Fil-Am in Politics

Pinay lawyer wins primary, eyes history in Illinois Assembly

PINOY Newsmagazine/
Philippine News
February 2008

Text, Photos and Video by Ted Regencia

Chicago, IL -- A top Filipino-American real estate lawyer is eyeing history in Illinois, as she makes a run for a seat in the State Assembly.

Aurora Abella-Austriaco, ran unopposed during the Democratic Primary, garnering 9,875 votes, almost double the votes of the 16-year Republican incumbent she's facing in the November 4 general election.

Austriaco still faces an uphill battle since her district has been under Republican control for 118 years. But she expressed confidence that she will prevail, citing a "shift in demographics" and the voter's appetite for "change."

If elected, Austriaco will be the first ever Asian American state representative in Illinois, also known as the Land of Lincoln, for being the hometown of the Civil War-era President Abraham Lincoln. She will represent a district, which includes the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge, where former first lady and New York Senator Hillary Clinton grew up.

One major hurdle for Austriaco is to appeal to the predominantly white and conservative constituency in her district.

"If you look at my sixteen years that I have done public service, it cuts across every organization, every racial boundary. I have represented mainstream organizations, and I have not had any problem. The fact that I am Asian, that has never been questioned in these leadership positions," she said in a recent interview.

Austriaco is the immediate past president of the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association. Recently, she was elected secretary of the 22,000-strong Chicago Bar Association.

Austriaco said her heritage adds value to her brand of leadership. "I think the fact that I am a Filipino-American, obviously relates to the fact that, that is my heritage and I am very proud of it."

The Manila-born mother of two, vows to prioritize legislation promoting affordable healthcare, access to human services, education and strong family values.

"We are such a community of strong family values that we really value children, because they are our future leaders. We want to provide them good education," she stressed.

Austriaco also vowed "to work both aisles" in the Democratic-Republican divide at the assembly "to effect change." "I am engaged and I am always there, really connected to the community. Whatever organization I'm involved in, I am always there. I am not an absent leader," she added.

As a long-time real estate lawyer, she also vows to pass laws protecting those affected by the on-going real-estate and sub-prime mortgage mess.


"Foreclosure is a very real problem. We have lots of people that have been victims of foreclosure," she lamented. She said her leadership experience in the 22,000-strong Chicago Bar Association would help her craft legislation to fix the problem.

A member of the Maine Township Democratic Organization, Austriaco's candidacy has been endorsed by that group as well as by the Illinois AFL-CIO and Democratic leaders including Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. She is also backed by the Chicago chapter of the Asian American Action Fund and the Filipino American Council of Greater Chicago.

Three years ago when she ran as a Trustee of the Maine Township, US Senator Barack Obama personally campaigned for her.

Austriaco is married to Dr. Jerome Austriaco and they have two daughters, Danielle and Isabelle.

As a teenager and freshman student at Miriam College, she along with her sisters came to Chicago to join her parents here. "I can't forget that day that we actually left, because on our way to the airport, was when [Ninoy] Aquino was assassinated," Austriaco said as she recollects that "life-changing" moment in her life.

Crime and Punishment

Feds hunt int'l drug ring fugitive
PINOY Newsmagazine/Philippine News
January 2008

By Ted Regencia

Chicago, IL -- Federal authorities are in hot pursuit of an international drug ring member who may have fled to the Philippines.

This following a massive drug bust, which netted more than a dozen arrests, including a top member of Filipino gang in Chicago.

Carlo Panadero, 36, formerly of suburban Des Plaines, is now considered a fugitive and is "believed to be in the Philippines", the Department of Justice Northern District of Illinois said.

While refusing "to further discuss the case", Assistant US Attorney Randall Samborn indicated in a separate interview last December 14, that his office could decide to release a photograph of Panadero to help in his capture.

Panadero, and 20 other defendants, are charged with "conspiracy to possess and distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana and more than 500 grams of mixtures containing methamphetamine and quantities of Ecstasy or MDMA."

Specifically, Panadero aka "Chito" and "Ted", "a citizen of the Philippines and a lawful permanent US resident," is accused of being involved in the sale and delivery of 10,000 Ecstasy pills and marijuana, to undercover federal agents, between December 2003 and February 2004.

Panadero�s 27-year old brother, Carlos Jr. or "CJ", who is in federal custody, is also charged for helping in the negotiation of the drug sale. According to authorities, Carlos Jr. introduced the undercover agents to his brother and another suspect.

