The Oarhouse

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Washington Post: D.C. Inauguration Plans

D.C. Mayor Fenty Talks About Inauguration Plans

The District is expecting up to 4 million people to crowd downtown for the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. The Post's Hamil R. Harris and Nikita Stewart caught up with Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) to talk about preparations.

Friday, November 07, 2008

'Dear Brother Obama'

First press conference of President-Elect Barack Obama, November 7, 2008 (Chicago Tribune photo by Zbigniew Bzdak)

The American Presidents

The New York Times Online, November 5, 2008

An open letter from the author Alice Walker, to the 44th President of the United States of America.

Dear Brother Obama,

You have no idea, really, of how profound this moment is for us. Us being the black people of the Southern United States. You think you know, because you are thoughtful, and you have studied our history. But seeing you deliver the torch so many others before you carried, year after year, decade after decade, century after century, only to be struck down before igniting the
flame of justice and of law, is almost more than the heart can bear. And yet, this observation is not intended to burden you, for you are of a different time, and, indeed, because of all the relay runners before you, North America is a different place. It is really only to say: Well done. We
knew, through all the generations, that you were with us, in us, the best of the spirit of Africa and of the Americas. Knowing this, that you would actually appear, someday, was part of our strength. Seeing you take your rightful place, based solely on your wisdom, stamina and character, is a balm for the weary warriors of hope, previously only sung about.

I would advise you to remember that you did not create the disaster that the world is experiencing, and you alone are not responsible for bringing the world back to balance. A primary responsibility that you do have, however, is to cultivate happiness in your own life. To make a schedule that permits sufficient time of rest and play with your gorgeous wife and lovely daughters. And so on. One gathers that your family is large. We are used to seeing men in the White House soon become juiceless and as white-haired as the building; we notice their wives and children looking strained and stressed. They soon have smiles so lacking in joy that they remind us of scissors. This is no way to lead. Nor does your family deserve this fate. One way of thinking about all this is: It is so bad now that there is no excuse not to relax. From your happy, relaxed state, you can model real success, which is all that so many people in the world really want. They may buy endless cars and houses and furs and gobble up all the attention and space they can manage, or barely manage, but this is because it is not yet clear to them that success is truly an inside job. That it is within the reach of almost everyone.

I would further advise you not to take on other people's enemies. Most damage that others do to us is out of fear, humiliation and pain. Those feelings occur in all of us, not just in those of us who profess a certain religious or racial devotion. We must learn actually not to have enemies,
but only confused adversaries who are ourselves in disguise. It is understood by all that you are commander in chief of the United States and are sworn to protect our beloved country; this we understand, completely. However, as my mother used to say, quoting a Bible with which I often
fought, "hate the sin, but love the sinner." There must be no more crushing of whole communities, no more torture, no more dehumanizing as a means of ruling a people's spirit. This has already happened to people of color, poor people, women, children. We see where this leads, where it has led.

A good model of how to "work with the enemy" internally is presented by the Dalai Lama, in his endless caretaking of his soul as he confronts the Chinese government that invaded Tibet. Because, finally, it is the soul that must be preserved, if one is to remain a credible leader. All else might be lost; but when the soul dies, the connection to earth, to peoples, to animals, to rivers, to mountain ranges, purple and majestic, also dies. And your smile, with which we watch you do gracious battle with unjust characterizations, distortions and lies, is that expression of healthy self-worth, spirit and soul, that, kept happy and free and relaxed, can find an answering smile in all of us, lighting our way, and brightening the world.

We are the ones we have been waiting for.

In Peace and Joy,

Alice Walker

Illustration by Mario Mercado

Chicago congratulates Obama: Banners congratulating president-elect Barack Obama hang Wednesday outside of City Hall and the Cook County Building in downtown Chicago. Mayor Richard Daley said the flags were paid for by his campaign committee. (Tribune photo by José M. Osorio / November 5, 2008)

(Alice Walker is the author of 'The Color Purple')

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Democrats Abroad Philippines - Quezon Bridge YES WE SPAN EVENT INVITATION, August 24 SUNDAY

Dear Friends,

On the eve of the Democratic National Convention 2008 in Denver, you are all cordially invited to join us at our gathering this Sunday morning in Manila whose details and times are below.

Kindly forward and pass the word of this invitation on to all our friends here in the Philippines, as well as to all possibly interested Fil-Ams and US expat residents you know in Manila, for their info.

