Philippine Consul General Marciano Paynor, in an interview here on the eve of the arrival of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for an eight-day state visit, said Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials will start conducting a series of seminars on the implementation of the law in Philippine Consulates all over the US, and the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D. C. starting May 27.

Paynor said Comelec representatives, assisted by Embassy and Consulate officials, will brief the numerous leaders of the Filipino community "to inform them of the nuances" of the Absentee Voting Law.

During the seminar, the Comelec, Embassy and Consulate officials will discuss the details of the registration and the manner of the actual voting for the Filipinos.

Paynor said that with the Comelec seminar, Philippine diplomatic officials would be able to determine the number of voters who will be involved in the electoral exercise and, subsequently, the number of polling places that would have to be set up.

"This is something that we need to do. We will need to thresh out, first of all, how do we register. After we shall have registered and found out the demographics, what is the concentration and so on and so forth," he said.

Paynor likewise noted that with the seminar, the manner of the actual voting -- whether it will be computerized or manual -- would be determined.

"These issues we do not know, and not until we are told by Comelec officially what the manner of registration and voting would be, can we plan our course of action," he added.

The Consul General explained that as far as the experience of some Central American countries like Guatemala, Chile and Peru was concerned, absentee voting has been successful in the US and especially in Los Angeles.

Under the law, Philippine diplomatic officials will be deputized, just like the teachers back in the Philippines, to officiate the actual poll.

Paynor thus stressed the importance of the information drive undertaken by the Filipino communities on the absentee voting.

He said several Filipino community newspapers and radio stations are able to inform Filipinos on important announcements on the forthcoming elections – on how votes will be cast.

There are at less 20 Filipino-American publications, a Filipino television channel and at least two radio stations in California and other parts of the US.

LOS ANGELES (via PLDT) – Filipino-Americans here, who for months have been looking forward to the visit of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, finally get a change to meet or even just get a glimpse of the Philippine leader Saturday night and Sunday morning (California time).

The President will make an overnight trip here Sunday (Manila time), her first stop on her way to Washington, DC, for a state visit and meeting with United States President George W. Bush.

Upon her arrival in California, host to one of the largest Filipino communities in the US, the President will go to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels in downtown Los Angeles to join the Fil-American community for a special Mass.

As she always does whenever she travels abroad, the President will then meet with the overseas Filipino workers and professionals from California and nearby states.

Philippine Consul General Marciano Paynor said at least 3,500 tickets were given free of charge to Filipino and Fil-Americans who will attend the special Mass slated at 9 p.m. (Los Angeles time, 12 noon Sunday, Manila time) to be officiated by no less than His Eminence Cardinal Roger Michael Mahoney.

Paynor said the Cathedral can only fit 3,000 people and this is what prompted Philippine authorities to issue tickets to control the crowd.

"We had to give out tickets because there are more people asking for tickets than there are tickets available," the Consul General said.

Paynor said the desire of the huge Filipino crowd is "really an honest and sincere wish to for them to see the President."

Paynor noted that although the Cathedral can accommodate only 3,000 people, more than 5,000 Filipinos flocked a special Simbang Gabi (midnight Mass) last December arranged by Fil-Am community leaders.

The new Cathedral is bounded by Temple Street, Grand Avenue, Hill Street and the Hollywood Freeway.

The title of Our Lady of the Angel was adapted following the 1781 founding of the City, originally called El Pueblo de Nuestra Seņora Reina de los Angeles.

The Consul General said that after the Mass, the President would mingle with the Filipino community leaders during a cocktail reception in a special venue at the Cathedral around 10:30 in the evening here.

"We have invited the leaders, the community leaders, basically. This is a mix and mingle with notable personalities," he said.

Based on a study using a 1990 US census, Filipinos belong to the upper tier among ethnic groups in Los Angeles county in terms of socio-economic indicators.

While constituting the second largest ethnic group next to the Mexicans, a significant portion of the Filipino community is gainfully employed in white-collar and blue-collar occupations. A number of them hold managerial, executive and administrative positions in government, both federal and local.

Filipiinos in the US workforce are engaged in a variety of professions such as doctors, nurses, engineers, accountants, teachers, information technology technicians, among others.

Others are in the service industry, working in hotels, aviation, insurance and brokerage firms, sales, restaurants, public utilities as well as in the entertainment industry.

There is also a growing number of Filipino-owned businesses such as nursing-home facilities, restaurants, advertising, travel agencies, consultancies and cargo handling.

LOS ANGELES (via PLDT) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived here Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila) for an eight-day state visit to the United States.

She was accorded brief and simple arrival honors at the Los Angeles International Airport after her plane, a Philippine Airlines commercial flight from Manila, touched down at around 6:30 p.m. Saturday (9:30 a.m. Sunday in Manila).

On hand to welcome her and other members of her party, including First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo, were Philippine Consul General to Los Angeles Marciano Paynor and members of the Filipino community here.

The President will be given elaborate military honors appropriate for a state visitor when she arrives in Washington, DC on Monday.

