It was a Saturday morning. A Filipina American of Chinese ancestry was busy handing out window signs and fliers in front of Safeway (Supermarket) on Mission Street, deep in the heart of the Excelsior District in San Francisco, California, one of the areas that encompasses District 11. Recipients were not immediately aware that the face on the fliers and window signs was also the face of the same person handing them out. Many were quite surprised to chat directly with a candidate for political office right in the heart of their neighborhood.

“Goodness, this is you? May I have your autograph?” was a common comment.

The Filipina laughed and responded: “You should give me your autograph instead. You’re more important than I am.”

The first time Myrna Lim ran for Board of Supervisors in the year 2000, all she had was her gutsy attitude in getting things done. Sometimes quite irreverent and always passionate, she debunked some of the traditional Filipino community leaders’ ideas of what a politician should look like and behave.

Here’s a comment from a Filipino gay businessman: “You should dress up like Diane Feinstein.”

Myrna jokingly responded, “Are you kidding? Diane Feinstein would kill to look like me.”

Only Myrna Lim can say this and get away with it!

I’ve walked through this Mission Street corridor at least three times with Myrna Lim in the last eight years. I really wanted an “up close and personal” experience with someone who was determined to find out what her district’s needs were so she could become a more effective legislator. Although my feet hurt, I was happy to see old friends as we visited business after business after business… and I also got a realistic sense of the frustrations and shattered hopes of these small business owners because of unreasonable anti-small business policies imposed by the local government.

Myrna Lim did me a favor. I was forced to reach out of my comfort zone (since I’m usually a “virtual” or on-line personality) and hit the streets to get a taste and feel of what residents and citizens of District 11 in San Francisco were thinking, talking, and protesting about. Myrna, I’ve observed, embodies representation of District 11’s multi-racial neighborhoods: Chinese, African-American, Filipino, Irish, Italian, and Latino. Spiritual sustenance is also a strong component in this District, represented by Epiphany Church, Corpus Christi Church, and St. Emydius Church.

Now, it’s 2008. Elections are coming up in November! So, if you have relatives and friends in zipcode 94112 (Excelsior, Ingleside, Outer Mission, Crocker Amazon, and Oceanview), let them know that a Filipina American is running for political office, Myrna Lim for District 11 Supervisor — and that it’s time for Filipinos in San Francisco to be represented. There are 67,000 Filipinos in San Francisco. Help her out! Myrna is fiercely loyal and dedicated, especially to the people who believe in her. She will win. She can do this. And we will be proudly Filipina!

This video showcases the Filipina American that will make it to a much-coveted legislative position (Board of Supervisors) in the City and County of San Francisco. WHEN (I’m optimistic) Myrna Lim wins, she will open the doors to opportunities for more minorities and women — opportunites only available to the old boys and old girls networks. Listen to her speak! And check out the documentaries she produced (as an independent TV producer for Channel 29 and Channel 76, San Francisco Public Broadcasting) at her campaign website, MyrnaLim.com.

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It has been 10 days now since my beloved auntie passed away… Many may not know her… but others may, especially if you are into the culinary or history or a Bulakenya… She is known as “the food historian”. She has a unique history-cooking book named “Kasaysayan ng Kaluto ng Bayan”… She researched, conceptualized and prepared the famous “FOOD OF OUR HEROES” and “EVOLUTION OF OUR FOOD” food exhibits, presentations and festivals.

I want to share to everyone the legacy Tita Mila has given me… more that just delicious recipes, more that just great times, more than great wisdom… She taught me real meaning of and passion for our history, culture and nationalism, th real sense and meaning of sharing to others what you have and what you know, real meaning of joy in what you do, real meaning of service to fellowmen, family country and God, and the appreciation for gift of life and love given by the Lord God.

