Jhett Tolentino: A world class Pinoy in New York

“Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.” Arthur Schopenhauer

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY – The second Filipino to win a Tony Award (Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre) is an Ilonggo from Iloilo City.

Tony Award recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre.
Presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City, the awards are given for Broadway productions and performances, and an award is given for regional theatre.
Several discretionary non-competitive awards are also given, including a Special Tony Award, the Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre, and the Isabelle Stevenson Award.
The awards are named after Antoinette Perry, co-founder of the American Theatre Wing.
We had the privilege to briefly meet Jhett Tolentino, a world class theater producer, who was one of the special guests during the recent 117th Philippine Independence Day parade on Madison Avenue.
He was introduced to us by Jojie Jalandoni, past president of the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) after the parade.

 

TALENTED

 

The very unassuming and talented Filipino-American from the City of Love in the Philippines is the partner of Joan Raffe.
They are co-producers of JOAN JHETT PRODUCTIONS, LLC, a three-time Tony, two-time Drama Desk, two-time Drama League, three-time Outer Critics Circle, Lucille Lortel and Off Broadway Alliance Award.
A successful entrepreneur and animal rights advocate, Raffe is a fabulous cook and baker, her brownies are rumored to be the best in the country.
Her life-long passion for theatre has refined her knack in picking quality shows, according to their website.
Tolentino, a 2014 The Outstanding Filipino Americans-New York (TOFA-NY) awardee for Entertainment, grabbed headlines and made history last year when he bagged two trophies as one of the producers of “A Raisin in the Sun” and “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.”
A Raisin in the Sun,” which stars Denzel Washington, and “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” respectively won Best Revival of a Play and Best Musical at the 68th Antoinette Perry (Tony) Awards held at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City on June 8.

 

PARTNER

 

Theater producer Jhett Tolentino (of JoanJhett Productions) is over the moon as he and his producing partner Joan Raffe are currently among the toasts of the theater world, particularly The American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, reported the Filipino Reporter last year.
Here’s the complete report:
And in honor of his latest Tonys, he even named his new puppy, a Morkie, Toni.
Last year, Tolentino bagged his first Tony for producing the comedy play “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” which won Best Play.
He and Joan also produced recording albums for various musicals.
Tolentino, who has an accounting degree from his hometown Iloilo City, Philippines, is actually the third Filipino to receive a Tony following Lea Salonga (Best Actress for the musical “Miss Saigon”) and Robert “Bobby” Lopez (Best Original Score for “Avenue Q”).
“Just got home from the Tony Awards bliss,” Tolentino wrote on his Facebook following the ceremony hosted by Hugh Jackman.
“Going through over 100 e-mails, 600 text messages and voicemails, 1,100+ Facebook notifications, likes, friend requests, tags, mentions, comments and private messages. I have never felt so loved by this community, family and friends. My eternal gratitude to the company of ‘A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder’ and ‘A Raisin in the Sun.’ Long live the theater!”

 

BEST DIRECTION

“A Raisin in the Sun” also won Best Direction of a Play for Kenny Leon, and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play for Sophie Okonedo.

“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” was also honored with Best Book of a Musical (Robert L. Friedman), Best Direction of a Musical (Darko Tresnjak) and Best Costume Design of a Musical (Linda Cho).
A photo of Tolentino, along with his co-producers and stars of “A Raisin in the Sun,” landed on the pages of The New York Times.
“Made my The New York Times photo debut today,” Tolentino wrote in a Facebook shoutout, adding #pinoy and #pinoypride.
Tolentino and partner Raffe are also responsible for the Broadway comedy play “The Velocity of Autumn,” and the revival play “Macbeth,” as well as the Imelda Marcos-inspired Off Broadway musical “Here Lies Love.”
The JoanJhett team unveiled the “My Life is a Musical” (previews beginning July 29, 2014).
Aside from three Tonys, JoanJhett Productions also has several Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, Lucille Lortel and Off Broadway Alliance awards.
In 2013, Tolentino and Raffe were nominated for a Grammy Best Musical Theater Album as associate producers of the cast album of “Matilda: The Musical.”

Fil-Am doc: Convert organic waste into clean biogas

"Climate change is happening, humans are causing it, and I think this is perhaps the most serious environmental issue facing us." Bill Nye

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- A medical doctor, who served as grand marshal together with his wife in the 2014 Philippine Independence Day parade on Madison Avenue, has proposed to adopt the Jewish-type organic waste disposal and conversion method for Filipinos in the Philippines.

"Since the theme of this year's parade is about environmental awareness and climate change, I propose that we ask the (Philippine) government to adopt a bio-fuel disposal method," Dr. Emilio Quines suggested during the 2nd ConGen Press Hour at the Kalayaan Hall Annex  of the Philippine Consulate General June 2.

Quines and wife, Felicisima, also a medical doctor, were named grand marshals in the parade last year.

Both had been presidents of the Philippine Medical Association of America (PMAA) and are active medical mission volunteers.

Quines, who migrated to the United States in 1967, where he finished his U.S. trainings in rotating internship, medical residency and fellowship at various medical institutions, said the method will reduce gas emission.

The machine, he said, will convert organic waste into clean biogas for cooking, heating and lighting, as well as organize crop fertilizer.

Quines learned that the family-size TevaGas (TG) backyard units, available as an easy-to-assemble kit, generate safe energy and fertilizer through bacterial anaerobic digestion of organic waste such as food scraps and animal manure. 