The operation, conducted by federal and local Chicago authorities, was the culmination of a four-year investigation into an international drug-trafficking network, authorities said.

The investigation originated from the DuPage County Sheriff's Department in 2003. Authorities first traced the origin of drug shipment to Canada. The drug shipment would then arrive in Chicago and distributed "by two separate crews with connections in Chinatown and with the Latin Kings street gang."

"This case demonstrates that law enforcement agencies won't just stop at county or international borders in their pursuit of international drug-trafficking organizations that invade our communities," the highly-respected US Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald declared. Fitzgerald was responsible in putting former Illinois Governor George Ryan to jail. He also prosecuted the CIA leak investigation.

Another suspect in custody is Ivan Myint, 38, formerly of Gurnee, who is charged separately in a pending federal case, the 150-page affidavit said. Myint is described as a member "Flip City Kings", the so-called Filipino-based faction of the Latin Kings street gang in Chicago.

Two years ago, Myint was also arrested and charged with a federal narcotics offense. With the assistance of his brother, Michael, who is also being charged, he reportedly fled to Mexico. Michael also reportedly stored 16,000 Ecstasy pills at his residence and later delivered them to another undercover agent. Michael also allegedly stored drug ledgers for his brother, Ivan.

Still, another suspect is Melvin Dumanlang, who reportedly acted as a lookout during a drug delivery. He also reportedly smuggled into the US drug samples from Canada.

At least 10 of the alleged co-conspirators appeared in court last December 6.

If convicted, each faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life without parole and fines up to $4 million.

2008 Presidential Elections

Obama, Huckabee win Iowa on message of change

PINOY Newsmagazine/Philippine News/Inquirer.net
January 2008

Text, Photos and Videos by Ted Regencia




Des Moines, IA -- For one night on January 3, the midwest state of Iowa became the epicenter of American politics, as voters participated in the traditional caucus, catapulting Senator Barack Obama and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee to the top of the Democratic and Republican race for the White House.

Running on the message of change, Obama and Huckabee wrest Iowa from their better-known and well-financed rivals, such as New York Senator Hillary Clinton and multi-millionaire former governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney. The first-in-the-nation Iowa Caucus, a rudimentary process of securing votes by hours of debate, deliberation, even horse-trading, and eventually show of hands, could create momentum for both candidates as they move the next states.

"They said, our sights were set too high. They said, this country was too divided, too disillusioned to ever come together around a common purpose. But on this January night, at this defining moment in history, you have done what the cynics said we couldn't do," said Obama, who made history by becoming the first African American to ever win Iowa, a state that is 96 percent white.

"We are one nation, we are one people, and our time for change has come," added the junior US senator from Illinois, to rousing applause by supporters who packed downtown Des Moines' HyVee Hall.

Obama's Filipino-American supporters, a very rare sight in this state of vast farmlands, were visibly thrilled to witness a son of a Kenyan migrant, claim victory.

"I think it is just [an] amazing part of history. I think we are sending him off to the other states with great energy, and to show the rest of the United States that this is what we need and this is what we want," said Joy Esposito, a Filipino American native of San Diego and ten-year resident of Des Moines. Esposito's parents were born in Hawaii to Filipino immigrants.

"We are so happy to do this in Iowa," added Esposito. It was her second time to caucus and her first as a precinct captain for Obama. Esposito related how Obama's grassroots organization worked, knocking on doors and talking to friends and neighbors, by phone and over coffee, to discuss the merits of his candidacy.

As the votes were counted in Esposito's precinct, four of the eight voters who showed up eventually sided with Obama. Of the record-breaking 200,000 plus who voted Democratic, Obama got 38 percent of the votes, John Edwards got 30 percent and Clinton, 29 percent. About 100,000, many Christian Evangelicals, voted Republican, boosting Huckabee, a Baptist minister.

Another Obama supporter, Cherry Welch, a native of Butuan City, Philippines also expressed her excitement for being part of the caucus.

"I am really excited, and I think he can make a big change for our country, and we are ready for him," Welch, who is married to an Iowan, said. The 25-year resident of Iowa said Obama also won in her precinct. "It's a historic moment for Iowa," she quipped. Obama also won in her precinct.

