 2004, five adult entertainment companies have been cited for a variety of violations. Each case has been settled, state officials said.

Since 2004, 2,378 people who identified themselves as adult film industry performers have tested positive for chlamydia in Los Angeles County. An additional 1,357 tested positive for gonorrhea and 15 for syphilis, according to data released Thursday by the county's health department.” Los Angeles Times (06/12/09, Kimi Yoshino and Rong-Gong Lin II

Since the San Fernando Valley is a leading pornography capital which has an annual income of $12 billion dollars, employs more than 1,200 sex performers under at least 200 productions. The HIV outbreak is looked upon with worry because it has the capacity to spread quickly in the community. (Photo Credit: www.rogallery.com) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Prejean drops her Miss California Crown

6/14/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post




The 22 year-old Miss California who is battered and reviled because her opinion doesn’t jibe with that of some contest officials doesn’t really feel so bad being stripped of a crown. Ms. Carrie Prejean is probably more beautiful than the California beauty title. The fiesty lady, ever more popular, gracefully faced the media to explain why she lost her title---more as an offshoot of standing up for what she believes in.

A victim of a political firestorm that is not of her own making, Prejean lost in the Miss USA 2009 contest for asserting that marriage is between and a man and a woman. This angered gays and lesbians who campaign to legalize same-sex union in California.

Fortunately for the young beauty queen, most citizens of her state support her views and even the Pres. Barack Obama agrees. The pretty lady, a supporter of Proposition 8 which bans gay marriage, bravely advices women to stand against harassment. She said they must not be intimidated to stand up for truth and what they believe in.

Defending the side of Prejean, the California State Supreme Court recently ruled against the legalization of same sex unions in the Golden State. (Photo Credit: NewsYahoo.com; maCalifornia) =0=

RELATED BLOG: "Miss California retains her crown as she affirms her belief that marriage is between a man and a woman" Posted by mesiamd at 5/13/2009; "Miss USA finalist graciously defends her anti-gay marriage position" Posted by mesiamd at 4/22/2009

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PostHeaderIcon Same-sex marriage proponents lose bid to keep gay union legal in California

5/27/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post


The California Supreme Court ruled against gay marriage by upholding Proposition 8, the initiative against same-sex union which won during the November 8, 2008 election. In spite of efforts by gay activists to make same-sex marriage legal, the court decided in favor of what the majority of Californians wanted---that marriage must be between a man and a woman.

In a 6-1 decision, the court banned gay marriage in California on Tuesday, May 26, 2009, but ruled that the 18,000 marriages forged before the prohibition, are retained as legal. The court decided that the change in ruling must not be retroactive; dissolution of homosexual unions contracted in the Golden State in the five months that they were legal could be disruptive.

“The court said that while the ban denies gay couples use of the term "marriage," it does not fundamentally disturb their basic right to "establish an officially recognized and protected family relationship with the person of one's choice and to raise children within the family." California still allows gay couples to form domestic partnerships.”----The Huffington Post (05/26/09,)

Gay activists, homosexuals, lesbians, and their supporters were furious. Setting demonstrations which blocked the streets in front of the courthouse, they accused the court of not protecting a minority. On the other hand, anti-gay marriage advocates were ecstatic that the court respected the right of voters to define marriage as they knew it.

This tug-of-war on the acceptance of same-sex marriage isn’t over. The long drawn debate on legalizing unions of the same gender has touched issues on equality and tolerance. It also threatens the religious faith of many Californians that forbids gay unions.

Experts say gay advocates can still appeal to the federal court for equal protection under the US constitution. Iowa, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut are states that so far recognize same-sex marriage. (Photo Credit: ACME-Nollmeyer) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Echo Park, Los Angeles USA Penafrancia Fiesta

5/11/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post
by Rafael Garcia & Totie Mesia


“Are you from Bicol?” the excited lady beside me shouted. It was the same question I asked the smiling guy I met at the church door as I stretched my neck for the familiar faces in the gathering of people.

I didn’t realize what I was up to with those people I met that afternoon. After the foodfest which brought to recall mom’s home-style cooking, I bonded with new friends that I couldn’t have met if not for Ina."









"It must be the same date, rain or shine, that fiestas had been recalled in many states and cities across the continental United States. With all the Bicolanos and their respective organizations from California to Chicago to Hawaii to Virginia, one might wonder how many Filipino-Americans pay tribute to the patroness of the Bicol region."













