Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival 2013 Brooklyn Botanical Garden NY

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The entire month April at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is dedicated to Hanami, a month-long Japanese celebration of the cherry blossom. The culmination of this month is the weekend-long cherry blossom festival, known in Japanese as "Sakura Matsuri."

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is in Prospect Heights, near to the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Central Library, Prospect Park, and Park Slope.

• Brooklyn Botanic Garden
• 900 Washington Avenue
• (718) 623-7200

1. When Is the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Open?

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is open year-round, but hours vary seasonally. It is closed Mondays.

Warmer Season: The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is open from mid March to early November from Tuesdays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m, and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Colder Season: During the winter, from November until early March, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden closes early, at 4:30.

When it's Closed: The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is closed on Mondays, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

Not sure? Check the Brooklyn Botanic Garden website for other holidays.

2. Entrance Fees

Members and kids under 12 are free. Adults are $10. Seniors and students with a valid ID are $5.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden welcomes members, who receive numerous benefits. See theBrooklyn Botanic Garden website for information about membership. 

3. What Other Destinations are Near the Brooklyn Botanic Garden?

Even Brooklyn residents might not be aware that there are plenty of interesting things to do nearby, for both children and adults. See a list of ten other attractions near the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Plus, on Saturdays, there's a lively green market at Grand Army Plaza nearby.

Directions

By subway: take the 2 or 3 to Eastern Parkway—Brooklyn Museum station; B or Q to Prospect Park station; 4 or 5 to Franklin Avenue; S shuttle to Prospect Park station. (The B train does not run on weekends.)

Travelers note: It's always a good idea to check the New York City Mass Transit Service Advisories website for route changes.

By train: Take the LIRR to Flatbush Avenue/Atlantic Avenue Station. Connect with Q or 2 train or B41 bus.

By foot: Energetic visitors might also wish to get some exercise, see Brooklyn by walking from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

By car: Parking is available at 900 Washington Avenue, for a fee.

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2013 Philippine National Elections - Instructions to Voters

Postal Voting for Overseas Absentee Voters

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is the registration period for the 2013 national elections?

From November 02, 2011 to October 31, 2012

2. Who are qualified to register as Overseas Absentee Voters?

• All Filipino citizens abroad who are at least 18 years old on 14 May 2013, and who are not otherwise disqualified by law;
• Those who have reacquired or retained their Philippine citizenship under R.A. 9225 and other Filipino citizens with dual citizenship;
• Immigrants or permanent residents of other countries who are recognized as such in their host countries.

3. What is the difference between an Application for Registration as an Overseas Absentee Voter and an Application for Certification as an Oversea Absentee Voter?

An Application for Registration as an Overseas Absentee Voter is filed if you are not yet a registered voter in the Philippines.

An Application for Certification as an Overseas Absentee Voter is filed if you are already a registered voter in the Philippines

4. Do I need to personally show up at the Philippine Embassy/Consulate General to register and vote?

Yes, you must personally appear at the Philippine Embassy/Consulate General or the identified registration site to register so that your biometrics may be captured.

To vote, however, you need not appear anymore as the ballots will be mailed.

5. What does capturing of biometrics mean?

Biometrics capture means that your photograph, signature and thumb mark will be electronically recorded using special digital equipment.  Hence, you must be personally present for your biometrics to be taken.

6. What are the other registration sites for Filipinos in the U.S.?

The Philippine Embassy/Consulates General will conduct several mobile registrations at various areas within their consular jurisdiction to coincide with their consular outreach missions in 2012.  Notices will be put out as soon as the areas are identified and schedules have been programmed.

For North East residents below is the address for New York Embassy

Address: 556 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10036 (click here for location map)

Telephone: (212) 764-1330

Email: phcongen.newyork@gmail.com

7. What requirements must I present or submit when I register as an Overseas Absentee Voter?

a. A valid Philippine passport.  In the absence of a passport, a Certification from the Department of Foreign Affairs, issued through the Philippine Embassy/Consulate General, asserting either of the following:

- that you have submitted document that will warrant the issuance of a passport; or

- that you are a valid passport holder but are unable to produce it for valid reasons.

b. An accomplished OAV Form No. 1 that may be obtained at the Philippine Embassy/Consulate General or mobile registration site at the time of registration, or may be downloaded, in advance, from the websites of the COMELEC (www.comelec.gov.ph), the Department of Foreign Affairs (www.dfa.gov.ph), or the Philippine Embassy (www.philippineembassy-usa.org) / Consulate General, during the registration period.

c. If you are a Seafarer, you must also submit a photocopy of your Seaman’s Book or any other document that will prove that you are a seafarer.

