2011 04/20-04/26

MANILA MAIL COMMUNITY

BUENAVENTURA: THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE RIGHT JOB

by Bradford Adkins

The people who know him personally, can testify that he is an honest and a decent man. His achievements list seems endless. Anyone running against him will have to think twice.

Newly-appointed Council Member of Daly City, Ray Buenaventura is an Attorney licensed to practice law in California and Washington D.C. Furthermore, according to his online biography, “He runs a private practice focusing on criminal defense and immigration. He is a Certified Criminal Law Specialist and has been practicing law for nearly 15 years. Mr. Buenaventura is a member of the San Mateo County Bar Association, Filipino Bar Association of Northern California, Asian American Bar Association and Alameda County Bar Association. Mr. Buenaventura serves as Commissioner and Vice President on the Library Board of Daly City. He also serves on the Board of the Pilipino Bayanihan Resource Center, a non-profit organization devoted to helping the local community on issues of immigration, education, healthcare, legal services, and charities. He further serves as a Director on the Board of the Pin@y Educational Partnerships a group dedicated to the advancement of education among Filipino American youths. In addition, Mr. Buenaventura serves on the Board of Directors to the Knights of Columbus Foundation for Developmentally Disabled Children. Mr. Buenaventura is currently the President of the Filipino American Democratic Club of San Mateo County. He also serves as an Associate and Alternate Member of the Democratic Central Committee of San Mateo County and is a member of the Filipino American Democratic Caucus and the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus of the California Democratic Party. He was a Delegate to the California Democratic Convention in April 2007 and March 2008. In April 2008, he was also elected to represent California as a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Denver (August 2008). Mr. Buenaventura has also contributed his legal services pro-bono to those in need. He has volunteered his legal services to the United States Center for Refugee and Immigrant Children. He has voluntarily represented children who are facing deportation and removal from the United States. He is also a regular volunteer to Community Law Night, a service provided by the San Mateo County Bar Association. Further, he has volunteered for the San Francisco Voluntary Legal Service Program, helping pro-bono on family law related matters.”

Congratulations to the City of Daly City for finding the right man for the right job in Attorney Ray Buenaventura. More power!

PHOTO CAPTION: Attorney Ray Buenaventura is the new Council Member Position # 5 replacing Maggie Gomez.

Ms. Betty Ledesma (3rd Left, back row) & her friends get her VIP souvenir shot with the Star Magic artists (L-R, Diether Ocampo, Jovit Baldivino, John Lloyd Cruz, Shaina Magdayao, Zanjoe Marudo, Bea Alonzo, Enchong Dee, KC Concepcion, Pokwang & Gabby Concepcion) last Saturday night at the SJSU Events Center.

The Philippine concert king, Martin Nievera. Catch him live at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Attorney Ray Buenaventura, left, after his Daly City Hall 04-11-2011 oath-taking as the newest Council Member of Daly City. With him is Vic Barba, the chief security of Luzvimin Association of California.

Seen at the SJSU Events Center backstage last Saturday night are (L-R) Susan Pacifico, Florence Pena, Dorothy Alcantara, Rhuddee Vitug, Josie Cabebe & Jonas Enrile.

Star Magic 18 US Tour audience last Saturday included (L-R) this Columnist, Leo Reyes (soon to be appearing on your TV screens around September this year), Lilwyn Lucas & Richard Lao (who celebrated his birthday last Saturday).

Gerald Anderson & Kim Chiu gets interviewed backstage by TFC's Tro Espera during last Saturday's Star Magic 18 US Show in San Jose.

Another Rico Yan is how they described Star Magic artist, AJ Perez, 18, who died last weekend in a Pangasinan/Tarlac car crash. Like late Rico, AJ died too much too soon. They both perished very young during a Lenten Season. They both studied at La Salle. Did you also notice they look very much alike? May you both rest in peace, Rico & AJ.

The show must go on for all 17 Star Magic artists (Chokoleit was a no-show due to visa delays), including Zanjoe Marudo, who had to do a comedic Jan-Jan number on stage just hours after learning the tragic death of his colleague, AJ Perez last Saturday.

Lighthouse Entertainment Producer, Archie Mendiorro, right, celebrates with actress, Erich Gonzales at the lobby of Hilton Newark.

Celebrating her birthday this week (April 23) is Dublin's Apriline Garcia-Bernardo (2nd left) shown here with husband Dennis & their 2 lovely kids - Daryll & Ally.