Clinton's third place finish was particularly disappointing to her better-organized Filipino-American supporters here. Several gatherings had been organized by the community for the former first lady, a long-time supporter of the Filipino veterans issue. In one of their recent meetings, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, an early endorser of Clinton, showed up. LA has a significant Filipino population. National leaders in the Filipino community, such as Irene Natividad, Maria Luisa Haley and Janelle Cabrera also travelled to Iowa, as part of Clinton's outreach to the Asian community here.

In Chicago, a five and a half-hour drive east of Des Moines, Filipino American leaders, many affiliated with the local chapter of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), were openly supporting Clinton. They also travelled to next-door state of Iowa to volunteer and convince other Filipinos to vote for Hillary, a native of Illinois. While many NaFFAA officers volunteered for Clinton in their personal capacity, the organization DID NOT endorse any candidate.

At the Filipino Store in Des Moines, owners Dwight Roberts and wife Benilda's excitement for Hillary Clinton was apparent. Just hours before the caucus, Benilda, a native of Talibon, Bohol, a first-time caucus participant said she is supporting Clinton, "because she is a strong advocate on immigration." "She will help reunite Filipino families, and she is very supportive the veterans," she added. The Roberts' eight-year old daughter, Kimberly, also volunteered in the Kids for Hillary in Iowa, making posters and countdown signs, and attending rallies. The couple caucused in Indianola, Iowa.

The on-slaught of support for Obama, however, was too much for Clinton to overcome. Among 18 to 29 year-old voters, Obama secured over 50 percent of the votes, to Clinton's 10 percent. Among women, expected to be the natural base for Clinton, she was also defeated by Obama, 35 to 30 percent. Many Independents and Republicans also caucused Democratic, so they can vote for Obama.

Los Angeles Councilman Eric Garcetti, who represents the historic Filipino Town, said of Obama: "This is a phenomenal victory. I think this represents a point in our history that we will look back on and say, this is when the country began to be unified again and began to move in a direction that America deserves."

Garcetti, who flew in to Iowa to campaign for Obama, said he is "the natural candidate" for Filipino American voters because "he shares the experience of so many Filipino families." "He is somebody who understands the struggles that Filipino families, and families of color go through. He is the natural candidate for the Filipino community, not because simply of his background, but also because of his ideals."

Several caucuses and primaries are scheduled after Iowa, including New Hampshire on January 8. Major states such as California and Illinois are set to hold it's primary on February 5, the so-called "Super Duper Tuesday."

Filipino Achiever

Filipino journalist bags Global Media Award

PINOY Newsmagazine/
Philippine News
January 2008

Text, Photos and Video in Washington D.C. by Ted Regencia

Washington, D.C. -- A disturbing look on sex, media and children and a separate story on population explosion and its effects on the environment, won Philippine television reporter Melclaire Sy Delfin the 2007 Global Media Award from the Washington-based Population Institute (PI).

Delfin, of television network GMA 7 and its US affiliate GMA Pinoy TV, was cited for Best Individual Reporting for her articles "The Forbidden Games Filipino Children Play" and "When Wells Run Dry: A Tragedy Looming Large."

The lone Asian awardee shared the stage with a Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, a radio show host from the African country of Cameroon, and nine other recipients, during a ceremony, December 5, at the Rayburn House of Representatives Office Building in the US capital.

"Being a journalist, my goal is always to provide accurate and complete information. So that my countrymen, the Filipinos, can make the right choices for themselves and for the country," Delfin said in a short remark after receiving the award.

"I am definitely honored by this award, especially that it comes from a very respected international organization," she said in a separate interview.

Former director of the Philippine Press Institute, now Washington-based executive of Global Media Ventures, Adlai Amor was also at the ceremony to congratulate Delfin.

"I am delighted that [she] won this award. It shows that Filipino journalists have what it takes to compete in the international stage. I hope other journalists will follow her path and will continue to make us Filipinos proud throughout the world," Amor said.

The Media and Family Planning
Coincidentally, a Filipino professor from the John Hopkins University was guest speaker at the event. Jose G. Rimon II, senior deputy director of the university's Bloomberg School of Public Health, stressed the crucial role of media in educating the populace about population control.

Using scientific findings, he pointed out that mass media is the most "cost effective" way of reaching its target audience, even as he stressed the important role of government in promoting reproductive health issues.

In the case of the Philippines, Rimon urged the government to do more to promote family planning. He said that despite economic growth the country now enjoys, poverty still persists because the economy cannot keep up with an even faster population growth.