8. May I submit my accomplished OAV Form No. 1 and come back on another day to have my biometrics captured?

No, everything must be done on the same day, otherwise your application will not be deemed filed.

9. Do I still need to file an application to vote in absentia to be able to vote?

No, as the application to vote in absentia is already incorporated in the OAV Form No. 1.

10. How will I know if my application for registration/certification has been approved or disapproved?

You may check the website of the COMELEC or with the Philippine Embassy/Consulate General.

If your application has been disapproved, you will receive a Notice of Disapproval of your application from the Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting in Manila.

11. What should I do if my application has been disapproved?

Within five (5) days from receipt of Notice of Disapproval, you or your authorized representative may file a Motion for Reconsideration before the Resident Election Registration Board of the COMELEC, based in Manila, which shall hear and act on all applications for registration/certification as overseas absentee voter.

12. What should I do if my name has been omitted, misspelled or erroneously written in the National Registry of Absentee Voters?

There will be a period within which you, or your authorized representative, may file an application for reinstatement or correction of your name with the Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting in Manila.

13. I registered as an Overseas Absentee Voter in 2009 but was not able to vote in the 2010 National Elections.  Do I need to apply for certification to vote abroad?

No, because your name is already listed in the Certified List of Overseas Absentee Voters (CLOAV) and the National Registry of Overseas Absentee Voters (NROAV).

14. I am a registered Overseas Absentee Voter but failed to vote in the last 2 Philippine elections of 2007 and 2010.  Can I still participate in the upcoming national elections in 2013?

No, as your name will have been deleted from the CLOAV.  You will need to register again.

15. I would like to register as an Overseas Absentee Voter but know that I will be in another country by May 14, 2013.  Can I still vote in the 2013 elections?

Yes, you may register as an Overseas Absentee Voter and subsequently file a Letter-Request for Transfer of Registration Record (OAVF No. 1B) with the Philippine Embassy/Consulate General.

16. I intend to register as an Overseas Absentee Voter but know that I will be in the Philippines on May 14, 2013.  Can I go ahead and register, and then vote in the 2013 elections in the Philippines?

Yes, you may register as an Overseas Absentee Voter and then file a Letter-Request for Transfer of Registration Record (OAVF No. 1B) before the Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting in Manila.  Upon receipt of approval of the request for transfer of registration record, you have to go to the office of your local election officer and submit CEF 1B (Local Application for Transfer) and have your biometrics taken.

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2013 Lucky Rice Festival - New York

Lucky Rice Festival 2013 April 29th - May 5th 

If you love Asian cuisine the way I love it, or if you like it, or if you don't know much about it but want to learn more, then you're going to enjoy the fourth annual LuckyRice Festival, which will be in New York City from April 29-May 5 before heading out on a tour that will bring it to the ramen and kimchi-starved masses in Miami, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

What I'm trying to say is, I like food. You could even say I love it. And anyone who knows me knows I love Asian food most of all. If there is a more perfect food in the world than fresh sushi/sashimi, I don't know what it is, although a well-made dumpling comes close. And udon. And halo-halo. And... well, I really love Asian food. 

Now, you might think that bringing a festival devoted to Asian food and drink (yes, cocktails are involved as well) to a city as passionate for Asian cuisine as New York would be a no-brainer, like bringing a sausage-and-beer festival to Milwaukee or a poutine festival to Montreal. But a whole lot of how New Yorkers pride themselves on knowing which nooks and crannies of Chinatown or Alphabet City or Flushing have the cheapest, most obscure culinary delights.

That makes my job more interesting because then we can introduce distinct regional flavors from Asia into the festival, instead of lumping Asian food into what was formerly the trilogy of Japanese, Chinese and Thai. An oft-overlooked Asian cuisine, Filipino food is getting its chance to shine at a dinner hosted by Leah Cohen of Top Chef fame. For chef and television host Andrew Zimmern, "this may be in our future much closer than you think". He calls Filipino Food as the "Next Big Thing" in the culinary world.

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Can I bring my pet to the Philippines?

Yes, you can travel with your pet(s) to the Philippines.

