2010 04/07-04/13

Northern California's largest Filipino American newspaper in circulation since 1990, the Manila Mail is the Bay Area's most read Fil-Am weekly publication distributed free in major cities of Northern California. Community is a B Section page that contains the weekly column of Bradford Adkins 'SCENES in the city'. The column features include: the issues and events, the individuals and organizations moving the community.

Union City's Melissa Sokukawa, 19, left last March 28th viaPhilippine Airlines to compete in Manila for the Miss Philippines Earth 2010 crown, against 52 other Filipina hopefuls. Finals is set Saturday, April 24th at the ManilaOcean Park (behind Quirino Grandstand at the Luneta Park)

Miss Philippines Earth USA (West Coast) 2010, Melissa Sokukawa from Union City, receives expert poise, runway and catwalk training from noted beauty experts in Manila, weeks before the pageant finals night on April 24th where 53 Filipinas from around the country and the world vie for the national crown and prestige to compete further in Vietnamcome November.

Congratulations to London-born 21-year old Filipina, Miss Marie Claire Fullecido, right, who graduated Cum Laude at the Ateneo de Zamboanga, earning her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology. She will continue on to a full-pledge medical degree. Shown also are her proud parents, Mr. Juanito A. Fullecido, Partner in SGV & Co/Earnst & Young and Claire (a Nurse by profession, full-time housewife by choice).

Candidates to the 2010 Miss Philippines Earth had a welcome party last Monday night, April 5th at the Carousel Mansion in Mandaluyong City, which includes Union City's Melissa Sokukawa, rightmost, representing the Fil-Am Communities of West Coast, USA.

2006 Miss Philippines Air, Ginger Conejero, center, originally from the Bay Area, will host this year's Miss Philippines Earth beauty pageant finals, to be held at theManila Ocean Park on April 24th. With her in this photo taken during the event's welcome party to all 52 candidates are Carousel Productions Corporate Staff, Sed Genecera, left, and Rizzi Lim.

Miss Renee Şefika Mchugh, 18, of New York City is East Coast, USA's bet to the ongoing 2010 Miss Philippines Earth beauty pageant to be held on April 24th at the Manila Ocean Park.

The Eastwood EXCELSIOR (contact Sharon F. Eugenio 0917-529-2366) is the official residence of this year's Miss Philippines Earth USA (West Coast), Melissa Sokukawa, before she checked in at the Carousel Mansion. She loves the hotel's 24-hour security, cleanliness, in-room laundry, aircon and close proximity to the hundreds of the adjoining mall's shops and restaurants.

Team Sokukawa (Designer, Julius Ornum, Environment Q&A Expert/Guru ,among others) plans their pageant strategies, leaving nothing to chance, to ensure a sweet victory in the nationals, for 2010 Miss Philippines Earth USA (West Coast), Melissa Sokukawa, right, pride of Union City.

A send off party in San Jose, complete with a crunchy lechon, was given to Melissa Sokukawa, 3rd right, on the eve of her departure on March 28th to compete in Manila for the 2010 Miss Philippines Earth pageant.

53 vie for the 2010 Miss Philippines Earth Crown

(Finals to be held at the Manila Ocean Park )

SEEN IN THE CITY

After courtesy meetings with her sponsors, the San Francisco City Hall’s Director of Events, Filipina, Ms. Elsie McAteer and Philippine Airlines’ San Francisco office’s Ms. Del Merano and Ms. Joanne Sarmiento, Union City’s Ms. Melissa Sokukawa, 19, a half-Japanese Filipina flew to an upgraded class flight to Manila last Sunday March 28th to compete with 52 other Filipina hopefuls to the 2010 Miss Philippines Earth crown.

Thirteen hours later, she was fetched at the Centennial Airport by the pageant organizer, Carousel Production’s official driver and chaperone the morning of March 30th .

She then checked in at the Eastwood Excelsior and started her environmental and global warming studies with topic experts during the following 3 nights. Topics included the alternative and inexpensive sources of renewable energy, practical ways to help solve or minimize at least, the ill-effects of global warming, proactive ways to get involved, among others. The rest of the week, she trained heavily Columbian-style, on poise, runway and catwalk skills, conducted privately by beauty pageant experts.

