Announcing Speakers, Presenters & Entertainment of the FPACC 2013 Bi-National Conference

Announcing Speakers, Presenters & Entertainment of the FPACC 2013 Bi-National Conference (via Diversity News Magazine)

Announcing Speakers, Presenters & Entertainment Line-Up of The Federation of Philippine American Chambers of Commerce 2013 Bi-National Conference hosted by the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce Los Angeles set for November 8 – 10, 2013. On November…

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Fil-Am International Published Author Lourdes Duque Baron to Co-Host Live Diversity News Radio on Air with Steven Escobar

Diversity News Radio on Air with Steven Escobar to be Co-Host by International Published Author Lourdes Duque Baron (via Diversity News Publications)

June 27, 2013 – Hollywood, CA — Diversity News Productions producer of Diversity News Radio announced that Diversity News Radio on Air with Steven Escobar to be Co-Host by International Published Author Lourdes Duque Baron from “Scripted In Heaven…

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Mary Ann Omega of FACC LA Joins Council of Presidents of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce of Southern CA

Mary Ann Omega from FACC LA Joins Council of Presidents of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce of Southern CA (via Diversity News Magazine)

Los Angeles, CA — On June 8, 2013, Former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos celebrated with the newly-formed Council of Presidents of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce of Southern California. Committed to a major effort in increasing the economic empowerment initiatives of the Southern California…

 

Letter from LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to Lizaso House of Barong and Style’s 5th Annual Kayamanan ng Bayan at CBS Studio Center

Congratulations Letter from LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to Lizaso House of Barong and Style’s 5th Annual Kayamanan ng Bayan at CBS Studio Center (via Diversity News Magazine)

June 1, 2013 Dear Friends: On behalf of the City of Los Angeles, it is my pleasure to welcome members and guests attending Lizaso House of Barong and Style’s 5th Annual Kayamanan ng Bayan “A Philippine Independence Day-Week of Celebration” 115th Anniversary. The Lizaso House of Barong and Style…

 

Stylefest 2013 Panama Awards U.S.A. and 5th Annual “Kayamanan ng Bayan” coming June 1, 2013 at CBS Studios

Lizaso Stylefest 2013 Panama Awards U.S.A. and 5th Annual “Kayamanan ng Bayan” coming June 1, 2013 at CBS Studios (via Diversity News Magazine)

Lizaso, House of Barong and Hair Salon to present Stylefest 2013 Panama Awards U.S.A. and 5th Annual “Kayamanan ng Bayan” (a Philippines independence day - Week of celebration’s 115th Anniversary) coming June 1, 2013 at CBS Studios at 4024 Radford Avenue Studio City, CA 91604 from 5:00 pm…

 

Controversial Fil-Am Newspaper Lawyer sued by his own newspaper staff

Atty. Joel Bander (in photo) is still under a three-year probation in the first State Bar case when he stipulated on another round of disciplinary action with the State Bar after more complaints were filed against him by several homeowners. Now, he will also have to deal with his own newspaper staff who claimed were not paid by him. 

Atty. Joel Bander is accused of not paying two editors and a reporter

Controversial lawyer Joel Bander, who just last month was going to be tried by the State Bar, faces another legal tussle after his own newspaper staff at Pinoywatchdog.com on Tuesday filed a small claims complaint against him at the Los Angeles Superior Court.

In the cases filed last April 30, managing editor Rene Villaroman, editor Alfonso Aquino and reporter Dionesio Grava claimed that Bander owed them $6,000 each for a total of $18,000, which they said was equivalent to six months of unpaid compensation.

In their complaint, each of the three gave similar reasons: “Unpaid services as (their position) of defendant’s newspaper Pinoywatchdog.” All of them also claimed to have worked for Pinowatchdog for a year at a rate of $1,000 a month, which was already low compared to the average salary of editors in Los Angeles which is around $60,000 annually. However, unlike most newspapers in Los Angeles, Pinoywatchdog is a fortnightly tabloid that comes out every other week.

The complaint came amid what many considered internal conflicts in the newspaper outfit when Aquino was headlined as having resigned as executive editor in one of their recent issues. Aside from being its executive editor, Aquino served as president of the newspaper under the Tanod Bayan Inc., a Nevada corporation which listed “Joel R Bander” as the registered agent and the lone corporate officer and director.

Aquino was replaced as president by Bernie Cortes-Kimmerle, who is also the newspaper’s entertainment editor. After taking over Aquino’s post, she  wrote in a front page  message that as “PWD President…we seek the truth as we are independent.” She also wrote that “Fellow ‘Pinoys’ that have no guilt or shame or anything to hide love PWD.” 

After that, however, a new newspaper came out with Aquino as president and executive director written in the staff box, while Villaroman and Grava were named as managing editor and associate editor respectively. Even Larry Pelayo’s name was in the same staff box as editorial ombudsman. Pelayo is also Pinoywatchdog’s ombudsman.

In its maiden issue, The Filipino Advocate editorial lambasted Bander calling the attorney as behaving like a “spoiled brat and a privileged publisher, sometimes demanding perks from prospective advertisers and would-be supporters, and eventually eroding their respect for the core missions of PinoyWatchDog.com.” The same editorial also said that the “financier-owner…started behaving like he owned not only that publication but also the views that its writers and editors espoused.”