Rimon said that while the Philippines share the same economic growth as neighboring Thailand and Vietnam, it has 18 million more people.

"The Philippines would never progress as long as their is no political will to address this issue. We have been left behind by most of our Asian neighbors. At one time we have been compared to Thailand, and they have surpassed us. And we were being compared to Vietnam, and Vietnam has surpassed us in this area. What else is there to compare," he said.

Despite the strong opposition of the highly-influential Catholic church to numerous family-planning methods, Rimon believes there's a way to find "common ground" to work together

"From my experience, if you talk to individual priests in the parish level, they do understand the issue. But sometimes they have to toe the line. But there's a lot of progressive thinking even within the Catholic church. It's not monolithic in this particular issue, so probably you just need to find a way so that some kind of common ground is found, and which politically everybody can work together," he said.

Private corporations and non-government organizations must also do more to encourage responsible family planning, Rimon added.

Population explosion
In the two articles Delfin wrote, she showed exactly how unrestrained population explosion affected the populace, as described by Rimon in his statistics.

In the story "The Forbidden Games Filipino Children Play," Delfin delves on "the shocking sexual precocity of Filipino children."

Because of lack of proper sex education, limited parental supervision due to poverty and family size, combined with continuous bombardment of images on television, the Internet and magazines, children have become exposed to risky sexual behaviors as told by the article.

Delfin reported how she witnessed children living in an impoverished area in Manila, simulating sexual acts.

"Most often, it is a taboo talking about it (sex) with children in many Filipino families. This leads children to explore it on their own, thinking it's just another game," Delfin wrote earlier in explaining her story to the Population Institute's Media Awards Committee, headed by a respected Indian journalist, Rahul Singh.

Meanwhile, Delfin's other piece, "When Wells Dry: A Tragedy Looming Large" looks at dwindling of natural resources amidst population growth and increased pollution and contamination.

The Population Institute, which handed out the award, is an international, educational, non-profit organization that seeks to voluntarily reduce excessive population growth, through universal access to family planning information, education and services.

While based in Washington D.C., it does not accept funding from the US government. Established in 1969, the Institute has members in 172. It is headed by Dr. Lawrence Smith Jr, president.

Investing in the Philippines

RP firm poised to sign deal with Chicago architectural outfit

PINOY Newsmagazine/Philippine News
December 2007

Text and Photo by Ted Regencia

Chicago, IL -- A Chicago-based architectural company is poised to sign a deal that would allow Filipino architects to produce designs for their projects, Philippine Board of Investments (BOI) Executive Director Celeste Ilagan said.

"We are very positive that this trip will result to a number of contracts for this company in Chicago. This is one of the most productive legs of the trip," Ilagan said in an exclusive interview. Details of the deal remain sealed until the contract is finalized.

Ilagan was in Chicago for an investment mission promoting the Philippines as a location for Information Technology (IT) and IT-enabled services. While here, she also spoke at the "Bayanihan Sa Amerika" conference hosted by the Philippine Consulate last October 27 at the Sheraton Gateway Suites.

"Architectural and engineering design is among the areas, where we think the Filipinos will be able to serve the requirements of the US," Ilagan said.

At least four meetings with large design firms here in Chicago were held, and the companies have become "very interested with the value proposition of the Philippines", Ilagan added. "This one company that's with me in this delegation is very positive, and they are looking forward to coming back soon."

In the Philippines, IT-related industries including design as well as animation have thrived with expected 30 to 35 percent annual increase, and is projected to become a $12-billion industry by 2010.

Citing the success of luring the biggest call centers to the Philippines, Ilagan said that getting the first deal with an architectural firm in Chicago, "starts the ball rolling for the Philippines." Chicago is recognized as a pioneer in modern architectural design and home to the many highly-respected architectural firms.

As part of their sales pitch, Ilagan highlighted the availability of highly-trained Filipino architects who will do the work for Chicago-based firms.

"Simple drawings for example are done in the Philippines by architects, while here, probably they are [done by] draftsmen," Ilagan said. "The added benefit to that is, because they are architects, they know the whole system and sometimes they are even able to suggest modifications that will improve the design given to them by their clients."

In terms of skills, Ilagan said that Filipino architects are at par with their American counterparts. "Our workers are even more qualified because they are architects, they are registered and they are licensed. So they add more value to the work...so the work being done is accurate and the turnaround is efficient," she added.