Originally posted in my multiply account… (http://kodanjo1998.multiply.com/journal/item/48)

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thoughts of a Marikenya

The other day, while I was watching television, I saw the news on Mary Jane Arciaga, the OFW who just returned from Dubai and who allegedly died from a liposuction surgery. She’s beautiful and only in her mid-30s. Such a great loss for a woman who wanted to look better by being slimmer.

Yesterday, I met Sarah (not her real name). She’s a beautiful girl in her 20s, one of the applicants in a jobs fair our group conducted for a mall that will soon open in Marikina. Sarah was applying for a job of a saleslady or a cashier where she was rejected. She was very sad and she was trying to understand why she did not get in when she looked smart and was not bad looking at all. She said: “dahil ba mataba ako?”

Looking at her, I suddenly remembered a female politician in our town who resembled the late actress Ma. Theresa Carlson. She is in her early 40s and is very pretty. She is also very rich and when I saw her again, she was slimmer and people kept on murmuring at her back: “ang payat na niya, salamat sa lipo at tummy tack. ”

I am very familiar with these kind of stories. I have always been the “fat one.” I experienced name calling from classmates and neighbors when I was younger and my insecurities grew bigger as I aged. No matter how good I was at school or how “bibo” I was, people still see me as the plump girl. My confidence was severely wounded.

I remember some time in 2000, I had a good looking boyfriend and I feared so much of losing him to somebody else because of my being overweight. I began to diet and worse, became bulimic. Each time I would eat, I would feel guilty and would vomit what I’ve eaten. It took me a while to overcome this habit especially since I kept it as a secret even to my family and trusted friends. Fortunately, I met someone better who loved and accepted me for who I was.

I also learned to accept and love myself. I began seeing “me” as a person who is as valuable and as special as others. I focused on my skills and developing them to show others that I am more than the flabs that they initially see when they look at me. I became a happier person and regained my confidence.

Feeling beautiful and important depends on how we look at and value ourselves. Believe that people will see the image of ourselves that we radiate to them. If I am happy, even without makeup, people beam at me and say “You look good today!” If I feel lousy and depressed, no amount of make-up is able to hide my feelings.

The point… Be happy and work on steadying your self-concept. It’s important that we know ourselves. That we are confident and comfortable with who we are and what we can and cannot do. Let us not waste our time and our life worrying about our imperfectness. If others think lowly of us, let them. As the cliche goes… “it’s impossible to please everyone” and may I add… “It’s impossible to please everyone especially those who doesn’t want to be pleased.”

Let us not lose more lives to surgeries or waste dreams to insecurities. We are empowered Filipinas of the modern day, we may be fat but hell, we can still feel and look fab!

Read More Writings by Marikenya.

At my DiabetesLifeNotes.BlogSpot.com personal blog, I talked about finally connecting with Nona D. Andaya-Castillo, a Filipina Breastfeeding Advocate/International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and a practising vegetarian these past 17 years, who asked me to check out the “Diet for A New America.”

Our conversation also touched upon some “whistle blowers” regarding Formula Milk made by Wyeth that is supposed to be recalled in the Philippines. I got the impression from my chat with Nona that birth statistics regarding the contaminated milk have not yet been disclosed, especially the inference about the increased percentage of new-born infants who contracted meningitis. This definitely needs more investigative work — so whoever reads this and is interested can certainly contact Nona.

Continue reading the complete blog posting at my RadiantView.com.

Here is a portion of the UNICEF-Philippines’-produced documentary, Formula for Disaster, found in my blog posting:

Formula for Disaster (Part 1 of 5)

She spoke wistfully - her voice tremulous, her eyes slightly teary, betraying the state of nerves behind her tentative smile - of the time around 30 years ago when she immigrated to the United States in search of a better life. She was, and still is the family’s breadwinner…

What begins as a typical Pinoy story continues quite extraordinarily. I wonder what she is thinking now that she recounts these memories before an exclusive audience of about 30 people. These people have come to taste the different vintages of wine that she, her husband and her husband’s friend have produced. They are the owners and winemakers of Corte Riva Vineyards in St. Helena, Napa Valley, California.

