SAN DIEGO After the grand and colorful parade of Filipinos in New York City last Sunday, come the pictures and videos.

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1 At the Philippine Independence Day parade in New York on June 1. From left, New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, U.S. Judge Lorna Schofield, Consul General Mario de Leon, Jr. and PIDCI president Fe Martinez. (Photo by Elton Lugay) SAN DIEGO After the grand and colorful parade of Filipinos in New York City last Sunday, come the pictures and videos. Through the sharp lenses of Elton Lugay, Jundy Lacuata, Francis Magallon and Lambert Pitao, I examined some 500 photos taken during last Sunday s Philippine Independence Day parade. 1 / 9

2 Also, I watched Oliver Oliveros lengthy videos. Looking at pictures and watching videos take as much time as the parade itself. This activity is part of the observance. Of course! How do we say it? Picture, picture! To me, all the men and women in the parade were well-dressed, including some 200 men and women and children all in newly-printed red Global Walk t-shirts (what a discipline) of CFC ANCOP NJ & NY. But, after a careful self evaluation, my pick for best dressed man is Consul General Mario L. de Leon, Jr. I don t know if you noticed the distinct dark lines of his Barong Tagalog. So Filipino-looking even if the ConGen is a mestizo. (LOL!). 2 / 9

3 I can joke with this amiable Filipino official because it was him who said we were both Facebook and real friends (even if we are not FB friends). Let me divert from the parade a bit. Those of you who are FB friends with the ConGen Mario, remember a recent posting from the Consulate of beauteous British Filipina actress Rachel Grant posing in a bended position with our beloved ConGen in order not to appear too tall? I learned from ConGen Mario himself in a recent exchange that by affinity, Rachel is her cousin. It s not the easiest family relationship to describe, but they are cousins in life. Why did I mention this? Because it explains to me why Rachel is so beautiful and our consul general is good-looking. (That s the most generous description I could make of ConGen Mario...hehe.) Let s continue with parade matters. Raul Estrellado. 3 / 9

4 He was holding a cane. Was that for real or for props? I m asking because merely three days before the parade, he drove a big truck and installed the portable toilets around the parade area by himself! Had he not folded the sleeves (did he?) of his Barong, he would have shared the title with the ConGen. With cane & hat, he looked like a gobernadorcillo to me. The women...all the women I saw (and I think I saw all of them in pics), were pretty, especially in kimona sleeves. Medy Taeza, the ever-pretty Catanduena is one of them. But, my pick for best-dressed is no less than what musical artist Miguel Braganza described as the most beautiful girl in the world, Megan Young in her dark blue long gown. I thought for a while there was wardrobe failure on Megan s right breast area of her gown. It was not. It was made to look like petal of a flower. 4 / 9

5 Pretty woman, this Megan! Till next year, folks! 5 / 9

6 Miss World 2013 Megan Young waving to the crowd. (Photo by Elton Lugay) *** Climate Change In a recent Climate Change Conference of scientists, academicians, religious leaders, media people and business leaders from around the world held in the Vatican, a common conclusion was reached. Climate change is here. And that citizens of the world have to balance the demands of life on this planet and the capabilities that nature provide. There was discussion during the conference on the role of the Catholic Church in the issue of Climate Change, which is now recognized as pro-life issue because on what people do will depend the continuation of God s creations that we are supposed to love and preserve. In a May 20 editorial of National Catholic Reporter, it said: Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga described the (Climate Change) problem during a talk opening the Vatican conference. He described nature as neither separate from nor against 6 / 9

7 humanity, but rather existing with humans. No sin is more heartless than our blindness to the value of all that surrounds us and our persistence in using it at the wrong time and abusing it at all times. Humans, he said, have become technological giants while remaining ethical children. Humans have been driven to a point of decision by the consequences good and bad of two centuries of technological development. In his closing remarks at the Rome meeting, New York Times writer Andrew C. Revkin stated, Scientific knowledge reveals options. Values determine choices. That is why the Roman Catholic Church with its global reach, the ethical framework in its social justice teachings and, as with all great religions, the ability to reach hearts as well as minds can play a valuable role in this consequential century. The problem is enormous, but so is the opportunity for the church to use its resources, its access to some of the best experts in its academies and the attention of those in its parochial structures to begin to educate. This is a human life issue of enormous proportions, and one in which the young should be fully engaged. The Climate Assessment document as well as the recent discussion at the Vatican are excellent starting points for developing curricula materials for education programs in parishes and schools. Catholic high schools and colleges have the freedom to explore these vital issues from both the scientific and ethical perspectives. They can bring theological perspectives to bear on the issues. Educators and students could devise ways to become active at all levels, from homes, to communities, to states, to advocating for legal measures to offset the effects of global warming. Finding a fix for climate change and its potentially disastrous consequences, particularly for the global poor, is not the work of a single discipline or a single group or a single political strategy. 7 / 9

8 Its solution lies as much in people of faith as in scientific data, as much or more in a love for God s creation as it does in our instinct for self-preservation. We could conclude from the above Climate Change is no longer merely an anticipated issue. Rather, it is real and it is here with us. President Obama has also started a campaign on Climate Change. In a June 2 note to Americans, he called on them saying: Climate change is happening, and it is happening now. As a president and as a father, I feel a moral responsibility to do something about it. The world our children grow up in depends on what we do today. *** As part of its public awareness campaign, ANCOP USA, in partnership with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Caritas International, will conduct a Climate Change-related conference dubbed as 1st ANCOP USA Disaster Preparedness Summit to be held on Oct in Chicago. The aim is to prepare all groups involved in mitigating the effects of catastrophes anywhere in the world. Community organizations may send representatives to this meeting. 8 / 9

9 Wait for future announcements. 9 / 9