Requirements for bringing pets to the Philippines:

1.  Import Permit from:

  BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY  
  DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE  
  Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City  
  Tel No: (632) 920-0816  
  E-mail: quarantine_bai@yahoo.com  
  www.da.gov.ph/wps/portal/bai  
   
Note:  The import permit may be filed by any party on behalf of the owner/importer, who has to provide details such as the kind, breed, age, etc; and pay the application fee.  A copy of the import permit should be faxed or mailed to the owner/importer.  
   
2.  Health Certificate issued by a duly licensed veterinarian dated not more than 30 days before arrival in the Philippines.  It should certify that the animal is free from, and has not been recently exposed to any dangerous communicable disease, and that it has been given ant-rabies and other required inoculations.

3.  Endorsement of the Health Certificate by:
   
  US Department of Agriculture  
  11850 S. La Cienega Blvd.,  
  Hawthorne, CA 90250  
  Tel No.: (310) 725-1970  
  Fee: $24.00  
  Monday to Friday: 7:30 am – 11:00 am  
  Processing Time: 15 – 30 minutes  
   
4.  Authentication of the Health Certificate by the Philippine Consulate General:
   
a.  Original and One photocopy  
   
b.  Fee: $25.00 (We only accept cash and postal money order).  Please add $6.00 for mailing fee if you would like us to mail back the documents to you through US Priority Mail, or please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope.  
   
c.  Processing Time: 2 working days.  Please allow 3 days for mailing.  

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What is Balikbayan?

Under the "Balikbayan Program" of the Philippines, the following persons are considered Balikbayans:

• a Filipino citizen who has been continuously out of the Philippines for a period of at least one year from the date of last departure;
• a Filipino Overseas Worker; and
• a former Filipino citizen who had been naturalized in a foreign country and holds a foreign passport (proof of former Philippine citizenship may be required).

Balikbayans are entitled to the following benefits:

• travel tax exemption
• visa-free entry to the Philippines for a period of one year from the date of arrival in the Philippines
• duty-free shopping privileges up to US$1,500.00

Family members (spouse and children) of a Balikbayan who are holding foreign passports are also entitled to Balikbayan privileges, on the condition that they:

• travel with the Balikbayan;
• pay any applicable immigration fees; and
• observe and comply with immigration rules and regulations.

(proof of affiliation may be required)

However, a Balikbayan who has acquired the citizenship of a country that falls under the visa-required nationals category per Philippine visa regulations, or his/her family member whose nationality also falls under the cited category, is not entitled to a Balikbayan privilege and is required to obtain an entry visa to the Philippines.

What is Balikbayan Box?

A balikbayan box (literally return to one’s homeland box) is a ubiquitous corrugated box containing any number of  small items and sent by an overseas Filipino known as a “balikbayan”. Though often shipped by freight forwarders specializing in balikbayan boxes by sea, such boxes can be brought by Filipinos returning to the Philippines by air. These boxes might contain nearly anything that can fit and that the sender thinks the recipient would like, regardless of whether those items can be bought cheaply in the Philippines, such as non-perishable food, toiletries, household items, electronics, toys, designer clothing, or items hard to find in the Philippines. Balikbayan boxes are delivered directly to the recipient, nearly always the family of the overseas Filipino. Another part of the attraction is the cultural expectation that returning travelers will bring gifts to family, friends and colleagues left behind in the Philippines.


The balikbayan boxes come in three standard sizes:[3]
Medium: 18 x 16 x 18 inches
Large: 18 x 18 x 24 inches
Extra large: 24 x 18 x 24 inches

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Fast Growing Foreigners Buying Condominiums in the Philippines

Why are more foreigners (US, HK, Singapore & Japan) buying condos in Metro Manila? This is a fast market and more and more foreigners are buying residential condominiums in Metro Manila, according to real estate service company Jones Lang LaSalle.

David Leechiu, country head of Jones Lang LaSalle, said many Hong Kong, Singapore and US citizens are buying condominiums here.

"Interestingly, in the last 12 months many of them are on business but they come here and like what they see and are now starting to be property owners for condos. (They are) mainly coming from US, Hong Kong, Singapore, those are our 3 big markets, and the Canada & Australia.

Foreigners are interested in the high yields they can get for these properties. "They're saying, 'wow, the yield at 5, 7, 8 percent is four times higher than what you can get in the US or in Singapore or Hong Kong.' So they're looking at putting their money down here and just sit on the property and enjoy high yield for the asset.

To illustrate, just recently 500  Singaporeans have bought units at a condominium development near De La Salle University in Taft Avenue, Manila.