SOLUTION

They reportedly provide a sustainable solution for off-grid urban and rural families, as well as environmentally conscious homeowners and small farm owners, in warmer climates.

Citing the research he discovered in the ISRAEL21C, Quines said Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection purchased and installed TG units at Umm Batin, a Bedouin village near Beersheva without access to clean energy and garbage removal only last summer.

Based on the success of a small pilot program, the ministry has  reportedly ordered another 25 units–at NIS 8,000 apiece—for Umm Batin and another Negev Bedouin village.

BUDGET

Lawyer Reuben Seguritan, grand marshal of the 2015 Independence Day parade, said the Philippine government does not have any budget for the programs in relation to this year's theme about environmental awareness and climate change.

 "We will only have exhibits in very consulate after the parade and some of the floats will carry signage about environmental awareness and climate change," explained Seguritan, who prepared the incorporation papers of the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI), the umbrella organization of community-based activities here.  

He added that the objectives of the PIDCI are not only cultural and historical activities, but also promotion of advocacy and outreach programs and connecting with the youth organizations.

'MONSTROUS'

Seguritan described the Independence Day parade as a "monstrous" activity that grows every year.

"Organizers are determined to uphold the Filipino tradition and culture, and affirm our solidarity," stressed Seguritan, explaining that when the parade first started in the 70s, the New York City Hall allowed the Filipinos to use the Fifth Avenue.

When the parade became bigger, it was transferred to the Madison Avenue, he added.

Consul General Mario L. de Leon Jr. said the participation of his office is only limited.

"I am only an honorary adviser. We have so many limitations that's why it's difficult for us to raise funds and we need to outsource the organizing of the parade," De Leon said. "The production, planning, presentation and organizing (of the event) are done by the PIDCI."

Fe Martinez, PIDCI 2015 president, said their expenses for the parade reached $280,000 last year.

They paid $23,000 for the permits alone, she revealed.

There will be 12 floats and 10 marching bands and some 140 contingents.

This year's parade will coincide with the World Cities Summit Mayors, thus they have Philippine mayors and governors as guests.

Banned from FIFA confab, will Nyok fly to New York?

"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it." George A. Moore

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- Sources from the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) here informed us recently that Bacolod City Mayor Monico "Nyok" Puentevella will be among the Philippine government officials who will grace the 117th Philippine Independence Day, which will be celebrated in a grand parade on June 7, here.

Puentevella's presence should be necessary since Bacolod's Masskara Festival has been reportedly invited to participate in this year's parade of Philippines festivals.

We will have a press conference this afternoon (June 2) at the office of PhilippineConsul General Mario L. de Leon Jr. where Philippine Ambassador Albert del Rosario will reportedly arrive from Washington, D.C. in relation to the big activity on Sunday.

Three days ago, we learned that Puentevella was prevented from traveling to Switzerland to attend the International Football Federation (FIFA) congress because of the pending graft case filed against him when he was a congressman.

ABORTED

We remember Puentevella's aborted trip to Switzerland when the PIDCI sources informed us the 68-year-old mayor of the "City of Smiles" would be arriving here for the Philippine Independence Day Parade.   

If he wasn't able to attend the FIFA congress in Switzerland as board member of FIFA's marketing and television committee which was only days ago, can he be allowed to attend the Philippine Independence Day parade in the United States on June 7?

Since Puentevella has a U.S. visa, he can travel to the US anytime except if there is a hold departure order against him.

We presumed that any elected official with pending graft case does not lose his right to travel especially if it involves an activity about Philippine festivals or commemoration of historical events.

We saw Puentevella in Las Vegas during the Mayweather versus Pacquiao rumble on May 2, thus we conclude that the United States did not ban him from entering here in relation to sports, festivals and other important events.

CONVICT

And besides, Puentevella has not been convicted of any crime. 

A graft case does not make a person criminal unless proven otherwise.

A graft case can't curtail any person's right to move around and travel abroad to attend in activities related to his function as a public official. 

This year, noted area lawyer and community leader Reuben S. Seguritan will be the Grand Marshal for the Philippine Independence Day Parade.

Seguritan was the founding President of PIDCI when it was incorporated on February 14, 2002.  He also co-founded the Filipino American Human Services, Inc. (FAHSI), a leading New York organization that provides social services to disadvantaged Filipinos, according to its website.

Seguritan was presented to the community by the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) at the official residence of the Philippine Consul General in New York, Ambassador Mario L. de Leon, Jr. at a dinner and merrymaking-in-the season event last December 8, 2014, attended by close to 100 community who’s who.

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NOTE: The Damayan Migrant Workers Association, iAmerica and 1199SEIU will provide free immigration services and free health services for uninsured/low-wage workers in the "Free Health and Immigration Fair" during the Philippine Independence Day celebration on Madison Avenue between 25 and 26 Streets, next to Madison Square Park...It's been raining in the Big Apple since May 31. We are hoping that the weather will improve during the parade...The Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) is an umbrella organization of Filipino American associationns based on the East Coast. It is principally dedicated to promoting history, the cultural heritage and traditions of the Filipino people through the celebration of Philippine Independence Day, hence, the name. But there is more to PIDCI than its name implies. Jojie Jalandani, an RN from Victorias City, Negros Occidental, was the council president in 2010-2011.