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AUGUST 2021 ISSUE



EDITORIAL: OVER A CUP OF TEA



Thoughts on Philippine political leaderships and a bit of history
Part 2



(Photo on the right [Filipinos] from https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/)

Background:

I worked in the Philippine government for more than 20 years, starting from the regime of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos, widely known as our government’s “dictator”, right after my college graduation in 1977 up to the beginning of ousted President Joseph Estrada’s regime. I spent most of my public service with the Philippine legislature, from 1978 up to 1998, until I migrated to the United States of America to reunite with my mother and siblings in the Midwest. It is important to note that during the regime of the late President Corazon Aquino, I became the Philippines’ U.S. Congressional Fellow in Washington, D.C., and the first Chief of Division, Publication (Plenary Affairs Bureau) of the House of Representatives under the 1987 Philippine Constitution.


This piece is just a bit of information (culled from various sources) on every Philippine president from Ferdinand Marcos to PiNoy Aquino, focusing on their major achievements as well as criticisms on important social issues of interest to the Filipino people. -- CLICK TO READ MORE



our STORIES AND FEATURES





Navigating the Road Ahead in the Fight for Women’s Progress



By the Women's Initiative


The Biden-Harris administration’s early executive actions—accomplished during one of the most contentious pre- and post-inauguration periods in modern history—have sent an important message about the new administration’s priorities, commitment, and immediate direction. Among its most important shifts, the new administration has reversed the Trump administration’s anti-women agenda, choosing instead to center gender and racial equity in the debate about how best to boost the economy, recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and chart an inclusive course for the future. These changes included President Joe Biden rescinding restrictive executive actions on reproductive rights, proposing critical new investments to address a range of caregiving challenges disproportionately borne by women, and establishing a White House council to elevate gender policy priorities across the administration.. -- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE



How the Biden Administration Can Advance Racial Equity




By Nicole Lee Ndumele and Lorena Roque


This is a pivotal moment for racial justice in America. The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting recession have exposed and exacerbated deeply rooted structural racial inequalities in the nation’s public health and economic systems and across American society. The horrific murder of George Floyd and the unceasing and unbearable loss of Black and disabled lives at the hands of the police officers sworn to protect them have prompted some of the largest and most multiracial protests for systemic criminal justice reform in modern history. The increased media focus on hate crimes against East Asian people has helped make more visible the prejudices that Asian American and Pacific Islander communities face. The barrage of racialized state legislation seeking to suppress the vote has fueled a renewed movement to eradicate entrenched racial discrimination in voting and expand voter access for all. -- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE



Top Festivals and Cultural Events



From Stockholm Area Merchants Association (SAMA)


The Great River Road corridor on the Wisconsin side of Lake Pepin on the Mississippi has a deep history in celebrating the arts and culture of our region. Celebrations and festivals fill the calendar with enticing reasons to join in the fun! This list looks at 8 of the most beloved annual events. Many you can still enjoy this year and others you can mark your calendar for next year! You can find information on all at www.stockholmwisconsin.com or check out the individual links below.

1) Fall Fresh Art Tour: October 1st, 2nd & 3rd, 2021--(The first full weekend in October every year.) Join us on the 23rd Fall Fresh Art Tour Explore scenic backroads and submerse yourself in nature’s autumn artistry on this self-guided tour of our home studios and galleries. Throughout the picturesque villages & countryside of Pepin & Pierce counties, the artists who call this area home welcome you.-- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE



AAPI Victory Alliance on the Discriminatory, Anti- Voting Decision “Brnovich v. DNC” Made by the Supreme Court



AAPI Voters Continue to Face Blatant Discrimination

Washington, DC -- The Supreme Court decided recently to uphold discriminatory right-wing voting restrictions, further weakening the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

​AAPI Victory Alliance Executive Director Varun Nikore issued the following statement:

