| ARTURO "ART" M. PADUA San Francisco, California A Leader Among Leaders of the Fourth Estate |
When someone from the Filipino- American media proposed to
merge all the publishers, editors-in-chief, editors, writers, PR
people, and others in the exciting world of the fourth estate,
people tended to declare it near-impossible, but probable. "You
need someone of the highest caliber in PR to tame the "tamers"
themselves. Someone acceptable to all the bigwigs in the
Filipino-American media. A friend of all. Respected. Looked up,"
declared a scribe veteran of all seasons.
That was more than five years ago. Now after the conclusion of
another successful annual national convention held in Las Vegas,
Nevada, last August 16-18, 1996, the Federation of
Filipino-American Media Associations (FFAMAS) in the United
States and Canada, skeptics are now fully convinced that
FFAMAS is definitely gaining respect and acceptability both in the
Filipino-American and mainstream communities.
It takes an Art Padua to get the "boys" and "girls" and the
"in-betweens" to sit down straight and get serious, for once, when
put in the same building under one roof," declared one of the
senior journalists who belongs to the "Not Too Young" group
within the FFAMAS, and who using the usual tactic in the trade
merge all the publishers, editors-in-chief, editors, writers, PR
people, and others in the exciting world of the fourth estate,
people tended to declare it near-impossible, but probable. "You
need someone of the highest caliber in PR to tame the "tamers"
themselves. Someone acceptable to all the bigwigs in the
Filipino-American media. A friend of all. Respected. Looked up,"
declared a scribe veteran of all seasons.
That was more than five years ago. Now after the conclusion of
another successful annual national convention held in Las Vegas,
Nevada, last August 16-18, 1996, the Federation of
Filipino-American Media Associations (FFAMAS) in the United
States and Canada, skeptics are now fully convinced that
FFAMAS is definitely gaining respect and acceptability both in the
Filipino-American and mainstream communities.
It takes an Art Padua to get the "boys" and "girls" and the
"in-betweens" to sit down straight and get serious, for once, when
put in the same building under one roof," declared one of the
senior journalists who belongs to the "Not Too Young" group
within the FFAMAS, and who using the usual tactic in the trade
when one wants to get the "word" out there but does not want his or her name mentioned, requests
anonymity.
Indeed, Art possesses the enviable talent of tantalizing the young and budding Filipino-American
journalists to call him affectionately "Manong Art", and the seasoned and experienced scribes calling him
"Pareng Art". Yes, indeed, Pareng Art has mastered the art of basic PR.
Observed a long time associate of Art. "One 'gimmick' of Art Padua is to make one feels as if Art depends
heavily on your support or cooperation; that without you, Art will falter or be jeopardized.... and, it's all your
fault!"
Art popularity within the fourth estate was very much evident when he was re-elected unchallenged as
National President of FFAMAS for another two-year term in the recently concluded Nationa Convention of
FFAMAS. Attended by delegates by more than 300 dues paying journalists from the United States and
Canada. The three-day Confab further strengthened FFAMAS existence by electing national officers and
regional coordinators from major areas in North America where Filipinos reside. They represent reputable
and established Fil-Am media establishments.
Who is Art Padua? And why is he a "Manong" and a "Pare" among his colleagues in the fourth estate?
For more than 35 years, Art was a writer, a columnist, and a translator in Tagalog to English and English to
Tagalog with the Roces Publications, publisher of LIWAYWAY, the only Tagalog national magazine in the
Philippines, and one of the giant publishing houses in the Far East. For almost four decades, he rubbed
elbows with the great and not too great journalists and writers all over the Philippines. A very serious and
diligent student, he was a Philippine Government scholar at the College of Public Administration of the
University Philippines. Elected as class president, Art was editor of "FEEDBACK," one of U.P.'s most
influential and effective campus newsletters. He won the First Place in Journalism sponsored by the
Philippine National Press Club.
At the youthful age of 23, he was elected as one of the youngest mayors in the Philippines; the other one was
Ninoy Aquino of Conception, Tarlac. Re-elected two year terms as Mayor of Sison, Pangasinan, he was
named "Most Outstanding Mayor of the Philippines" and his outstanding accomplishments and contributions
to the rebuilding of Sison, Pangasinan, are still raved about by the townsfolk. Art later became the only
opposition member of the Provincial Board of Pangasinan, and later became the Majority Floor Leader when
the Board was revamped to become a Provincial Assembly (Sangguniang Panlalawigan).
In 1978, a fellow journalist and friend, Jose "Pepito" Aspiras, who was then Philippine Secretary of Tourism,
needed a top caliber tourism promoter to handle primarily the "Reunion For Peace," a tourism project to drum
up interest among former veterans to visit the Philippines for sentimental reasons. Art was assigned
incharged of the project in North America based at the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco as
Tourism Attache. Achieving commendable results, Secretary Aspiras requested Art to prolong his stay in the
U.S., and added tourism functions in addition to his primary assignment. When Cory Aquino took over the
Philippine Government, Art resigned from his post and decided to settle in the United States. To support
himself and his family, Art became the first and only Filipino to pass and topped the Certified Court
Interpreters Examination by the State of California. For more than 8 years, he worked as Court Interpreter
for the Superior, Municipal and Federal courts in Northern California, as well as being Deposition and Medical
Interpreter. At the same time, he served as the State's official translator in Tagalog to English and English to
Tagalog. In this capacity, Art was known to California's judges as well as to the various prosecutors and
defense attorneys in the State.