Thanks for your much-appreciated participation and support!

We'll SEE YOU on SUNDAY!

Sincerely,

Ben Razon

Democrats Abroad Philippines

Get Out The Vote Team

Americans In The Philippines For Obama

OBAMA IN TAGALOG

Filipinos For Obama

Vote From Abroad
To VOTE ABSENTEE

DEMOCRATS ABROAD Say 'YES WE SPAN'

Quezon Bridge "YES WE SPAN" EVENT -- Sunday Morning, 10:00 AM, Quezon Bridge Pedestrian Walkway and Arroceros Park, Manila

BY: David McCauley, Democrats Abroad Philippines Vice-Chair, ON AUGUST 19TH, 2008

REFERRAL: Jason Rush and Ben Razon, Democrats Abroad Philippines GET OUT THE VOTE (GOTV) Team, Media Outreach Coordinators

DATE: Sunday, August 24, 2008 - 9:30am - Sunday, August 24, 2008 - 11:00am

Obama Supporters Meeting on Sunday morning, August 24 (hand-made signs welcome!).

In timing with the kick-off of the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado and the acceptance of the nomination of Barack Obama for President of the United States and to raise voter registration awareness amongst Filipino-Americans, US citizen residents here in the Philippines, this is Manila's version of more than 50 such events held around the world to mark Senator Obama's commitment to build bridges across party, ethnic and all other lines to reach solutions to our common problems in the US and around the world. Please join us to show your support!

Backgrounder:

The last two U.S. Presidential elections were decided by a few thousand voters in a few states. With over 200,000 Americans residing in the Philippines, and over 6 million Americans residing outside the United States, these voters have the power to determine the outcome of the 2008 election.

On Sunday, August 24th, American citizens living in Manila will rally in support of U.S. presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama, and to encourage all Americans living abroad to register to vote. The Acting Chair of Democrats Abroad-Philippines, David McCauley – who has personally known the Obama family since the 1980s – will speak about why Senator Obama’s election is important for America, the Philippines and the world.

EVENT DETAILS, SUNDAY AUGUST 24, 2008, 10:00 AM --

1) Preliminary meet-up location of participants for the Quezon Bridge Yes We Span event is at parking area of Aristocrat Restaurant at Rajah Sulayman Park, Malate Church off Roxas Blvd. Assembly time is from 9:30 AM to 10 AM after which the group is to proceed in vehicle convoy to Quezon Bridge Event site at 10 AM sharp.

For those driving from Aristocrat Restaurant meetup site to Quezon Bridge, the route is to take Roxas Boulevard straight towards Luneta (Rizal Park and Manila Hotel), turn right at P. Burgos St. through and past the National Museum and Manila City Hall taking rightmost lane until reaching Metropolitan Theater Building and Park 'N Ride on your right where group is encouraged to park their vehicles. Do not cross Quezon Bridge that heads straight to Quiapo, as there is still a corner you can make a right turnoff onto an access road before the foot of the bridge itself, behind the Metropolitan Theater, where you can also find available places to park on the side or under the elevated line of the LRT (Light Rail Transit).

2) Gathering and parking at event site for group convoy is available at side of Metropolitan Theater and Arroceros Garden, or at Park 'N Ride Parking Building just behind Metropolitan Theater (visible location is directly under LRT line between Metropolitan Theater and Pasig River at foot of Quezon Bridge where all media will be gathered for coverage start) between 10 AM to 10:15 AM. Participants will not be exposed to traffic and will remain on pedestrian walkway. Children are welcome.

3) WALK of Bridge Yes We Span group participants and media on Quiapo-bound pedestrian walkway of Quezon Bridge, 10:15 AM.

4) EVENT and PHOTO-OP GATHERING among participants and media at QUEZON BRIDGE, MANILA 10:15 AM to 10:45 AM.

5) End of event. Group returns from Quezon Bridge back to Remedios Circle, Malate for meetup and no-host brunch (for those interested) at Cafe Adriatico at corner of Adriatico and Remedios St., Malate, 10:45 to 12:00 NN.