“AAPI communities are experiencing the brunt of voting attacks by right-wing actors who are blatantly trying to curb voting rights in order to win an election. AAPI’s are the fastest growing voting bloc in the country -- with a 46% increase in raw vote numbers from 2016 to 2020 and an even higher increase in key swing states such as Georgia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Texas. This decision made by the Supreme Court will further discriminate against our communities and push the nearly 10 million unregistered AAPI voters back in the shadows. This is wrong-headed and must change immediately. -- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE



The Economic Benefits of Vaccinations



By Christian E. Weller


The coronavirus pandemic is waning in the United States, as almost 70 percent of adults have received at least one shot of a vaccine. Yet the pace of vaccinations is winding down, and a more transmissible variant of the virus—Delta—has become the dominant strain. In some parts of the country, the number of new cases is rising among unvaccinated people. Getting a vast swath of people in the United States and abroad vaccinated is the most effective way of thwarting the resurgence of the current pandemic and stopping future ones. President Joe Biden included $15 billion to support vaccine manufacturing and distribution, among other related efforts, in his signature American Rescue Plan that passed Congress in March 2021. His proposed American Jobs Plan includes $30 billion to help speed up the development of new vaccines in the event of future pandemics. -- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE​



APIAVote Interns



From APIAVote


With summer well on its way, we are excited and proud to have a diverse set of interns from all across the country working with us to empower and mobilize Asian American and Pacific Islander communities to vote! To introduce this cohort of amazing young leaders, we asked them what their top political issue is, what they hope to do after graduation or in their career, and what food reminds them of home:

Sal-Kit Jeremy Lee Interning through: Thai American National Internship Program Sal-Kit “Jeremy” Lee is a recent graduate of George Washington University and is passionate about data disaggregation. He believes it's important that people understand the different issues impacting different communities. He currently works for a faith-based non-profit where he helps empower Southeast Asian American college students to be leaders and world-changers. -- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE



More News



OCA Applauds State lawmakers for securing historic investments for AAPI communities



Redefining Homeland Security: A New Framework for DHS To Meet Today’s Challenges



APIAVote issues Statement on Brnovich v. DNC Decision



CAP's Statement on Cruel Court Ruling on DACA



Teenage thoughts



TWO LINES

By Xirtaidem Acebron



CITY OF MADISON MAYOR'S MESSAGE



Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway


Madison has been pursuing high capacity rapid transit for 30 years. The Metro Rapid system is bus rapid transit - a frequent, faster, and more reliable bus system that uses larger buses to transport more riders. BRT’s features include frequent all-day service and direct routes with fewer stops. It utilizes special traffic signals to help buses get through intersections faster, dedicated bus lanes, stations with off-board fare payment, and larger buses. Metro Rapid will run along East Washington Ave., around the Capitol, through the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) campus, continuing west on University Ave. and Mineral Point Rd., to the West Towne Mall.

There’s been a lot of conversation recently about the downtown section of Metro Rapid. Staff recently briefed the Common Council Executive Committee on the status of the project, with special attention to downtown. [There's video

link online that provides background on Metro Rapid, the design and approval process, and the recent redesign of State St. stations]. These stations are 60% smaller and much more transparent than before. The changes came in direct response to the concerns of business owners who expressed fears that busses would obstruct views of their display windows from across the street. By making the stations smaller and easier to see through as well as by strategically placing them to reduce any new visual impacts the stations could create we have maintained the aesthetic of State Street while providing top-of-the-line public transportation that will allow access to the heart of the city from across Madison.


Video Link:
https://media.cityofmadison.com/Mediasite/Play/56c5a47b22b4475f82eb6a4d850312631d Presentation materials: https://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/documents/brt/brt-powerpoint.pdf 

With $80 million set aside in President Biden’s Budget, Madison’s BRT system is on the brink of success. Madison’s federal BRT application is one of only six in the nation recommended for funding for fiscal year 2022, out of 35 applicants. We need to take advantage this historic moment and finally bring rapid transit to our great city.



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heidipascual2016@yahoo.com