"While with the State of California, he kept his love of journalism by concurrently publishing and editing the
popular, THE ASIAN VOICE, a monthly Filipino newspaper in the Bay Area. Presently, Art is the Chairman of
the Board of the FILIPINO GUARDIAN, English-Tagalog forthnightly published and circulated in Northern
California. He is a syndicated columnist for various Filipino-American newspapers in the United States and
Canada. He belongs to the Northern California Translators Association and the California Court Interpreters
Association. He serves as a special consultant to various organizations in California. He owns the Philippine
Languages Interpretation and Translation Agency.
Art is married to the former Maria Luna Abeto of Iloilo City, Iloilo. They reside in Benecia, California, a
30-minute drive suburb from San Francisco. (NM)
anonymity.
Indeed, Art possesses the enviable talent of tantalizing the young and budding Filipino-American
journalists to call him affectionately "Manong Art", and the seasoned and experienced scribes calling him
"Pareng Art". Yes, indeed, Pareng Art has mastered the art of basic PR.
Observed a long time associate of Art. "One 'gimmick' of Art Padua is to make one feels as if Art depends
heavily on your support or cooperation; that without you, Art will falter or be jeopardized.... and, it's all your
fault!"
Art popularity within the fourth estate was very much evident when he was re-elected unchallenged as
National President of FFAMAS for another two-year term in the recently concluded Nationa Convention of
FFAMAS. Attended by delegates by more than 300 dues paying journalists from the United States and
Canada. The three-day Confab further strengthened FFAMAS existence by electing national officers and
regional coordinators from major areas in North America where Filipinos reside. They represent reputable
and established Fil-Am media establishments.
Who is Art Padua? And why is he a "Manong" and a "Pare" among his colleagues in the fourth estate?
For more than 35 years, Art was a writer, a columnist, and a translator in Tagalog to English and English to
Tagalog with the Roces Publications, publisher of LIWAYWAY, the only Tagalog national magazine in the
Philippines, and one of the giant publishing houses in the Far East. For almost four decades, he rubbed
elbows with the great and not too great journalists and writers all over the Philippines. A very serious and
diligent student, he was a Philippine Government scholar at the College of Public Administration of the
University Philippines. Elected as class president, Art was editor of "FEEDBACK," one of U.P.'s most
influential and effective campus newsletters. He won the First Place in Journalism sponsored by the
Philippine National Press Club.
At the youthful age of 23, he was elected as one of the youngest mayors in the Philippines; the other one was
Ninoy Aquino of Conception, Tarlac. Re-elected two year terms as Mayor of Sison, Pangasinan, he was
named "Most Outstanding Mayor of the Philippines" and his outstanding accomplishments and contributions
to the rebuilding of Sison, Pangasinan, are still raved about by the townsfolk. Art later became the only
opposition member of the Provincial Board of Pangasinan, and later became the Majority Floor Leader when
the Board was revamped to become a Provincial Assembly (Sangguniang Panlalawigan).
In 1978, a fellow journalist and friend, Jose "Pepito" Aspiras, who was then Philippine Secretary of Tourism,
needed a top caliber tourism promoter to handle primarily the "Reunion For Peace," a tourism project to drum
up interest among former veterans to visit the Philippines for sentimental reasons. Art was assigned
incharged of the project in North America based at the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco as
Tourism Attache. Achieving commendable results, Secretary Aspiras requested Art to prolong his stay in the
U.S., and added tourism functions in addition to his primary assignment. When Cory Aquino took over the
Philippine Government, Art resigned from his post and decided to settle in the United States. To support
himself and his family, Art became the first and only Filipino to pass and topped the Certified Court
Interpreters Examination by the State of California. For more than 8 years, he worked as Court Interpreter
for the Superior, Municipal and Federal courts in Northern California, as well as being Deposition and Medical
Interpreter. At the same time, he served as the State's official translator in Tagalog to English and English to
Tagalog. In this capacity, Art was known to California's judges as well as to the various prosecutors and
defense attorneys in the State.
"While with the State of California, he kept his love of journalism by concurrently publishing and editing the
popular, THE ASIAN VOICE, a monthly Filipino newspaper in the Bay Area. Presently, Art is the Chairman of
the Board of the FILIPINO GUARDIAN, English-Tagalog forthnightly published and circulated in Northern
California. He is a syndicated columnist for various Filipino-American newspapers in the United States and
Canada. He belongs to the Northern California Translators Association and the California Court Interpreters
Association. He serves as a special consultant to various organizations in California. He owns the Philippine
Languages Interpretation and Translation Agency.
Art is married to the former Maria Luna Abeto of Iloilo City, Iloilo. They reside in Benecia, California, a
30-minute drive suburb from San Francisco. (NM)
Washington D.C. Since 1987
Washington D.C. Since 1987
| Copyright© 2006 Filipino Image. All rights Reserved. Advertise | Contract | Subscribe | Publisher | Contact Us |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |