War Games Uso sa Italya

May mga Pinoy na nakatuklas na at kasalukuyang naglalaro ng War Games Soft Air dito sa Roma. Isang grupo na bumuo ng batalyon ng mga Pilipino laban sa batalyon ng mga Italyano. Para sa kanila isa itong larong may kakaibang karanasan, magandang ehersiyo sa katawan at pagpapahalaga sa ganda ng kalikasan. Masusubukan daw dito ang bilis ng galaw ng katawan, disiplina, pagkakaisa, tiwala sa sarili at kagrupo, at ang determinasyon sa pagpaplano. Ginanap ang larong ito kada araw ng linggo sa Kampo ng Via Malagrotta. Ang larong ito ay may target na makuha o maiuwi ang bandera ang siyang mananalo. Hindi nagpapahuli ang mga pinoy dito dahil may kooperasyon sila sa bawat isa at may taktika silang ginawa upang maigupo ang kalaban.
Taong 1985 naman ng simulan ito dito sa Italya. Ang Legionari Romani ay ang club ng asossasyon ng soft air na naglalaro ng war games dito sa Rome kung saan naging miyembro ang 8 pinoy sa loob ng tatlong taon hanggang sa kasalukuyan. Ang mga Pinoy na ring ito ay kasama na sa mga tournament tulad ng 24 at 36 hour battle. Nakilala ang mga pinoy na sina Henry Pantoja, Albert Malabrigo, Ghelly Barbosa, Rommel Moreno, Raymond Feliciano, Mark Anthony Luis Cervantes, Consul Jerome Castro at iba pang pinoy.
Samantala nasa 50 hanggang 60 miyembero ang kasali sa bawat isang club ng war games soft air at may 20 assosayon ang naglalaro na nito sa Roma. Si Erico Costodja ang kauna-unahang pinoy na nakatuklas ng larong war games dito sa Roma hanggang sa mahikayat ang ibang mga pinoy.
Kung nais maging miyembro o maglaro ng larong ito. Maaring tawagan sina Ghelly Barbosa at Henry PantoJa sa mga numbers na 3887566120, 3296651261.

Jocelyn I. Ruiz

INVITATION TO THE SECOND SESSION ON THE PHILIPPINES

The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal (PPT) second session on the Philippines comprehensively takes up the following issues:
Violations of civil and political rights, especially extrajudicial killings, massacres, enforced disappearances, torture, illegal detention, attacks on worker actions, bombings, strafings and forced mass evacuations.
Violations of the economic, social and cultural rights of the people under the auspices of "neoliberal globalization", including the violation of economic sovereignty and the national patrimony through iniquitous agreements and legislation, economic plunder by foreign and local exploiters, odious loans, bureaucratic corruption, exploitation of women, violations of children’s rights, exploitation of indigenous peoples, and environmental destruction.
Violations of the rights of the people to self-determination under the auspices of the US-directed "global war on terror" and the all-out war policy, including US violation of Philippine sovereignty and territory through iniquitous security agreements, actual crimes in US military intervention, all-out war policy, "terrorist" listing of revolutionary forces and progressive leaders and sabotage of peace negotiations.
We hereby invite you to attend the hearings from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday to Friday, 21-23 March 2007 to be held at the:

CHRISTUS TRIUMFATOR KERK
Juliana van Stolberglaan 154
2595 CL Den Haag
The Netherlands
And the announcement of the verdict and the solidarity program from 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, 25 March 2007 at the:
PAX CHRISTI KERK
Vlamenburg 2
2591 AS Den Haag
The Netherlands

We urge you to act in solidarity with the Filipino people and to attend the hearings of the cases and especially the issuance of the verdict. Your presence and support will help to strengthen the Filipino people’s resolve to struggle for justice, freedom and peace.
Thank you.

In solidarity,

Dr. Angelica Gonzales, Executive Director
International Coordinating Secretariat
secretariat@philippinetribunal.org
Please visit daily:http://www.tribunal-on-the-philippines.org
Mail: Postbus 1584, 3500 BN Utrecht, The Netherlands
Mariahoek 16-17, 3511 LG Utrecht, The Netherlands