From: Democrats Abroad Philippines

Date: Aug 20, 2008 11:24 AM

Subject: Dates to Remember – Message to Democrats Abroad-Philippines Members

Dear Fellow Democrats in the Philippines,

Our last letter went out to you in May, when we reported on the delegates heading to the Denver Democratic Convention in Denver. Well, convention time is now upon us. Georgia McCauley, Chair of Democrats Abroad-Philippines, will be representing us as an Alternate Delegate at the convention – starting next Monday, 25 August (or Tuesday morning, Philippines time). You may also catch Georgia being interviewed in the CNN biography of Senator Obama to air this week as a curtain raiser for the convention.

We are still pushing hard to get US citizen residents in the Philippines to register and vote in the November election. Please help by promoting the website www.votefromabroad.org to any and all who are interested! Please try to deliver at least 10 additional votes to get the change we need in the US and around the world.

Several events have been planned to raise awareness about absentee voting and otherwise gain support for the election of Senator Obama. You are all encouraged to join these events and bring along your friends, whether they can vote or not (limited Obama campaign materials will be available for those who join and contribute):

Sunday, 24 August, 9:30-11:30am: Quezon Bridge "Yes We Span" Event – Assemble at Aristocrat Restaurant, Rajah Sulayman Park, next to Malate Church off Roxas Boulevard between 9:30-10:00am. The group will go together to the bridge for a short rally and photo-op, followed by a no-host brunch at Café Adriatico for those interested. We expect good media coverage, tied to the start of the Democratic National Convention.

Friday, 29 August, 5:15-7:15pm: Obama Acceptance Speech Party – Meet at TGI Friday's Restaurant, on High Street, Fort Bonifacio to hear David McCauley speak from his vantage as an Obama family friend about the candidate's Asian and Pacific roots and world view, and then to view Obama's speech given earlier in the day to an audience of 75,000 in Denver. Food included (but not drinks) with a minimum donation of P1500 to support the voter registration efforts of Democrats Abroad-Philippines.

Saturday, 27 September, 8:30-10:30am: Live Presidential Debate Viewing Party – Meet at TGI Friday's Restaurant, on High Street, Fort Bonifacio to join in viewing the live presidential debate between Senators Obama and McCain. Again, food (not drinks) will be included with a minimum donation of P1500 to support the local voter registration efforts of Democrats Abroad.

Additional information on these and other events can be found at www.democratsabroad.org/group/philippines.

Don't forget that there are an estimated 100,000 potential American voters in the Philippines! Many of them have ties to key battleground states, such as Nevada or Virginia. We need your help to ensure that all eligible Obama supporters know how to register and vote – it can make the difference in a close election!! If you are willing to hand out some brochures to people you know, please contact Lisa Lumbao at lumbao@mozcom.com and she will deliver them to you.

We have been active in promoting awareness. You may have seen a public service announcement on Philippine TV encouraging Fil-Ams to vote. We have been networking with Fil-Am Obama supporters back in the US to encourage them to reach out to absentee voter family and friends here in the Philippines.

The Obama campaign has appointed a regional representative in Sydney to lend support, including providing us with Obama campaign materials and assisting with on-line outreach efforts.

Look for me and other Democrats Abroad-Philippines members being interviewed on TV or radio and being quoted in the press over the weeks to come as we increase our awareness raising efforts. If you want to give some of your time or provide much-needed financial support, please contact Larissa Bhandari, the Get-Out-the-Vote (GOTV) drive leader at labhandari@gmail.com.

You may also be hearing from us by text message when there are important announcements, and please feel free to forward this email to any other interested Obama supporters.

Sincerely,

David McCauley

Vice Chair,
Democrats Abroad-Philippines

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

WHERE on EARTH will YOU VOTE?

American? Living overseas? YOU CAN VOTE FROM ABROAD!

On Monday, actress Gwyneth Paltrow will debut in her newest film: a two minute advertisement on behalf of Democrats Abroad, an official party organization that persuades the millions of Democratic voters living outside the country's borders to participate in domestic politics.

The spot, titled 'Where In The World Will YOU Vote?' implores expatriates to ignore the usual excuses and lethargies and cast ballots in the '08 election...preferably for Obama.

-- Sam Stein, The Huffington Post

From 'Democrats Abroad Launches Global Voter Drive For Obama' announcement --

Washington, DC (4th August 2008) - With hundreds of thousands of new or unregistered US voters living around the world, the London-based actor Gwyneth Paltrow and Democrats Abroad, the official state party representing American Democrats living overseas, are scouring the planet for every possible Obama vote with a major new campaign that launches today featuring a video and a series of events around the world.

