Inquirer Global Nation: Grant of TPS Depends on Letters to Kerry

As reported by Dennis Clemente of Inquirer.net US Bureau

NEW YORK—Getting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) granted for the Philippines now depends on a letter-writing campaign addressed to the US Secretary of State John Kerry or his assistant, Anne Richard, supporters concluded during a two-hour long panel discussion on Jan. 28 at the Philippine Consulate.

The Filipino American Legal Defense & Education Fund, Inc. (Faldef) is encouraging people to ask as many prominent individuals and organizations to sign letters that will be sent to the Secretary of State’s office.
Consul General Mariano de Leon and City Council member Dr. Eugene Matthieu called on Filipinos to work together and spread the word through Filipino-friendly messages about the need for TPS.
City Council member Dr. Eugene Matthieu said the larger public must also informed: “You need to create momentum and get the attention of mainstream media.”

The Department of Homeland Security is still reviewing the request and monitoring the situation in the Philippines. A decision could be made by Feb. 7 this year, advocates said.
Temporary Protected Status or TPS is a humanitarian form of relief for those who are in the United States and have ongoing conflict or an environmental disaster in their country of origin. If granted, it would stop deportations and provide employment authorization documents for Filipinos in the United States, giving them an opportunity to contribute to the rebuilding efforts in Central Visayas and other areas ravaged by Typhoon Haiyan on Nov. 8 last year.


Read more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/98186/grant-of-tps-depends-on-letters-to-kerry#ixzz2sSQJase3 

NCAPA Applauds Confirmation of Sri Srinivasan to U.S. Court of Appeals

 

 

WASHINGTON—The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), a coalition of 30 national Asian Pacific American organizations, released the following statement on today’s confirmation of Sri Srinivasan to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

 

“This Senate confirmation is of tremendous significance to our community,’’ said Deepa Iyer, chair of NCAPA and executive director of South Asian Americans Leading Together. “Sri Srinivasan is the first South Asian American federal appellate court judge in the history of the United States, as well as the first Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AA & NHPI) judge to serve on the D.C. Circuit.”

 

Srinivasan’s confirmation helps diversify the federal bench as he will become only the third AA & NHPI federal appellate court judge out of approximately 175 nationwide.

 

"We are deeply gratified that the Senate has confirmed Sri Srinivasan today," said Wendy C. Shiba, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).  "Given that over 3.5 million South Asian Americans live in the United States, it is particularly noteworthy that Srinivasan has made history by becoming the first-ever South Asian American federal appellate court judge.  Moreover, the D.C. Circuit long has been recognized as one of the most important courts in the country.  The presence of an Asian Pacific American on that court gives testament to the strides made by the Asian Pacific American community in recent years.  It is a fitting and momentous way to conclude and celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month." 

 

Srinivasan, who is currently the principal deputy solicitor general of the United States, has deep experience in government, including having argued 25 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. He also was in private practice for many years, at the law firm of O’Melveny & Myers, where he was partner and chair of the Supreme Court and Appellate Practice.

 

"Sri Srinivasan is an exceptional attorney with a long history of work in civil rights," said Mee Moua, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), member of the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice. "In private practice he handled some of the most important Supreme Court cases pro bono for AAJC and for the greater civil rights community. We congratulate him on his historic confirmation and look forward to his tenure on the D.C. Circuit."

 

Born in India, Srinivasan immigrated to the United States with his family and later became a naturalized citizen. He was raised in Lawrence, Kan., and later went on to earn his undergraduate, business and law degrees at Stanford University.

 

 

 

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The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), founded in 1996, is a coalition of thirty national Asian Pacific American organizations. Based in Washington D.C., NCAPA serves to represent the interests of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AA & NHPI) community and to provide a national voice on policy issues and priorities.

FALDEF partners with PHILDEC to Counter Human Trafficking: Philippine Daily Mirror

As reported in the Philippine Daily Mirror
Saturday, 09 March 2013 15:00  Kobakila News Service

NEW YORK – As an offshoot of rescuing a Filipina who was a victim of involuntary servitude in the hands of an Egyptian employer in New York City, in joint efforts with the Philippine Consulate General in New York, the Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc. (FALDEF) has organized and partnered with a counterpart in the Philippines.

Philippine Legal Defense and Education Center, Inc., (PHILDEC) , a non-governmental organization (NGO), was established during the visit of FALDEF leadership in Manila to attend the  2nd D2D (Diaspora to Development) Global Summit of Filipinos in Diaspora on Feb. 25-27 in Manila.