To convince these companies, Ilagan also needed to "sell the country" as the ideal place for investment.

"To the investors, there is a wide range of opportunities to explore in the Philippines. From manufacturing to service-oriented activities. And it is not just taking our word for it, we invite them to visit because there are certain things that they hear about the Philippines, which are negative. But when they come to the Philippines, their perception of the country will totally change," Ilagan said.

One advantage is the availability of an educated, English-speaking manpower. She pointed out that the Philippines has a 35-million strong labor force, with 400,000 graduates every year including 85,000 in the field of IT, computer science and engineering.

Operating in the Philippines is also cost-efficient, with rental of business space at a minimum price, Ilagan said, while citing multi-year tax incentives and tax holidays given to large-scale investors.

Another advantage is the existence of broadband Internet connection that would enable companies to communicate efficiently, she said. She pointed out that companies such as HSBC, Dell computer company and the largest American call center Convergy's have relied on this IT infrastructure and connectivity. Convergy's, for example, now employs 11,000 in seven centers in Manila, Ilagan said.

As this developed, Philippine Trade Representative to Chicago Glenn Penaranda gave assurance that investors can operate in the Philippines free of red-tape and bureaucratic delays.

"We will not tolerate graft and corruption," Penaranda said during his presentation, to applause from delegates of the conference.

He offered the services of the Department of Trade and Industry, as a "one-stop action center" that would address the needs of investors, and guide them through the governmental processes before they can operate their business.

Penaranda also advised small and medium-scale investors, including Chicago-based Filipinos who are considering to invest in their hometowns to contact his office and ask about the "One Town, One Product" program, to maximize the productivity of their investments.

2008 Presidential Elections

NaFFAA's Loida stumps

for Hillary in Windy City
PINOY Newsmagazine/
Philippine News
December 2007

Text and Photos By Ted Regencia

Chicago, IL — “As a woman, I am calling all the women of America to rise up. We rise up this time, and get the first woman president elected to the White House,” Loida Nicolas-Lewis, former president of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) declared.

Lewis made the assertion in a one-on-one interview, before she spoke to an assembly of Chicago-based Filipino American supporters of New York Senator Hillary Clinton, who gathered in Chicago last November 20, to show their support for the presidential bid of the former First Lady.

While Clinton operatives try to play down the role of gender in the campaign trail, Lewis took the issue head-on saying, “America is still very sexist. There’s a lot of baggage in the American psyche, and one of them is the gender issue.”

Lewis even highlighted Hillary’s experience as wife of former President Bill Clinton. She said Hillary showed her “real strength” when she stuck with her husband during “the lowest, most scandalous, most painful part of their marriage life.”

“For me in a very personal way, that is really the yardstick by which I say, she can be president, because there are certain things that she sticks by,” Lewis added.

Lewis is a long-time supporter, contributor, and bundler for Hillary. In 1999, when Hillary was preparing to run for the Senate in New York, Lewis raised money and gathered other contributors in the Asian-American community.

She recalled that in 1999, she introduced Hillary before the NaFFAA national convention in New York City as “the future president of that United States.” “That was 1999, I predicted that already. From the very beginning, I have been there,” Lewis said.

Now, Lewis, a multi-millionaire lawyer and businesswoman, works as the chairman of the Asian Americans for Hillary in the state of New York.

“Every fundraising, I would bring 20 Filipinos, 40 Filipinos. And we are very visible. I want to show to her that she has a strong support in the Filipino community. Every fundraising in New York, there’s always a contingency of Filipinos. She’s been very appreciative of that,” Lewis stressed.

Hillary has strong ties to the Windy City. She was born in Chicago and raised in the nearby north suburb of Park Ridge. But the state of Illinois, including Chicago has become an “Obama country” since Barack Obama, the junior freshman senator declared his presidential ambition. Obama won a landslide in 2004.

Obama’s candidacy has changed the dynamics of the Democratic primary, giving front-runner Clinton a run for her money. But at least in the race to form a group of Filipino-American volunteers in Chicago, Hillary is now leading.

During her talk, Lewis admitted that she first hesitated to campaign here, in deference to her Filipino friends rooting for Obama. Eventually, she decided to make her pitch, saying Clinton is “the best candidate” and that she understands the issues important to the Filipino community.