In addition, the editorial made it appear that Bander may have had some unsettled financial obligations with the staff when the newspaper wrote that “Never mind that our columnists were not accorded pay for their efforts. But when Mr. Bander reneged on the agreement to compensate the writers and editors for their labor, we put our collective feet down. Enough was enough.” The editorial, however, didn’t mention who wrote the piece, but it was believed to have been written by Aquino.

In an email to Weekend Balita, Aquino said that “when Bander offered me the job of president and as executive editor, I made my position clear and they were as follows:

1. I write as I please and I won’t take dictation or correction from him, except issues that are defamatory against the subject concerned;

2. That I have no role as far as financing the undertaking was concerned, including the salaries of staff members and payment of contributed articles;

3. That I received no emolument of any kind in the meantime until the paper is financially viable; and

4. That I do no marketing.”

Aquino reiterated that his resignation was caused by policy differences with Bander, “who seemed to have gotten swollen in the head after savoring the sweet smell of the perceived success of the paper to the extent that he considered such as his personal achievement.”

Also according to Aquino, he is the registered owner of the newspaper’s name, Pinoywatchdog.com. “I am  the registered owner of Pinoywatchdog with the Secretary of State, California, and still the registered owner of the dba (doing business as) of pinoywatchdog.com.”

He said that “if I don’t get paid I will sue him for infringement against my property right, as I am the legal and rightful owner of the paper as my last resort to get this man out of circulation in the Filipino community.

Thru Facebook, Villaroman – who was the co-founder of Pinoywatchdog – had only these to say: “Thanks for giving me the courtesy of airing my side on this story. But I would rather not make any comment or address your inquiries for personal reasons at this time.” Grava also said that “at this time I am not issuing any statement nor answer questions from the media in that regard. Thanks”

For his part, Bander said that he has yet to see any of the lawsuits. Despite that, however, he said, “I love Al, Rene and Mr. Grava! The lawsuit is silly though. That is my comment for now."

Bander is currently facing a State Bar complaint involving a loan litigation program his firm launched back in 2008. The complaint by the State Bar is currently on “Hearing Stipulation” stage, which means that Bander may have settled the case and agreed on another round of disciplinary action after serving a three-month suspension last year. In the first State Bar complaint which was filed on behalf of several homeowners who signed up in the failed “Save Your Home, Sue the Banks” mortgage litigation scheme, Bander allegedly failed to perform the legal services that he was supposed to do for his clients. 

According to State Bar, that first case against Bander cost them more than $20,000 in court fees, including investigation and hearing expenses, all of which may have to be paid by Bander. More fees are expected to be incurred by the ongoing second State Bar complaint that would've forced Bander to face 35 witnesses, including his former lawyers at the now bankrupt Bander Law Firm, in the already scuttled five-day trial.

Article via http://rhonylaigo.blogspot.com

Fil-Am Author Lourdes Duque Baron Wins Award for “Scripted In Heaven” at MoneyCytec Achiever Awards Night 2013 in New York

Author Lourdes Duque Baron Wins Award for “Scripted In Heaven” at MoneyCytec Achiever Awards Night 2013 in New York (via Diversity News Magazine)

On Thursday, February 28, 2013 The National Association of Medical Business Leaders in collaboration with Moneycytec held their 1st Semi Annual Achiever’s Night Awards at Antun’s Restaurant located 96-43 Springfield Boulevard in Queens Village, New York 11429 from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Event ticket…

 

FIL-AM Mary Ann R. Omega is the New President of The Filipino American Chamber of Commerce LA for 2013

Mary Ann R. Omega is the New President of The Filipino American Chamber of Commerce LA for 2013 (via Diversity News Magazine)

Mary Ann R. Omega is the New President of The Filipino American Chamber of Commerce Los Angeles for the term year 2013. The 2013 Officers & Board Members Induction Ceremony and General Membership Assembly was held on Saturday, February 16, 2013 from 7:00 pm until 1:00 am at May Flower Seafood Restaurant…

 

Fil-Brit Matthew Parry-Jones, Cynthia Manley to perform at Lourdes Duque Baron Private Press Book Signing on Feb. 16th

Matthew Parry-Jones, Cynthia Manley to perform at Lourdes Duque Baron Private Press Book Signing on Feb. 16th (via Diversity News Magazine)

Hollywood, CA — Friday, February 15, 2013 Diversity News Productions/Publications, The Baron Publishing House Corporation in association with The Filipino American Press Club of California invites you to a Private Press Book Signing event of International Published Book Author Lourdes Duque Baron…

 

Author Lourdes Duque Baron from Scripted In Heaven Private Press Book Signing at Cafe Sierra Universal Hilton

International Published Book Author Lourdes Duque Baron from Scripted In Heaven Private Press Book Signing at Cafe Sierra Universal Hilton (via Diversity News Magazine)

The Baron Publishing House Corporation in association with Filipino American Press Club of California invites you to a private press book signing event of International Published Book Author Lourdes Duque Baron from Scripted In Heaven to be held Saturday, February 16, 2013 at Cafe Sierra, Universal…

 

Noel S.V. Omega and Boy Lizaso honored at Fil-Am Image Awards 2013

Noel S.V. Omega and Boy Lizaso honored at 1st Annual Fil-Am Image Awards 2013 (via Diversity News Magazine)

On Friday, January 4, 2013 Mutch Carino from Maxx Promos and John James Sacramento from Kabayan Entertainment Presented the 1st Annual Fil-Am Image Awards 2013 Benefiting SIPA (Search to Involve Pilipino Americans) at Florentine Gardens located at 5951 Hollywood Blvd, in Hollywood, California 90028…