Martin Nievera:The Knockout Concert

(A Las Vegas concert to benefit ABS-CBN Foundation International’s “Sagip Kapamilya sa Japan”)

TO-BE-SEEN IN THE CITY

ABS CBN Foundation International will host a one night performance by Martin Nievera, acclaimed balladeer and Concert King of the Philippines. “Martin Nievera: The Knockout Concert” will take place on Friday, May 6, 2011 at 7PM at the Hollywood Theatre at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Presented in partnership with Codinera-Chua Productions and PAE Live!, the fund raiser show is part of a weekend of Filipino-related events which includes the shows of Filipino-American comedian, Jo Koy, and the much anticipated Manny Pacquiao/Sugar Shane Mosley fight on May 7.

“Martin Nievera: The Knockout Concert” will benefit Sagip Kapamilya sa Japan (Saving Family Members in Japan), a relief and assistance program directed to Filipinos who were affected by the recent tsunami and earthquake disasters in Japan.

“I heard from my kapamilya how the Filipinos who have made Japan their second home were affected and I wanted to help,” shared Martin Nievera. “Thank God Sagip Kapamilya and my producers had the same idea and moved quickly to make a difference.” The homecoming performance for Martin Nievera at the MGM promises great music and special guest performers.

On March 11, a magnitude 8.9 quake unleashed a 23-foot tsunami and was followed by more than 50 aftershocks. A few hours later, the Pacific Rim was blanketed with tsunami warnings. The Japanese government alerted residents near a nuclear power plant in Onahama City to evacuate, for fear of a radiation leak. On April 7, a 7.4 magnitude tremor hit once more.

The Philippine embassy in Japan reports that there are 305,972 Filipinos living in Japan, many of whom were affected by the devastation.

“Many Filipinos in Japan lived within and around the Fukushima area and were affected by the recent disasters,” says J. Robbie Fabian, President of ABS CBN Foundation International. “We created a special hotline for them to call. There are requests for food, bottled water, medicines, temporary housing, and even assistance to relocate back to the Philippines.”

Tickets to the event are $100 and $75 and are available at any MGM Grand ticketing outlet. To charge by phone, call (800) 929-1111 or (702) 891-7777. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.mgmgrand.com, www.ticketmaster.com or www.abscbnfoundation.org. Direct donations to Sagip Kapamilya sa Japan can also be made through the same foundation website or sent to ABS CBN Foundation International at 150 Shoreline Drive, Redwood City, CA 94065.

SEEN IN THE CITY

STAR MAGIC 18 US Tour Rocked by AJ Perez’s Death

The Star Magic 18 US Concert held last Saturday night at the San Jose State University Events Center had a few unexpected surprises. First, one of the show’s headliners, comedian Chokoleit did not make it to the event in time due to delayed US Visa processing, according to his personal Twitter message to this Columnist. He also missed the earlier Los Angeles show. He is set to do the New York City leg of the show this Saturday, April 23 and a side show in Arizona. Secondly, the untimely death of one of Star Magic artists, AJ Perez, 18, from a car accident that happened late Saturday night, coming from a provincial engagement in a Dagupan Bangus Festival. jolted all of the 18 artists currently on tour (news got out during check in time at the Hilton Hotel in Newak), including their production staff & crew. And their head honcho, Mr. Johnny Manahan who is also on tour with all of them. Thirdly, the surprisingly entertaining solo comedic ‘Jan-Jan’ number of drama actor, Zanjoe Marudo. He was so good and funny onstage that we forgot seeing him backstage earlier during rehearsals, crying – of AJ’s death, just like the rest of ‘em. The show must go on and it did went on and on that some production numbers had to be eliminated prematurely at 10:00 P.M. to avoid paying expensive venue overtime charges. May you rest in peace, AJ Perez.

Life is short. Have you hugged a loved one, lately?

PERSONAL NOTES

Briefs & shorts

Audition for several part-time TV Host positions are currently in full-wing. Email this Columnist (see footnotes) for more infomation.

Special Happy Birthday greetings to Dublin’s Apriline Garcia-Bernardo (April 23) who works as a Software Engineer at Oracle in Pleasanton.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Why AJ? Why not me? AJ Perez’s Dad admitting to questioning God on his son’s untimely demise. "When I felt the impact and everything, I felt a warm brush to my hair, my face. I just thought of AJ. The first thing that came into my mind was AJ, I hope he's okay. And then when I turned around, I looked at him, his eyes were closed, then I knew from that moment, AJ was gone," narrates Gerardo "Gerry" Perez about the sudden death of his eldest son, according to www.pep.ph.

This article also appears online at www.FilipinoVillage.com and http://sites.google.com/site/adkinsmmcevents/Home/ with readership in 122 countries now (& still counting!) according to the latest Google Analytics report.

Do you have any personal or community events you want announced or published? Just email them to bradford_adkins@yahoo.com