FEBRUARY 2008 EDITORIAL

This year�s election will leave its deep mark in the pages of this nation�s history. This month of February as we traditionally observe Presidents� Day, we also go to the biggest ever primary day in the US presidential campaign. On February 5th, 24 states including Illinois will vote on their respective favorites among the aspirants of the Democratic and Republican Parties.

It is unprecedented that an African American and a woman hold a distinct possibility that one of them will be the candidate of the Democratic Party and, for that matter, a great chance of being elected President of the United States this coming November. [more]

Barack Obama greets his supporters after his surprise victory in Iowa last January 3. (PINOY Photo by Ted Regencia)

PINOY INSIDER
By Mariano "Anong" Santos
PINOY Publisher and Editor-in-chief

February 5, the Super Tuesday in this year�s presidential election is closely watched for several reasons. For one, this day will probably determine the standard bearers of both the Republican and Democratic Parties.

There are a number of Republican leaders in our community. Emir Abinion who owns a VW dealership in West Chicago, Shawn Ravago, a practicing lawyer in Chicago and Lourdes Mon, an educator and a political leader in Skokie are among those active in the GOP affairs. For them, they can choose among John McCain, Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee who survived the early primaries.

But for those Filipino Americans planning to vote as Democrats, there are enough concerns to make one uneasy. In Illinois , despite the fact that its favorite son, US Sen. Barack Obama, is a shoo-in to win the Illinois primary, expect most Democrats in our community to vote for US Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York. [more]

Romelda Simon (right), a casino worker at the Caesar's Palace, raises her preference card for Hillary Clinton. (PINOY Photo by Jon Melegrito)

LETTER FROM WASHINGTON
By Jon Melegrito
Senior Contributing Editor

Something�s stirring out there.� That�s how Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama describes the surge of new and young voters and volunteers who are showing up in caucuses and primaries and serving as boots on the ground in the campaign trail. Democrats Clinton and Edwards, as well as Republicans � notably John Paul and Mike Huckabee � are also attracting hundreds of young people to pounce the pavement, staff phone banks and raise funds for their candidates.

I�ve seen this phenomenon for the first time in Iowa. The Obama supporters organized an impressive field operation, turning out massive numbers on caucus night that exceeded expectations � 230,000 compared to 115,000 four years ago. In a rural community near Ames, about 200 participants � mostly young adults � gathered in a high school cafeteria. About half were first-timers. Some families brought their children along. �I want them to grow up as civic minded citizens,� said one mother. Yes, it was raucous as reported by the media. But it was empowering for those who openly demonstrated their preferences with passion and conviction. It reminded me somewhat of the �pulong-pulong,� neighborhood meetings commonly held in towns and barrios in the Philippines. [more]

Consul General Blesila Cabrera was the guest of honor of the PACCGC BRAINS Awards Night.

Chicago, IL -- The feedback is positive from nearly 200 attendees of the first business forum on health care sponsored by the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Chicago held Jan. 26 at the UIC Campus. The co-sponsors are the University of Illinois Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies and UIC Institute of Health care Innova-tions and the University of the Philippine Alumni Association of the Greater Chicago.

PACCGC president Cindy Flores said that 80 percent of home health care are owned by Filipino Americans and this explains why there is a wide interest in the event. [more]

Illinois Senator Barack Obama greets his supporters following his decisive victory in the Iowa Caucus, January 3. (PINOY Photo by Ted Regencia)

By Ted Regencia
PINOY Newsmagazine

Chicago, IL -- Two days after a landslide victory in the South Carolina primary, Illinois Senator Barack Obama received on Monday, January 28, the endorsement of Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy, a towering figure in the Democratic Party.

In a rally at the American University in Washington D.C., Obama also secured the endorsements of Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the later President John F. Kennedy, as well as Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island.

The endorsements are huge boosts to Obama ahead of the February 5, Super Tuesday contests in 22 states, including Illinois, California, New York and New Jersey. Last Saturday, January 26, Obama trounced New York Senator Hillary Clinton in South Carolina with a commanding 55 percent to Clinton's 27 percent.

Obama's win in South Carolina also swings the momentum back to him, after being defeated by the former first lady in the New Hampshire Primary and Nevada Caucus. [more]