BLOG | FILIPINO AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATION FUND: October 2013

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Stand Up For Immigrants: A Public Forum on Immigration

Dear Friends of Immigrants & Migrants,

Peace and all good!

I am pleased to invite you to take part in a public forum on immigration reform.

Stand Up For Immigrants: a public forum on immigration

Saturday, November 2, 2013, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

San Damiano Hall, Church of St. Francis of Assisi

127 West 31st Street, New York, NY 10001

At this free public forum, a panel of immigration attorneys will provide an overview of the current state of the U.S. immigration system; an update on the efforts of Congress to pass an immigration reform law; and a proposal for genuine immigration reform.

This event will mark the launching of The Migrant Center at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi. The Migrant Center is a church ministry that aims to provide pastoral care and advocate for the protection of the rights of immigrants.

Towards the end of the forum, leaders from different immigrant/migrant organizations and institutions will be signing a statement of support for our immigrant/migrant brothers and sisters. This will be sent to government officials and politicians making them aware of the urgent need for a comprehensive immigration reform bill.

Attached are fliers, in English and Spanish, which includes directions to the venue. Please help publicize the event by forwarding the fliers to your network of contacts and friends.

I am looking forward to your participation in this noble effort to support our immigrant sisters and brothers.

Very truly yours,

Fr. Julian S. Jagudilla, OFM

Director

The Migrant Center at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

15 Year Old Filipino-American New Jersey Resident, Kirby Asunto, Gives Back To The Community

(Kirby Asunto with Rev. Fr. Edgardo P. Jocson, Pastor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Roman Catholic Church in Linden, NJ)

Every up and coming singer remembers the first time they realized singing is their passion. For New Jersey based Kirby Asunto, it came when she was but four years old.

She first began to warble at the age of 2, even before she started to read! At 4 years old, she came home from school and announced to her mother that she joined a singing contest at her school. During that time, she learned to sing various songs by listening to the music of Barney, an American children's television show character. Since then, Asunto joined the singing contest every year and also took voice lessons to fulfill her dreams of one day being a professional singer.

In 2006, Asunto, together with her family, migrated from the Philippines to the United States. Wanting to further her singing career, she joined singing competitions such as The Access Broadway. She was met with success by becoming the Regional and National champion.

She has earned high recognition in the Filipino-American communities in NJ, NY, CT and DC even in her tender age. In addition to performing at various events, she also has, under her belt, the grand champion of the Philippine Fiesta Grand Idol singing competition and a performance at one of the biggest Korean shows in the US. There is the added highlight of having wowed the crowd in the New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs in Madison Square Garden in 2011.