2009 06/10-06/16

MANILA MAIL COMMUNITY

FRONT PAGE ARTICLE

Joy Rojas arrived on foot in Las Vegas, NV freshly coming from

her run from Eagle Rock, CA, together with running and personal

mate, Matt Macabe. Joy is aiming to run for 100 days and reach

New York on September 8th.

Filipina Runner Set To Rewrite History By Running Coast To Coast

by Bradford Adkins

To celebrate their birthdays, some people go to a special dinner or travel for a week to an exotic location. A Filipina named Joy Rojas is dead set to rewrite history by running from California to New York starting in Eagle Rock, CA on her 44^th birthday! Manila Mail Newspaper (together with a couple of other US Fil-Am newspapers) was there to personally greet her when she reached Las Vegas, Nevada on foot, on Saturday, May 23, 2009, proudly carrying a Philippine Flag.

A Tuberculosis survivor, Joy Rojas is running with a mission. Literally translating into “Dream Run,” this coast-to-coast marathon run is not just something she is doing to push her own limits and exceed herself. She will ensure that her run will benefit the Anti-Tuberculosis Program of the Inner Wheel Club of Quezon City District 378 and the Social Services Division of the Philippine Heart Center (her trainer, running partner and boyfriend, Matt Macabe underwent open-heart surgery).

In her own words, published online, as she makes her way through America , Joy “will also be running to inspire the Filipino-American communities I touche base with along the road. In my interactions, I will share how it is actually possible to achieve impossible dreams if one simply works on it.”

Joy further says “ Besides, I find running a good exercise. It is also a bonding time with my kids.”

Joy’s record-setting run, dubbed as ‘Takbong Pangarap’ which began in California thenNevada, will continue through Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey towards New York City, where Filipinos are expected welcome her and accompany her to her finish line on Fifth Avenue. No other person from the Philippines has run this course. For the record, when Cesar Guarin became the first Filipino to run across America in 1987, he traversed the country from east to west.

When Joy reaches the finish line at the Philippine Consulate in Manhattan on September 8, 2009, she will go down in record as the only Southeast Asian woman to have accomplished such a feat. According to published records, approximately 182 men and 11 women have run across the world’s fourth largest nation. Only 11 of these people have completed the course solo with a support crew in tow.

On the duration of this self-missioned marathon, Joy will approximately be running for 100 days and take 20 days of rest along the way. Her target is to be able to run 50kms five to six hours of each running day.

Aside from Matt, accompanying her when we met her in Las Vegas are her Project Coordinator Chuck Crisanto and Executive Managers of Western Union.

Joy’s “Takbong Pangarap” is being sponsored by Western Union wholeheartedly. As a matter of fact, Western Union was the one that organized the welcoming party for Joy at the parking lot of the Palace Station Casino in Las Vegas , where members of the Filipino Media and friends celebrated this historic milestone.

Come and join Joy in her quest for greater glory as she continue her dream run. You can twitter-track her route and progress by following her onwww.twitter.com/takbongpangarap.

OUTGOING MR. RP-USA and USF-bound

Matthew Luciano of San Jose, attended the

recent coronation of his successor, with mom,

Alice and brother.

Guitar-playing Joshua Farinas is this year's

newly-minted MR. RP-USA, crowned last

Saturday, May 30th at the Cathedral Hill Hotel

in downtown San Francisco.

Daly City Councilman David J. Canepa,

right, co-hosted this year's Search for the

Mr and Miss RP-USA at the Cathedral Hill

Hotel in San Francisco, with San Jose's

Lilwyn Pascua seating as one of the members

of the Board of Judges.

BAY AREA GEARS UP FOR THIS YEAR’S INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS

Bay Area Filipino-Americans, brace yourself for the grandest Philippine Independence Day Celebration in the US , ever! So big, it needed two (2) days to stage it. Organized by Fiesta Filipina USA, this year’s event will focus on Philippine Independence Day Celebrations and will be held at the Civic Center Plaza, San Francisco, CA on June 13 & 14, 2009 (Saturday & Sunday) between 10am to 6pm.

This milestone event will feature the huge Bay Area hit little Michael Buble’ -Charlie Green, Heart Evangelista, Richard Gomez, Lucy Torres, Rey Kilay, Rin on the Rox, Korusleine, Coro de Sta. Ana, Drop N Harmony and with "A Very Special Guest," The Philippines’ One & Only Superstar, Ms. Nora Aunor.

Mr. Jeff Alipio, President and Founder of Fiesta Filipina USA says “from this year onwards, we would aim to bring new concepts and exciting changes that would make everything much more memorable for every festival-goer. First off, the festival itself, together with its Organizers, is on the move to excellence and beyond expectation! We firmly believe that everyone deserves more…more festive mood, more music, more people, more games, more raffles, more popular celebrities and artists, and more of pretty much everything folks want in a festival. The festival offers great and wonderful opportunities to appreciate the rich cultural heritage and values of Filipinos. The United States of America is fortunate to have a large and dynamic Filipino community approaching a million and growing.

2009 will mark a significant milestone for the Fiesta Filipina USA and Share A Hand Foundation, as we celebrate our Annual Community Celebration of the Filipino cultures, values and heritage. The festival is the premiere showcase of world-class Filipino-American music, dance, food, entertainment, arts and pop culture, with invited performing and famous celebrities.