  

The establishment of PHILDEC was deemed necessary in order to address human/labor trafficking at its inception – targeting illegal recruiters and individuals who initially recruit potential employees from the Philippines and are brought to the U.S.   With PHILDEC,  it makes it more effective for both organizations to initiate simultaneous prosecution of  those involved from the Philippines and the U.S.

The U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, Harry K. Thomas, Jr., tendered a reception for the visiting directors of FALDEF and the new directors of PHILDEC at his residence on Feb. 27.  FALDEF has earlier sought the assistance of the ambassador in finding common avenues to jointly combat human/labor trafficking.  In turn, the ambassador invited FALDEF to visit the Philippines.

 

PHILDEC is structured to have both an advisory and working boards.  Legal luminaries, social advocate and community organizers, and business executive have agreed to lend their expertise and commitment in the pursuit of justice, the majesty of the rule of law and the aristocracy of human dignity as members of PHILDEC boards.

 

The advisory board members include former Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr ; Fr. Joaquin Bernas, SJ  (one of the foremost authorities on Phil. Constitutional law, ormer law dean of the Ateneo Law School); Fr. Romeo Intengan SJ (former Jesuit Provincial and noted social crusader ); Atty. Antonio La Vina (Dean, Ateneo School of Government); Atty. Avelino Cruz, Jr. (former Secretary of National Defense;  Partner: Carpio Villaraza and Cruz Law Offices);  Atty. Rolando Mario Villonco (Managing Partner: Siguion Reyna Law Offices); and Fr. Nilo Tanalega, SJ  President of the UGAT Foundation.

 

Working board members are: Atty. Clarence Guerrero (Private Practitioner and former Chief Counsel of Manila Bank); Atty. Eva Laluna (Private Practitioner and Advocate of Women's Rights); Atty. Eric Mallonga (Private Practitioner and former Counsel of Bantay Bata);  Rene  Madarang ( Community Development Specialist); Fr. Julio Ramon Mallonga (CICM; Missionary with 21 years of experience in South America; a social advocate and community organizer); Captain Nilo Du (Private Entrepreneur and owner of shipping-related businesses); Christian Laluna (Communications Director, Ateneo School of Government) and Engr. Felizardo Mercado, Jr.(Community Dev. Manager, Philip Morris, Philippines).

 

In addition, Prosecutor General Claro Arellano of the Dept. of Justice expressed his interest on the issue of human/labor trafficking. Also, Dean Danilo Concepcion of the University of the Philippines College of Law (UP Law Center) and Dean Sedfrey Candelaria of the Ateneo College of Law (Ateneo Human Rights Center) manifested their deep interest in working and partnering with PHILDEC on the educational aspect relating to human rights and labor trafficking.

 

Once operational, PHILDEC and its volunteer lawyers will work with Philippine prosecutors, allied NGOS and government agencies.

 

FALDEF President, J.T Mallonga was one of the resource speakers on “Legal Assistance to Filipinos in Distress in the U.S,” a workshop on Global Legal Assistance on Advocacy.  Joining him in this visit were Merit Salud, Nimfa Du-Tinana, Cely Deauna, Patricia Astorga, Loida Nicholas Lewis, Jose Ramos, Jr., Dr. Angie Cruz, and Ramon Tinana.

 

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PHOTO CAPTION:  Ambassador Harry K. Thomas With FALDEF and PHILDEC directors and guests

 

Reporting human trafficking activities in your area is now just a text away: ABS-CBNnews

ABS-CBNnews.com

Posted at 01/25/2013 7:23 PM | Updated as of 01/25/2013 7:23 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Reporting human trafficking activities is your area is now just a text away.

The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) and Globe/Touch Mobile recently launched the short message service or SMS-based Action Line 1343 Against Human Trafficking.

The new service will respond to requests for assistance, inquiries and referrals involving suspected human trafficking activities.

The CFO said that the text-based 1343 Action Line is also deemed to fast-track the referral and follow-up of cases, efficiently direct immediate assistance to human trafficking victims and disseminate information on human trafficking through text messages.

Globe and Touch Mobile subscribers who want to know how to access the service can text  <1343(space)HELP> or <help(space)1343> then send to 1343 free of charge.

"It is hoped that by making 1343 Action Line available through texts, more cases of human trafficking will be reported and resolved," the CFO said.

Meanwhile, the 1343 call-based Actionline against Human Trafficking began operations in March 2011.

For 2012, a total of 7,762 calls were received from the Action Line involving 198 actual cases with 130 victims, 19 of which were minors.