auntie’s 30th!!!

what a well organized, conversation-inducing party by auntie and don. here are some of the best shots from that wonderful mostly-familia gathering:

welcome mama to america

after years of hard struggle in baybay, it is now time for mama to leave so she can remove herself and find empowerment in this land of “milk and honey”. may she find some resolve here. all the best to you mama! we know you miss everyone in baybay, especially the kids.

58 gallery + other summer openings

the best gallery in jersey city had a show with our neighbor, Kirk Bray. he is a painter, visual artist and leather maker. here are pics of julius inside the private “red room”. 

we also took time to attend and lend support to the Library Hall Lofts grand opening this past Wednesday. They are the builders of the new law office space at 704 Grand. Here we are in front of one of the brick walls of one of t he lofts. 

 

We LOVE you Alicia!!!

With Don, Daryl, and Julius, we rendezvous-ed with Ms. Alicia Keys at the Prudential Center in Newark last Tuesday. Of course, she was amazing with her vocals and the piano. She is the epitomy of uncompromising/zed talent. She is soul. Neyo and Jordin Sparks were opening acts who were in line with the same skill as Alicia.

I wonder how it feels for artists like Alicia to command an audience in the thousands. For the love of music or whatever your craft, give it your all. Do not compromise.

You can’t go to a concert and not have the ubiquitous beer so Don and I had a handful of them that night. Julius then became our designated driver. We definitely gotta do more concerts pohon!!! At least 2xxx a year.

Here are other mixed black beauties: Amerie and Cassie (half Pinay)

Gay pride coinciding with truth and reconciliation of native Canadians!!!…

Last night, we saw a great PBS documentary “Anyone & Everyone”, stories of various American nuclear families dealing with a family member’s coming out story. I ordered the film to share with others who are still in their respective prisons and closets. Thanks to our families for their part in not conspiring to keep us in the closet. We exist. We are.  

Anyone and Everyone

Anyone and Everyone

Anyone and Everyone

On an equality basis (religion aside), we are all entitled to equal rights under the law. What straight couples can do, so should same sex couples. There is no justification for the inequality in treatment between both. This is what the California Supreme Court ruled on when it allowed same sex couples the right to marry in their state.

Last week, the Canadian government apologized to its native/First Nations citizens for its forced schooling and assimilationist policies towards native children. Here is a photo I found of native Canadian communities commemorating this historic act of reconciliation. The same happened to the Australian aboriginies. Will the same happen to the indigenous people and slave descendants in the U.S.?

 

 

Turning a new leaf with my law practice

Starting today, Hinonangan Law Office conducts its legal services from its new and owned location at 704 Grand St. Julius and I worked tirelessly to finish the set up starting Friday (Julius took a day off) through 8 p.m. last night, Sunday. All that sweat is definitely worth it!!!

Thanks Papa Ulyos for your refusal to compromise the integrity in setting up this space. To Eddy, our Verizon installer, many thanks! To Oswaldo + friend for helping us to move most of the old office’s files; for Einstein’s good luck visit and Neida’s role as guard dog. Here are some photos:

Since 2003, my law practice has been at Newark Avenue. Five years later, it is time to have our own space and continue serving our clients with their human and capital needs. 

Salamat Senor Sto. Nino y San Antonio! On St. Anthony’s feast day, 6/13th, was the day we started the set up marathon; to Lolo Inting, Lola Justin, Lolo Criso and Lola Fortang for watching over me. Many thanks also to Julius, Nay + Tay, Minette, Daryl, Camille, my past and present staff: Lito (present) and Vanessa and Shannon (past; Shannon just graduated this year from Northeastern Law, Boston); my law school crew—Amelia, Amy, Andrea, Anya, Dennis, Elsa, Hector, Iggy, Izumi, Milda & Niya; and of course, to my loyal clients, for helping me to reach and realize this dream. 

GIVING BACK TO BERGEN HILL THRU ARTS…

In an area of law where families are often separated due to enforcement-centered immigration laws, we hope to create an environment that celebrates our human dignity. So our new office will have substantial space set aside for Lenape + eps, a mini art gallery for mostly urban/third world art. 

The office is situated in historic Bergen Hill area of Jersey City, which is a community of mostly people of color. So once the transition is near completion, we commit to do our part by liaising with the nearby high school and helping its students to actualize their own human and capital needs through a small scale employment readiness program, including resume building.

 

Obama represents true America

America, before it became known by this name, consisted of various indigenous tribes. With the coming of European settlers and the forcible shipment of African slaves, what later became America was a mixture of different races and groups. Now, Obama comes to represent what America is truly about, a multicultural place and space where various groups and schools of thought (ought to)  thrive. This is so no matter how America has been brutally resistant to the idea of equality for ALL. 

Below is a picture of Obama and his half-sister, Maya Soetero-Ng, a professor at the Univ. of Hawaii (where Maivan, our CUNY Law professor had worked). Maya is of Indonesian and American ancestry. She is holding her daughter, Suhaila, with her husband, Konrad Ng, of Chinese and Canadian ancestry (also a professor at the Univ. of Hawaii.) Holding Suhaila’s hands is Malia (Barrack’s eldest); behind her is Michelle and on her is Shasha (Barrack’s youngest). 

And of course, check out this photo of Obama and grade school classmates in Hawaii. It is the cutest!

 

Revolutionary Sendoff

Last Saturday, we had our impromptu get-together to bid farewell to Milda, Lyla + Pilar as they get ready to move to Florida. Hector will stay in NYC for a bit then follow the rest of the family. We will see you in Florida soon! All the best and love!!! This crew, with a few missing, were my solid support system throughout law school. Five years later, we remain the source of same.

Iggy, Anya + Anand were our gracious hosts at their condo in Queens, despite Anand being “under the weather”. Iggy made some wicked caiprinhas (Hector raising his glass of it above) and Anya made watercress salad. Amelia brought sandwiches and j+I pancit.

J+I love their revolutionary home. Check out the visuals by the dining table, fierce! Counter-narrative!!!

baby left in car at target parking lot saved by good

samaritan mothers and target employees. Julius and I were en route to the closing of our office space when we saw a bunch of women huddling over a car. one woman, in black, by the side mirror, was wailing and cried out: how could anyone do this?!

when we looked in, a baby boy was strapped in his car seat in the rear of the car. he was visibly drenched. this was around 1pm and the sun was emitting at least 75 degrees out.

i called 911 and so did four others (probably the women surrounding the car) before me. i also went to a target manager who made an announcement at the store. some of the men who passed by went back to their cars to get tools to break the car window. 

fortunately, a police fire and rescue truck came in about a minute and they got the passenger door open. luckily, the baby was fine. julius happened to have my camera so he took this shot of him. fyi: the women around this boy are just passerbys.

what next?

nj child services will take that child away from the parents. the parents will most likely be charged will endagering the welfare of a child. we left soon after so if the parents don’t get back to that car, the car will probably be towed and when they claim it, they will be arrested and charged. 

now, we’ve left neida with the windows rolled down and water but after that, never again. 

Back in the day…

College break at Great Adventure with Lalo (roommate for my last 2 years of college), Ivan (frat brod) + Ruben (frat brod). Where was Willie here? I tagged this pic from Lalo’s Facebook. 

Here is another old photo from j+i’s first trip together home a Pinas. Nice contrast, eh?!