Highlights of the event will include the following:

· Launch of the Binibining Fiesta Filipina USA and Ginoong Fiesta Filipina USA

· Launch of the Fiesta Filipina USA Idol and Fiesta Filipina USA Best Dance Crew

· Interactive various and cultural games and entertainment (Rubik’s Tournament)

Let us want to make a difference so that we can make a difference to the lives of others as well as to ourselves. Experience the difference and let the difference be the experience! This is our chance to make a difference! Together as one, let us make this event an event to remember. “

ABOUT FIESTA FILIPINA

Fiesta Filipina USA is an organization that produces various Filipino community events and festivals in the US . Our biggest project is the grandest annual Filipino Festival in the Bay Area, the Philippine Independence Celebration.

Fiesta Filipina USA is a Filipino-owned company based in the Bay Area. Our goal is to encourage all our Kababayans (Co-Filipinos) to promote and uphold the Filipino cultures and values, so that, eventually, all other communities will learn to appreciate our positive cultures and values.

Fiesta Filipina USA aims to have a very exciting, very unique and a very well organized event. We wish everyone to enjoy the experience and to look forward to being a part of our future events.

Fiesta Filipina USA opens the opportunity to different companies and/or individuals, who are willing to cooperate and abide with our policies and terms & conditions, to showcase their products and/or services during the event.

Fiesta Filipina USA believes in encouraging an excellent, ethical and moral behavior. We believe in treating everyone with fairness, generosity, courtesy and respect. We encourage an optimistic attitude so that we all can make things happen and make a difference to others. We shall find joy in another’s joy.

Fiesta Filipina USA always wants to hear suggestions on ways to improve our services and events, feel free to contact us with suggestions, questions or feedback.

Fiesta Filipina USA is spearheaded by Jeff Alipio, Jerome Alipio, Josefina Alipio, John Panis, Jake De Asis, Maria Bornales, Alex Rodriguez and a team of innovative volunteer staff members.

TO-BE-SEEN IN THE CITY

Sharon Cuneta’s Mega-Thirty Concert is Mega-Entertaining!

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I has the very fortunate chance to watch, twice (in separate cities in a single State!), Sharon Cuneta’s latest US Concert Tour, marking her 30^th year in the business – one is Las Vegas and the 2^nd one in Reno

Firstly, congratulations to the Bay Area’s Mr. Charlie Ugalde (Reno Producer) and Jackie Regala (Los Angeles-based Las Vegas Producer) for both shows I had personally witnessed, are sold-out to the last visible seat.

Secondly, kudos to Sharon Cuneta for mounting a very entertaining show. Growing up watching her movies and concerts, at first I felt a certain level of skepticism inside the venue upon entering. But lo and behold, as Sharon sang her signature songs, from ‘Kahit Konting Pagtingin’ up to ‘Hagkan’ and ‘To Love Again’, she was able to render a breath of freshness into each number. Her voice has matured beautifully and she used that maturity to change some of the notes for better listening entertainment, stretching some of the notes here and there, experimenting and all.

Thirdly and lastly, no other entertainer had the articulateness and wit of a Sharon Cuneta, bar none. She narrates and elicits laughter from her audience, by simply being her charming self, telling an anecdote here and there, relating them to the photos and videos being show on the huge screens. Before you know it, the show’s on its final number. That’s how effective Sharon Cuneta is.

According to her make up artist in tow, Fanny Serrano (he also participated as a performer in the show), who I personally talked to, when their whole entourage was in the Las Vegas aiport (bound for their next-day show in Reno), Sharon does not have any prepared script nor notes on any of her spiels on the show! That’s really very impressive.

For those who missed and are still missing Sharon , you can still catch Sharon on Friday, June 12^that the Shrine Auditorim in Los Angeles .

What are you waiting for Ms. Florinda Carlos & Co.? Go and buy that ticket now!

PERSONAL NOTES

First Filipino ‘Golden Globe’ Board Member Elected!.

Congratulations to Ruben V. Nepales, the husband of a good friend, Janet Susan R. Nepales of Los Angeles and the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s “Only in Hollywood” columnist and Los Angeles correspondent, for getting recently elected to the board of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the group that presents the prestigious Golden Globe Awards for film and television every year.

According to published reports, the HFPA recently made the announcement following the election meeting. Nepales is the first Filipino member in the group’s more than 60-year history. He will serve his first term as a director of the international association.

Nepales, who holds an AB degree in Communication Arts from the University of Santo Tomas , is profiled in the June 2009 issue of Balikbayan magazine (www.balikbayanmagazine.com).

In his column that appears every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Inquirer, Nepales writes about year-round press conference-style interviews with Hollywood and international film and TV talents that he attends as an HFPA member, as well as set visits and international film festivals. He makes it a point to spotlight Filipino talents on the global entertainment stage.

Nepales, a native of Calasiao, Pangasinan, lives in Los Angeles with his wife Janet Susan R. Nepales, also a journalist and an HFPA member since 2008. They have two children, Bianca Nicole and Rafaella Angelica.

This column appears online also at www.ManilaMailCommunityNews.blogspot.com

Do you have any personal or community events you want announced? Just email them tobradford_adkins@yahoo.com