“Hillary knows about the Filipino veterans from way back. Ever since, she has seen the injustice done to our Filipino World War II veterans,” Lewis said. “During her six years as senator of New York, every time the bill is introduced, she is a sponsor. She would always meet with us when we visit Congress.”

While Clinton is being criticized as a flip-flopper on the issue of immigration, she is in the best position to fix the broken system, Lewis pointed out.

“On one hand, she is right. We have to strengthen our laws, so that we don’t have invariably this problem of having illegals. But those who are here already in the United States, she is for amnesty. We have to recognize that they are here. That they are earning, they are contributing taxes. That’s one very important issue,” Lewis said.

Organized and hosted by Hillary-convert and community leader, Marlon Pecson, the pre-dominantly female crowd responded to Lewis message with enthusiasm, cheering her on as she delivered her pep talk. Later, Jelly Carandang, a Filipino American commissioner in the Village of Skokie, signed up volunteers to help in the Iowa Caucus on January 3.

Pecson, the host of the event said that he also believes Clinton is the most experienced and most winnable candidate in the race.

Couples for Christ Rift

Couples for Christ in the US splits up

PINOY Newsmagazine/GMANews.TV/Inquirer.net
August 2007

Text and Photos by Ted Regencia

CHICAGO, IL—In a struggle often described in biblical terms, the Couples For Christ (CfC), one of the biggest Catholic lay organizations in the Philippines, with membership in 160 countries, announced that it has split into two, with the larger segment remaining as CfC.

“It is with a heavy heart that I relay to you the Joint Statement of Frank Padilla and the CfC International Council declaring the split,” Ricky Cuenca, CfC USA Country Coordinator, said in a letter to CfC members in the US.

This developed as Cuenca urged dissenters “to stop all these negative emails, accusations and personal attacks on certain leaders and all other conduct unworthy of Christian leaders.
Like Joshua, today we crossed the river Jordan under the continuing guidance of the Lord,” Cuenca told the members of CfC. “Just like most of you, I had agonized and struggled with the conflict within CfC.”

Until the release of the letter dated August 16, the internal dissension was kept under wraps and discussed in hushed tones by the CfC members, including those in the Chicago area.

Under Padilla’s leadership, the splinter group will be known as Restoration Movement. It is also referred to as the “Easter Group.”

Padilla, a son of the late senator Ambrosio Padilla, is a founding members of CfC, established in the Philippines in 1981. After 26 years of service, he resigned last February as member of the seven-man CfC International Council, the governing body of the entire organization. He reportedly quit in protest against the CfC concentrating much of its resources on Gawad Kalinga (GK).

Padilla also questioned the legitimacy of the newly elected council, before officially leaving CfC last August 1.

Cuenca quickly re-aligned the CfC-USA Council, replacing those loyal to Padilla, who was overseeing the entire North America region until his resignation. Joe Duran was named national director.

In Chicago, Cuenca named Norman Canete to represent the Midwest in the CfC-USA Council. Canete will now face the task of keeping most of the members from further dissension, as erstwhile head Manny Hermano sided with Padilla in the dispute.

Cuenca himself admitted that he agonized over his decision to stay with CfC. “Just like many of you, I had suffered in pain and agony, seeking hope for reconciliation,” he said. “My direct, actual and personal experiences with both sides before, during and after the elections in Manila have also led me to this decision.”

But even Cuenca and Duran's leadership has now been questioned by the CfC-USA Council members they just replaced. That council, headed by Acting National Director Nani Almanza, insisted that they remain the legitimate governing body in the US.

"By Joe Duran and Ricky Cuenca's action, they have effectively brought the Philippine problem to the US," Almanza said. Six members of the Almanza-led council have refused to acknowledge the present CFC International Council, leading to their replacement.

Two Kingdoms
In his response to the announcement, Vincent Pineda, a member of CfC with his wife Tess, sounded resigned to the break-up.

“As in the Old Testament, the house of Israel was divided into the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah, so it is now with Couples For Christ,” Pineda said. “Who among us is with the House of Israel or the House of Judah doesn’t matter. Though the House of Israel was divided, both Kingdoms remained people of God - - brothers and sisters to one another.”

Cracks in the CfC leadership first surfaced when Padilla, along with two other CfC council members resigned in February. The resignation left four council members to administer the CfC until the June 22 election.