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Our dearest Fil-Am Video Blogger Ms. Christine Gambito more popularly known as Happy Slip have just deleted her MySpace account for the reason that she objects on its inappropriate ads (powered by Google). She says that the ads are in direct conflict with the HappySlip brand and especially misrepresentative of Filipina women.

Having read her latest blog and her endeavor to further create a cleaner image of Filipinas thru Cyberspace, my respect and admiration for her grew even bigger.

Interesting quote I’ve read from it;

According to a Human Protection Law enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines, it is unlawful “To establish or carry on a business which has for its purpose the matching of Filipino women for marriage to foreign nationals either on a mail order basis or personal introduction”. It is unlawful “To solicit, enlist or in any manner attract or introduce any Filipino woman to become a member in any club or association whose objective is to match women for marriage to foreign nationals either on a mail order basis or through personal introduction for a fee”. This law was enacted to “take measures to protect Filipino women from being exploited in utter disregard of human dignity in their pursuit of economic upliftment.”

More information on her blog.

MANILA, Philippines — A Filipino woman has been hailed as an anti-trafficking hero in the US state department’s Trafficking in Persons Report-2008 released on June 4.

A US Embassy statement in Manila said Cecilia Flores-Oebanda, executive director and president of the Visayan Forum Foundation, was among only 10 anti-trafficking advocates from around the world who were recognized in the report for exemplary efforts toward combating trafficking in persons.

“Cecilia Flores-Oebanda, a longtime advocate against trafficking and former political prisoner, continues to pave the road for NGO and government collaboration on anti-trafficking efforts in the Philippines and around the world,” the report read.

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During my travels, I meet many Filipina women who uplift my spirits and inspire me through their magnificent talents, skills, and life experiences as well as their beautiful, caring personalities. When Marily Mondejar introduced me to Faith Rivera, one of my “Summit Weaver”* partners at the 2005 Filipina Women’s Network Annual Summit in San Francisco, it was easy to build rapport with her because truly, Faith is one amazing, inspiring Emmy Award-winning songwriter and singer. She remains grounded and humble in the bling-bling ambience of Los Angeles. When I listen closely to the messages within her songs, I smile and celebrate the truths we share. For those of you who haven’t heard of this lovely Hawaiian-Filipina-American, I invite you to take the time and listen to her songs — and BE PROUDLY FILIPINA (or Filipino)! Faith is also invited to perform at many inter-faith gatherings because her songs are universal and inclusive, acceptable to both the religious and agnostic.

Note: * SUMMIT WEAVER was our FWN term for summit facilitator / emcee.

I’m delighted to hear from Faith, the activist, about her latest projects and activities. I’ve included a couple of my favorite videos for you to enjoy. I also found a YouTube video of Faith Rivera receiving HUB’s Biggest Giver Award. What an honor!

Compliments of YouTube.com

Let’s read what Faith has to share with us today.

From: Faith
Date: Wed, May 28, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Subject: Press Release - Biggest Giver Award!
To: faith@faithrivera.com

Aloha Friends,

Thanks so much again for the work you are doing in the world - communicating with folks on an on-going basis to offer them inspiration & support!

Attached below is a recent press release on an award I received for an Oprah-style “Big Give” event that I did which raised funds for a homeless family of 6. It was one of the most moving experiences I have ever had.

Please feel free to share it with your readers/listeners. Also, email/call if you have any questions.

I can’t say enough about this “new life” my hubby & I are embracing to continue to “rock-out” yet give at deeper levels in service to others!

Thanks in advance!!!

All the best in your inspiring adventures,

Faith
www.faithrivera.com

p.s. You can personally find out more about HUB (the organization we just joined & that awarded me with this honor) at http://www.faithrivera.com/fr/HUB.html & http://faithandnolan.hubhub.org

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