Through the 'Where In The World Will YOU Vote?' video, which debuted today on the popular American political blog, The Huffington Post, as well as live and virtual 'Search Parties' in London, Paltrow and the group plan to deliver an unprecedented turnout for the Democratic ticket on the 4th of November. Additional 'Search Parties' are also planned for other major cities with high numbers of resident Americans in the coming weeks.

Paltrow, as well as non-celebrity voters, appear in the video to demystify the registration process and to encourage voters to engage in time to participate in the November 4th US general election. The brief video was directed by Jaci Judelson, a native New Yorker now in Paris, whose credits include international television campaigns for The Gap, Volvic, Ralph Lauren and Nokia, among others.

Democrats Abroad, the overseas branch of the US Democratic Party, will host 'search parties' in major cities around the world to identify and engage Americans through friends and family and through social network applications such as Facebook. The group also has a website to help voters navigate the registration process.

"This is a critical election, and we urge all Americans living abroad to request ballots now. We hope that this video along with our other efforts will help Americans, including over 200,000 American students studying abroad, vote for change this fall," said Christine Schon Marques, International Chair, Democrats Abroad.

Democrats Abroad Multimedia Chair and Video Producer Caitlin Kraft Buchman said: "We know the missing voters are out there, between Toronto and Timbuktu, and they can't cast ballots without registering. We won't give up until we find them - with this video, through a friend or at one of the Search Parties we'll be hosting in the run up to Election Day."

EDITOR'S NOTES:

With members in more than 160 countries around the globe, Democrats Abroad holds eight positions on the Democratic National Committee and will send a voting delegation of 22 delegates from around the world to the Democratic National Convention, August 25-28, 2008.

In 2004, Democrats Abroad helped register approximately 250,000 overseas voters in person and online.

VoteFromAbroad.org was launched in 2006 and is available in both English and Spanish.

More than 7 million Americans live overseas.

The countries with the most resident Americans are Canada, Mexico, UK and Germany.

Four of the biggest swing states (Florida, Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania) are among the Top Ten for number of overseas ballots requested.

Deadlines to register and request a ballot vary from state to state. Allowing for postal delivery, the practical deadline is around October 4, 2008.

Links:

Federal Voting Assistance Program -- To VOTE ABSENTEE
Democrats Abroad Philippines
On Blogger
Americans In The Philippines For Obama
Americans Abroad For Obama

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

A Homecoming and Celebration, April 6, 2008

Edd Aragon, self portrait, 2007

'Sunspots' © Edd Aragon 2008

IT was a day long awaited, of two simultaneous occasions whose most personal elements of which last Sunday for me were of Sydney-based artist Edd Aragon's invitation of his old friends and classmates to his opening exhibit on digital art, and of bringing my friend and colleague Mon Acasio back to the Oarhouse after he suffered a near fatal stroke at this same time last year and for the efforts of the photographers and generous friends who pitched in to raise more than half a million pesos to take care of his medical bills and a year of physical therapy which enabled him to walk again and to continue his road to recovery.

In effect this wasn't so much about an exhibit or a birthday, but of a special homecoming welcome for an artist returning after 30 years to his city and country, and of my celebration of friendship that is as valuable as family to me.

It was not so much about Edd or me but more about how we have gotten to know people and almost unconsciously -- reconnected and consolidated many seemingly different parts and separate elements of our lives.

The true gift is how the character and spirit of a place such as The Oar has inspired a community of great human beings and the reality of last Sunday's celebration under the small modest roof of 'OUR house' on Mabini Street.

That sense of family naturally inspires a communtiy, and the community can give to the rest of those who have had neither -- that gift that we have.

Ben

4.08.08

A big SHOUT OUT and THANKS to Reg, Anabel, Wilson, Abel and the crew of The Oar. The great food and nonstop flow of drinks along with the presence of Krip Yuson, Sylvia Mayuga, Sol Vanzi, Heber Bartolome, Glenn Bautista, Tante Tagamolila, Marne Kilates, Claro Cortes IV, Jaime FlorCruz, Wally Gonzales, Willie Nepomuceno, Butch Perez, Red Constantino, Ronnie Lazaro, Dodo Lim, Apa Ongpin and the North Syquia residents of Malate out in full force coupled with the invisible spirits and vibes of Pepito Bosch and Santi Bose were all present in one way or another to sanctify the occasion.

Maraming salamat uli sa lahat. :-)