According to sources in the CfC-USA, before Padilla’s resignation, he and his allies questioned CfC’s emphasis on GK, which is accused of working with “anti-life corporations” as well as other religious groups like the Mormons. Padilla’s group reportedly viewed it as a distraction from the CFC goal of recruitment of more members.

One e-mail message circulating in different CfC online groups asked: “Are we building God’s Kingdom (GK) villages? [Or] are we building instead altars for foreign gods of some GK partners: wives of Solomon (Anti Life Corporations)?”

Because of GK (Gawad Kalinga housing for the poor project), the CfC "is veering away from the vision-mission and guiding Catholic principles of CfC." GK is also accused of "overstressing social action at the expense of evangelization, catechesis and spirituality."

In response, British national and GK volunteer Dylan Wilk wrote: “Compared to what some say about GK not bringing people to Christ, the areas where we see great numbers of people being evangelized to CfC are actually in the GK communities themselves.”

“If you visit any GK site, you will most likely see row after row of houses, most of which have CfC stickers on the doors. So far I have not seen that in any subdivision,” said Wilk, a millionaire businessman who donated his millions to GK. He is based in the Philippines and is married to the daughter of former GK head, Tony Meloto. Meloto himself resigned as GK head in an apparent move to diffuse tension within CfC. He remains a GK volunteer.

“Our CfC members and leaders have been living in their subdivisions for many years but have not succeeded in the massive evangelization of their neighbors that GK has done in the sites,” Wilk pointed out.

As one of the “seven pillars,” GK is under the supervision of CfC. GK promotes “discipleship of Christ” by helping the poor and providing them livelihood and decent shelter. The program has earned international recognition, as well as accolades for Meloto, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award and the the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s 2007 Person of the Year. However, GK also earned scorn as it was accused of overshadowing the work of CfC.

Meloto remained silent throughout the whole saga, even as his son-in-law Wilk continues to emphasize that it is through GK that “people see the Gospel being lived out (so) that they join CfC.”

“It is not the house, if you listen to the testimony of almost any beneficiary, they will tell you that what changed them was the great love shown by their CfC caretaker team on a daily basis,” Wilk wrote. “If every CfC member did this, we would already have seen GK777 fulfilled and 100,000s of new members in CFC. That would be ‘the power of we’ - God working through us as a Christian community.”

Final breakup
Meanwhile, internal strife continued to brew even as the June 22 election of the CfC International Council in Manila was concluded.

At issue was Padilla’s group wish for the remaining four members of the council not to seek re-election. It insisted the four were “part of the conflict,” and have “lost their moral ascendancy to govern…being unable to resolve things in the Lord.”

Padilla’s group stood firm that the newly elected council, which counts the original four as members, “does not have the mandate to govern.” It added that because of the council’s “disrespect to the bishops,” the CfC risks official Church recognition, including from the Vatican.

“The Council does not have the blessings of the Church, and so does not have the blessings of God,” the statement “in behalf of Frank Padilla,” said.

“In fact, the Council is the prime cause of our present difficulty with the Church hierarchy. The Council has endangered our relationship with our shepherds, and has threatened our very mission for Christ.”

This dispute eventually led to the breakup, when Padilla’s Restoration Movement formally announced separation from CfC in his July 30 and August 1 letters.

In an apparent last-ditch maneuver, however, Padilla reportedly tried to register his new group under the name CfC-Family Ministry with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission. That application was denied by the SEC, however.

Meanwhile Cuenca, as head of the U.S. delegation, said the development “gives a clear mandate for Couples for Christ USA to move on.” He added, “Although saddened by the Joint Statement of the split and its impact on the community, it may on the other hand be the best solution for greater transformation of the two groups, as a house divided will also have difficulty moving forward.”

Cuenca also defended the seven-man international council as “capable leaders, honed in the CfC culture and values. True to the leadings of the Holy Spirit, they are united, of one heart and of one mind.” He urged the members to “remain and stay within Couples for Christ.”

“Amidst the apparent confusion, do not worry. For while there is a universe of truths, with each side taking its own slice or portion of the truth, God knows the whole truth,” he said.

In Lipa City, Archbishop Ramon Arguelles issued a memorandum to all priests under his diocese. "The Archdiocese of Lipa recognizes only the one and original CfC; no other CfC groups, with other qualifications, may do apostolate in the Archdiocese," Arguelles said. "All GK projects within the Archdiocese will remain one of the seven pillars of the CfC," he added.