"As the chills of autumn set in and the soft slanted rays of the sun became more apparent in the early evening, a pork roast, a bottle of cold San Miguel beer and social dancing could well define the Penafrancia fun." ---Penafrancia in America =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Octuplet mom mulls on what lies ahead for her babies

2/06/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post


Nadya Suleman, the unmarried woman who had 6 children born through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) prior to having a set of premature octuplets, also by IVF, had been getting extra attention. People couldn’t help but be curious of what was going on for the 33-year old mother who had been the most talked about parturient on earth.

With no means to support 14 children, Nadya had a fertility doctor sustain her “obsession” of having 8 babies in one pregnancy---far more than what had been considered permissible in the practice of assisted pregnancy and multiple births. According to Nadya, her desire to have many children arose from her “loneliness” of being an only child. She admitted having to battle bouts of depression.

Nadya shares a modest three-bedroom home in California owned by her mother and father who are experiencing financial difficulty. Last year, the parents applied for bankruptcy. Nadya was on disability when she gave birth to her first 6 children. Having suffered back injuries while working in a psychiatric facility, she was awarded benefits for a handicap---- $165,000 between 2002 and 2008 as she complained of headaches and vertebral pain.

Now, she is trying to market her story for an undetermined sum---perhaps a book deal, TV appearance, interview, and display of her children. Her supporters and critics are stunned.

Businesses which traditionally give assistance to mothers with unusual multiple births aren’t offering freebies. Many are dismayed by this woman whose psychological health and competency to be a responsible mother is uncertain. Confined in the hospital with her 8 babies, her astounding medical bills are growing.

With her premature octuplets (6 girls and 2 boys,) Nadya and the people around her mull on what lies ahead for her 14 children who are likely to be social charges. They live in California, a state that is in real danger of being bankrupt at this time when the economy isn’t good. (Photo Credit: Aconnel173170)=0=

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PostHeaderIcon Moral Challenge: angry gays protest ban of same-sex marriage in California

11/10/2008 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post


During the election in November 4, 2008, Californians were asked to decide on Proposition 8---a move to reverse the law enacted by the state Supreme Court in May 2008 on the validity of same-sex marriage.

Barack Obama fans and liberal democrats had a big surprise when West Coast's residents rejected gay marriage (approved Proposition 8) in spite of the secular reputation of California, a bastion of democrat-liberals who generally support gay lifestyle. Two thirds of California's black voters (66%) who voted for Obama didn’t do so for the lesbians and homosexuals. A record of these gays, 18,000 of them, forged matrimonies in the last 5 months before the election.

By the strength of the ballot, gay marriage prohibition won in California, Florida and Arizona. Only Massachusetts and Connecticut now approve same-sex marriages. On the other hand, New Jersey and New Hampshire only permit civil unions with the same legal rights as marriage.

What ensued was a flurry of gay activists’ angry protests who blamed religion, among others as a cause of their defeat. Despite the expressed will of the people, well-organized and vocal homosexual groups numbering up to 10,000 converged in San Diego on November 8, 2008 to protest.

In Salt Lake, Utah, a group of 2,000 staged a rally against the Church of the Latter Day's Saints (Mormons) and mainstream Christians who forbid gay marital unions. Five thousand (5,000) gay marriage supporters came to a similar mass action in Los Angeles area.

The passing of Proposition 8 in California is a victory for conservatives. For now, the religious right and those who want to uphold traditional family and moral values have an upper hand. But the radical liberals are fighting back to change the rules and impose alternative lifestyle for society. In spite of the understanding, tolerance, and partner benefits given to gay couples, moves to redefine marriage go on.

The increasingly secular world has made people to ponder on what is right and wrong. An alarming fifty (50%) of traditional marriages end up in divorce in the United States. There are those who think the socio-cultural debacle stirred by the same-sex marriage issue, along with questions on abortion, euthanasia, pornography, illegal drugs, and stem-cell research may indicate the fraying of America’s moral values which signals its decline. Respect for the poor, aged, disabled and children are on the wane.

Contrarians however think gay marriage is a boost to advance modernity and sophistication--- an expression of liberation from what others perceive as anachronism and religion’s oppressive hold on the people’s imagination. Quo Vadis, America? Where are you going, World? (Photo Credits: specsappeal.net; ncregister; moonbattery.com) =0=
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