Arriving ahead of schedule, the President proceeded to the Beverly Wilshire Hotel before proceeding to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels to attend a special Mass to be attended by more than 3,000 overseas Filipinos here.

After Mass, she will meet with His Eminence Cardinal Roger Michael Mahoney and then attend a reception with Filipino community leaders at the second level of the Cathedral.

She will spend the night at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel and, in the morning, board a chartered plane for Washington for the formal state visit.

The President's state visit to the US has a four-fold objective. These are: to further enhance Philippine-American cooperation in security and counter-terrorism; to expand trade and investment cooperation: to highlight the importance of the Philippines to US political and business leaders: and to advance the welfare of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans.

This will be the second time that the President would meet with President George W. Bush at the White House. Last November 2001, Bush received the President during a working visit.

The President is one of the first world leaders who supported the US-led global campaign against terrorism launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The Philippines was also a member of the US-led coalition of the willing in the war in Iraq.

Meanwhile, the US last year send around 1,000 special forces to help train Philippine police and military authorities in fighting the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan and Zamboanga under the Balikatan 02-1.

LOS ANGELES (via PLDT) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Saturday night here (Sunday in Manila) said the success of the United States-led coalition against terrorism and weapons of mass destruction has led to new perspectives on political and economic security of the world.

These are: that Asia must take greater responsibility for its own political and economic security and that strong relations with the U.S. will contribute greatly to regional stability and progress in Asia as well as greater success in addressing terrorism.

"Asian self-reliance will promote immediate and effective response to clear and present dangers before they get out of control," the President said in her remarks following a special Mass for Filipino-Americans at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

The President said that for the Philippines, such new perspective must also take into account that there are over 7 million overseas Filipinos who are making significant contributions to the economic development of many countries.

"Filipinos and Filipino-Americans contribute remarkably to American life, not just in the economy but in the social sector as well," the President said.

She noted that during her administration, the government was able to pass the Overseas Absentee Voting Act, "so that those who help their country may have a hand in shaping its future as well."

The President noted that on the part of the Bush administration, the U.S. is launching a project to facilitate the flow of remittances from Filipino workers around the world back to the Philippines.

"This project will improve the lives of millions of Filipinos by lowering the cost of remittance transactions and making it easier for funds to flow to the Philippines from the U.S. and around the world," she said.

She noted the pivotal role of OFWs in nation-building as she said Filipino-Americans constitute 34 percent of OFWs, "but you contribute 71 percent of foreign exchange remittances."

"This contribution translates to education, housing and anti-poverty programs in the Philippines. That is why I always say that you are not overseas Filipino workers. Rather, you are overseas Filipino investors," she said.

She said she renews her call for overseas Filipino investors to continue supporting the economy so that the aspiration of liberating the people from poverty could be fully realized.

She recalled that during her last visit to LA in October last year, she made an appeal to fellow kababayans to help her build a strong Republic in the Philippines.

Now, she said she is pleased to report that the Philippines has made great progress in that direction.

For instance, in strengthening the institutions of security, the government has contained the Abu Sayyaf threat.

She said that last night, before she left Manila, she welcomed back the last two hostages of the Abu Sayyaf Group.

"We are working with the United States on a new set of joint military exercises to finish off the threat," she said.

The President also noted that with the economy, the Philippines is one of the few countries in the region expected to grow at least four percent this year.

LOS ANGELES Via PLDT) — The United States government has committed to help fast track the flow of remittances of money from Filipinos in the US to the Philippines and, in the process, reduce the cost of remitting money.

This was announced today by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as she addressed a crowd of nearly 4,000 Filipinos here who gathered to catch a glimpse of the visiting Chief Executive.

The President said the US government gave its commitment even before she could set foot on Washington for the official start of her eight-day state visit.

She arrived here at 6:30 p.m. (California time) along with First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, daughter Evangeline Lourdes, son Diosdado "Dato" Arroyo and daughter-in-law Kakai Manotok-Arroyo, and a lean official delegation.

"On the part of the Bush administration, the United States is launching a project to facilitate the flow of remittances from Filipino workers around the world back to the Philippines," she said.

The President said the plan, once carried out, shall "improve the lives of millions of Filipinos by lowering the cost of remittance transactions and making it easier for funds to flow to the Philippines from the United States and around the world."

The details of the project are still being worked out, and no clear amount was given as to how much the remittance cost could go down.

Remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Asia, except Japan, are normally charged from a low $1 to $2 per $100 transaction.

The rate varies since it is determined by the private banks through which the remittances are coursed.

Citibank, for example, charges a wiring fee of $50 per transaction, regardless of amount, for money deposited to an account with the same bank in the Philippines, if the deposits are made abroad, particularly the US.

Presidential Adviser on OFWs Heherson Alvarez said a study to be conducted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) shall be undertaken to determine how to fast track the remittances and reduce the cost.

Government authorities are hopeful that remittances would dramatically go up once the reduction on cost is effected.