Filipinos Rock The House In Nicosia

Valentines Day is a very special day to all the men, women and lovers all over the world and Filipinos in Cyprus are no different.
A group of very talented Filipinos, the "Filipino Hatid Saya" (Kapisanan ng mga Mang-aawit na Filipino in Cyprus) as they are affectionately called, presented a very special show to celebrate Valentines Day for fellow Filipinos and their friends and families. The show took place on Sunday the 18th of February 2007 at the Magic Palace in Nicosia, Cyprus. The theme of the show was appropriately named "Give Love on Valentines Day with Ricky & Friends".
Doors were open from one o’clock in the afternoon, and by two o’clock the room was nearly full. As in every show, we can not avoid those small mishaps that always happened no matter how good the preparation is! Some technical problems with the sound system were encountered just before the show started. You could feel the anxiety and tension building up from the entertainers and the audience was eagerly awaiting the opening of the show. It eventually started at two thirty, only half an hour late and that’s not bad at all for Filipino time!
The show was highlighted with the opening prayer of Fr. Zacheus Dulniok, OFM, of the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Nicosia, who especially prayed for all Filipinos to unite and to always give love to each other.
A very lively duet performed by Wilma Dayrit and Stella Toreon with the hit "Flashdance", followed by a rendition of "Living la Vida Loca" by Ricky Berbenzana with all the dancers accompanying the songs opened the show. Each singer performed a solo and a duet of popular songs, and the audience showed lots of gratitude towards the choices of songs.
The Filipino Hatid Saya group made everyone want to dance and join in with the performers whilst they sang their songs. It was a lot of fun and made the mood very jovial, as they proved their ability to sing with their powerful and angelic voices that made everyone in the audience admire them affectionately as they shouted out loud with appreciation.
The event organizer, the Cypro–Philippine Association, led by Mrs. Ester Beatty, enthusiastically acknowledged all those who attended the show, most especially those familiar faces that had not been seen during recent Filipino community events.
With her message, she hopes that the event will be the beginning of a continuous unity among Filipinos, and that it will encourage them to support each other. She said, "walang ibang magtutulungan kung ‘di tayo rin kapwa Pilipino". She encourages everyone to show their support to the newly formed entertainer’s group "Filipino Hatid Saya" for their binding artistic talents and skills in acting, dancing and singing. She also appreciated the help of the parents of those children who had participated in the show by helping cultivate their children’s talents. In particular, she asked all parents to continue helping their children develop their talents because one day they might become the next Regine Velasquez! The Association is more than willing to help the new group develop and to show their talents to the public. "Let’s bring unity among others, get united and be of great help to each other", she ended. The show was widely supported and attended by Filipinos and foreign friends from Nicosia and Limassol.
The organisers would like to thank Western Union and G.A.P. Vassilopoulos Worldwide Removals (Cargo) for their generosity as the main sponsors of the event. We would also like to thank Mr. Torossian Hampig of Elita Boutique, Peacock Department Store, Mrs. Luzviminda Socratous, Maya of Carla’s Karaoke, Wilma of Philcy, Sylvia of Linda’s Salon, Mr. Kypros Charalambous and Mr. Stuart Beatty for their technical assistance during the show. Big thank you also to the support staff: Emily (DJ), Bhaby Avancena (DVD operator), Scarlet Tugbo, Airish Maalindog and Nora Dante. A warm and heartfelt appreciation to the committee members of the Association for always ready to help and without them it would have been difficult to organise such events: Ester Beatty, Venny McCullie, Cora Hammoud, Linda Kourtollous, Joan Anotniou, Lina Dapat & Helen Patsalides.
The show was headed by Mr. Ricky Berbenzana and was supported by the following singers: Ms. Stella Toreo, Mrs. Wilma Dayrit, Ms. Jenny Antolin, Miss Crisanta Endozo, Mr. Henny Orong, Miss Marie Sumlay, Miss Thea Manalang and Miss Katerina Socratous. The dancers were: The Limassol Dollies (Dolly Repuno, Jenalyn Serrona, Mailyn Bano, Nhorie Joy Elio & Arlyn Pontilla); the X-10 of Nicosia (Mel Roa, Grace Roa, Kim Avancena, Analiza Avancena & Dina Ison) and Vincent "TETS" Georgiou from Limassol. Also performing especially for the shows were Remy Glorioso and Arnel & Co. Annabel Kalatha, a member of the group was not able to perform in the show due to some personal reasons.
When the last song "Pinoy Ako" had been sung, the audience joined Ricky and Stella on stage to celebrate the success of the show. For at least an hour after the show had finished the stage was crammed with people dancing to the music, whilst several people belted out the songs on karaoke. Due to the success of the show, plans have been made to try and host a similar event in Limassol next month. Mabuhay ang Filipino!






Carmen Dolores B. Brazan-Llauderes & Cathrine Beatty