'NPA (No Permanent Address) in New York'

Howie Severino’s I-Witness Anniversary Episode Episode on Monday: March 31, 2008 In New York, the world's richest city, Howie Severino encounters an underworld with thousands of homeless people. Their nomadic population is made up of the poorest of the poor, stark evidence that not everyone in America has achieved the American dream. Nearly all races are represented among these street people … except one, if one believes the many Filipinos in New York who proudly tell Howie that there are no homeless Pinoys in the Big Apple. Howie discovers that this is not true. There ARE homeless Pinoys in New York. He meets Teddy, a Philippine-born US Army veteran who sleeps in a box on a cold sidewalk and collects cans during the day. He surprises passersby by suddenly breaking out into operatic song. He seeks Howie's help in locating a place in the Philippines close to his heart. They not only locate it but see the neighborhood where Teddy grew up. But the search for his long-lost American father will take a longer time. Howie also spends a few days with Lex Cachapero, a well-known painter in Manila who got stranded in New York and now struggles to sell his paintings on the street in the dead of winter. He too is homeless and sleeps not in a box but in a place that Howie least expects. Despite their extraordinary situations, the two gentlemen exude qualities peculiar to Filipinos everywhere, including exuberant attitudes in the face of extreme odds. Even on New York's cold streets, their hope springs eternal. Howie’s documentary “NPA (No Permanent Address) in New York" airs this Monday late night over GMA’7’s I-Witness. This is the final installment in I-Witness’ 9th anniversary series on overseas Filipinos. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'NPA (No Permanent Address) sa New York' Pang-Anibersaryong Handog ni Howie Severino para sa I-Witness Ngayong Lunes: Marso 31, 2008 Sa pinakamayamang syudad sa mundo matutuklasan ni Howie Severino na may libu-libo pa ring mga palaboy. Sila ang patunay na ang American Dream ay nananatili pa ring panaginip para sa marami. Ang mga palaboy sa New York nagmula sa iba’t ibang lahi. Pero wala raw palaboy na Pinoy ayon sa mga kababayan natin doon. Sa pag-iikot ni Howie matutuklasan niyang hindi totoo ang paniniwalang ito. Si Teddy ay ipinanganak sa Pilipinas. US Army Veteran ang kaniyang ama na na-destino sa Subic kung saan niya nakilala ang ina ni Teddy. Sa kahon lang nakatira si Teddy na nabubuhay sa pangongolekta ng gamit na lata. Si Lex Cacahapero naman ay dating kilalang pintor sa Maynila. Para may makain pilit niyang inilalako sa mga kalye ng New York ang kaniyang mga obra. Wala ring permanenteng tahanan si Lex pero hindi siya sa kahon natutulog. Hindi inaasahan ni Howie ang lugar na “inuuwian" ni Lex gabi gabi. Sa kabila ng kanilang pinagdadaanan, sila Teddy at Lex ay nananatiling Pinoy na Pinoy – puno ng pag-asa kahit naghihirap at nag-iisa. Ang kanilang kuwento, abangan sa pang-anibersaryong handog ni Howie Severino para sa I-Witness, ngayong Lunes ng hatinggabi sa GMA-7.