LOS ANGELES (via PLDT) -- Close to 4,000 Filipinos here gave President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo a very auspicious and warm welcome Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) during a special Mass for the Philippine delegation and the Filipino communities at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

The President, who arrived an hour earlier than expected at Los Angeles after an almost 12-hour flight from Manila, is the first head of state to visit the new Cathedral following the formal blessing of the church last September 2002, according to His Eminence Cardinal Roger Mahony.

Before she proceeded to the church, she met the Cardinal at a conference room in the 5.6-acre (2.3 hectare) Cathedral complex.

Immediately after she entered the church wearing a piņa barong-like pantsuit, the President was warmly applauded by the huge crowd.

The Cathedral has a capacity of 3,000 but the actual attendance reached almost 4,000.

The Philippine Consulate General in LA had to issue tickets to control the crowd because there were more people who expresses their desire to attend the Mass than the church can accomodate.

The new Cathedral rises in powerful blocks of architectural concrete. Soft earthen tones evoked the spirit of early California's adobe mission churches.

Visible behind the glass exterior windows, wide panels of alabaster form the interior windows at 27,000 square feet, the largest architectural use of alabaster in the world, according to church authorities.

Despite the huge crowd, the Mass was solemn and meaningful, with Filipino church hymns performed by the Filipino-American singers like Nonoy Alsaybar and Melody del Mundo and the Filipino Choir of Southern California, Gospel Philippines Missionary Choir USA and the Kayumanggi, a group of music students from various Southern California universities.

In her brief remarks after the Mass, the President noted that the vestment of Cardinal Mahony was specially made in the Philippines from piņa fiber.

She also thanked the clergy for hosting such a kind gesture for her and the Filipino communities.

She said like churches everywhere, "this place feels like home."

"This large gathering of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans, including the more than 500 Filipino volunteers from this Cathedral alone attest to the deep faith of the Filipino people, whereever they are," she said.

She said churches are filled with the Filipino faithful, testifying to their deep and abiding trust in God.

The President noted that recent events call for a renewal of faith and a reaffirmation of such trust. "To the cowardly acts of terrorism and the threats of more war using methods and weapons of mass destruction, comes now the spread of a deadly disease whose nature and cure still eludes the scientists."

"But progress is being made and not just in that front but in others. Perhaps the greatest progress has been in our attitudes to these threats. We have progressed beyond fear and wonder to action. Already, there are promising results," she said.

The President noted that Filipinos and Filipino-Americans contribute immensely to American life, not just to the economy but in the social sector as well.

She noted that the Filipino experience in the US, particularly in Los Angeles, is a positive outcome of a time-honored friendship based on shared values and traditions.

"You find a natural home in your host country as you embrace and advocate the ideals of freedom, democracy and the free market," she said.

She further noted that Fil-Ams thrive in LA, home to the largest concentration of Filipinos in the US because of a common political and economic bridge between the two nations across the Pacific.

"The pivotal role of overseas Filipinos in national-building cannot be overemphasized. Fil-Ams constitute 34 percent of overseas Filipinos, but you contribute 71 percent of foreign exchange remittances," she said.

After the Mass, the President attended a cocktail reception at the Cathedral complex for the leaders of the Filipino communities. She acceded to countless photo opportunities.

Tomorrow, she will immediately fly to Washington for the formal state visit to the White House.

Los Angeles is home to the largest concentration of Filipinos in the US.

Based on U.S. census in 2000, there are 260,158 Filipinos residing in the county of LA alone.

The population is broken down in the Counties of L.A., Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Ventura.

LOS ANGELES (Via PLDT) - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo found herself in the company of Filipino-American friends who have consistently supported her stand against terrorism, when she met with members of the Filipino community here.

Applauding about 15 times during the delivery of the President’s speech, Filipino-Americans here displayed their positive reaction to the visiting President's pronouncements on various issues, including the safe return of two hostages of the Abu Sayyaf.

Filipino-American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) president Jose Baldonado and Federation of Filipino American Associations (FFAA) executive director Paul Blanco both aired their members' support for the moves taken by the Arroyo administration in backing up the United States in its fight against terrorism, and in the war against Iraq.

Blanco and Baldonado shared the view that it was only right that the Philippines supported the US in its fight against Iraq, considering that terrorists have been the two countries' common enemy.

The Philippines has been battling against the Abu Sayyaf and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which have recently launched massive attacks that left hundreds dead in Mindanao bombings.

Veterans' Federation of the Philippines head Jose Samonte, on the other hand, aired the sentiments of a small number of Filipinos here who expressed concern over the efforts of the US and the Philippines in the fight against terrorism.

Like most militants in the Philippines, Samonte expressed fear that the alliance between the US and the Philippines could place Manila at a disadvantage susceptible to terror attacks.

The President has many times argued that the attacks launched by extremist groups were in no way related to the RP-US anti-terrorism alliance.

She had cited the case of Indonesia in stressing that attacks were launched, regardless of whether a country is supportive of the US or not.