"There's a cluster of buildings there where 500 individual Singaporeans have bought property 18 months ago. They made installments and all they're looking to do is get higher returns on their money...That's probably the most interesting trend to look forward to.

While foreigners are not allowed to own land in the Philippines, they can own condominium units but subject to conditions of the Condominium Act.

Healthy demand seen 

With Southeast Asia expected to continue growing in the next 24 months, Jones Lang LaSalle sees healthy demand in the region's real estate market.

"Strong growth in the economy means healthy demand for infrastructure and part of that is the real estate market. Rarely do we have a situation where there is a strong economic growth and real estate markets fall backwards," Christopher Fossick, Jones Lang LaSalle managing director for Singapore and South East Asia, said in a press briefing.

However, interests rates are likely to rise in most Southeast Asian economies through 2016, save for the Philippines which is expected to have a stable interest rate.

The young population and low dependency ratio in Southeast Asia is also seen as a factor in supporting growth. When you have an affluent economy, young people move out of the family home earlier, creating more demand for the housing market..

In the Philippines, Jones Lang LaSalle expects continued growth in the outsourcing and offshoring industry, as well as investor demand for high-end residential properties.

"The overall economy in the Philippines is growing, which will mean certainly more demand for office space on a broader base, across business sectors and BPOs," Fossick said. In the office sector in Manila, there is a 18.7% projected addition to office stock this year 2013.

Jones Lang LaSalle also noted there is a projected 47.2% addition to the residential supply in Manila this year.

Antonio Sabarre, Jones Lang LaSalle associate director for markets, said that there are 149,000 residential condo units coming on line in the next five years (2013 to 2018). This is more than the 135,650 existing condo units built from 1999 to 2012.

Majority of the condos are priced between P1.5 million to P3 million and are located in Quezon City, Ortigas, Pasig and Mandaluyong areas. Click Here

The more expensive units, ranging from P3 million to P10 million, are mostly in Makati and Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. Brand New Luxury Condo for sale in Makati under P3M.

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How much money does a priest make?

Life of a Priest

It is interesting to look at the salary of a priest, men called to the priesthood are not in it for the money, but devotion to God and service to his flock. There is a significant period of discernment and for men who end up taking vows. In New York diocesan priests, sometimes called “secular” priests (those who belong to a territorial diocese and are under the direct jurisdiction of a local bishop), may keep what they earn, what they inherit, and what they receive as gifts. Religious or Order priests (those with a vow of poverty or simplicity) are paid, but they may not keep more than is necessary for ordinary living expenses. They may not inherit or accumulate wealth; whatever excess money they receive must be turned over to their respective Religious communities.

A priest’s salary according to HuffingtonPost can range anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000 depending on length of service, whether they are a pastor or associate pastor or if they are involved in a special ministry, according to the guidelines of the Archdiocese of New York. A visiting priest however from the Philippines can make between $15,000 to 20,000 a year depending on their contract. Typically, priests receive free room and board, a car allowance, and a modest allowance for professional expenses. It is a common practice for Filipinos, Latinos, Africans and other minorities living in the US to give monetary gift to their visiting priest when he go back to his country diocese for good. We cannot easily condemn the priest if he accepted the monetary gift(s) because the money maybe be spent to help his newly assigned parish and the transitional expenses for starting all over again. We cannot blame him by accepting the money to help our folks back home. It is very important to handle this act of gift giving with due diligence and in accordance with the community & IRS.

The Diocese of San Jose, California, has a recently published “Parish Compensation Program,” a handbook designed to assist the Diocese of San Jose’s pastors, parish administrators, and staff “to administer the salaries of those working with them in an equitable and consistent manner.” For priests, the “basic stipend” this year is $32,616, with a grant of $600 for a “study week,” another grant of $500 for the annual spiritual retreat, and a contribution of $11,718 to the retirement fund. Among the leaders of the world's major religions, rabbis tend to have higher annual salaries than their Catholic, Christian and Muslim counterparts.

Some frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the life of a priest.

Q. Aren’t priests lonely since they cannot marry?

A. That’s the common perception.  But professionals tell us loneliness knows no boundaries…there are the lonely married and the lonely single.  Avoiding loneliness has more to do with having people you can love and people who love you.  Priests have dozens of people who open their hearts to them and, in turn, priests welcome their parishioners into their lives.  So, priests, like other people, are lonely only if they choose to be lonely.

Click Here for more FAQs

Q. Can a priest go to bar, casino, race track?

A. Click here to find out what priests say about this issue

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