Melissa and the 52 other candidates first met each other when they congregated for their very first rehearsals at the Manila Ocean Park, situated just behind the famed Quirino Grandstand at the Luneta Park last Monday, April 5th.

A dinner party was tendered in her honor and the other candidates later in the night at the Carousel Mansion , where they were welcomed by the Carousel Productions President, Mr. Ramon Monzon, Vice President, Ms. Lorraine Schuck and the rest of their staff, Peachy Veneracion, Ping Valencia Sed Genecera, Rizzi Lim, Gem Mayo, 2006 Miss Earth Air, Cathy Untalan, among others.

ABS-CBN’s resident newsman, Mario Dumaual conducted some random interviews and shot some TV footages for airing the following night(s).

2006 Miss Philippines Air, Ginger Conejero, now a famous news and events celebrity (originally from the Bay Area and winner of the 2006 Miss Philippines USA-West Coast crown) also graced the event and introduced herself to the contestants. She will host the finals pageant night to be held at the Manila Ocean Park .

An international media press conference (which proved to be high-profile every year) to introduce the candidates and launch this year’s pageant will be held the following morning, April 6th.

Here is the official list of all the 53 candidates:

  1. Mun. of Angono, Alyssa Angelaine Tolentino

  2. Antipolo City , Pamela Bianca De Leon

  3. Bacolod City, Kristine Alonso

  4. Mun. of Bacoor, Sherrie Beth Catapia

  5. Bongao, Kriskate Lee

  6. Bongabong, Abbygale Rey

  7. Butuan City, Stephanie Dianne Stefanowitz

  8. Cagayan de Oro, Lilyka Vic Peñaranda

  9. Cainta, Maria Sofia Gloria Mustonen

  10. Calamba, Princess Sardin

  11. Caloocan, Sheryl Jane Taguiam

  12. Candon, Maricel Mansano

  13. Cebu, Sian Elizabeth Maynard

  14. Daet, Farah Lopez

  15. Dasmariñas, Charisse Marie Sisperez

  16. Fil-France, Gwennaelle Ruais

  17. Gumaca, Kris Ortiz

  18. Imus, Christine Weizel Gulfan

  19. Infanta, Kris Psyche Resus

  20. Iriga City, Aizza Francesca Briñas

  21. Kabacan, Lady Lou Garidan

  22. Kawit, Pauline Dollaga

  23. Lubao, Angela Fernando

  24. Lucena City, Gabrielle Marie Cabrera

  25. Makati City, Angelica Pasumbal

  26. Malabon City, Kimberly Ann Brandon

  27. Marikina, Hannah Marie Landan

  28. Mexico, Eloisa Navarro

  29. Meycauayan, Christine Hermoso

  30. Muntinlupa City, Ferina Juny-Ann De Paz

  31. Navotas, Diane Jane Nicolas

  32. Olongapo, Rosemary Joan Turner

  33. Olutanga, Sheena Arabani

  34. Pandan, Emmerie Dale Cunanan

  35. Pasay, Julia Katrina Ibuna

  36. Pasig City, Roxanne Tadique

  37. Mun. of Puerto Galera, Crissia Atienza

  38. Puerto Princesa, Rosemary Sampaguita Jasper

  39. Quezon, Nadine Bendige

  40. Romblon, Ma. Rizel Macasa

  41. Rosario, Krizsa Nicolitte Serquina

  42. San Fernando, Brendolf Muñoz

  43. San Jose Del Monte , Lorraine Asis

  44. San Pedro, Apple Ramos

  45. Mun. of Taft, Rosjane Tiunayan

  46. Tagaytay City, Nadine Karla De Roxas

  47. Taguig City, Yazmin Nicole Kaufmann Ortega

  48. Tanauan, Sarah Jane Mercado

  49. Tarlac, Aura Donna Garon

  50. Vigan City, Marie Loraine Diane De Guzman

  51. Virac, Aiza Angelica delos Santos

  52. Fil-USA East Coast, Rene Rosario McHugh

  53. Fil-USA West Coast, Melissa Ann Sokukawa

ABS-CBN will delay-televise the pageant finals on Sunday, April 25th.

TO-BE-SEEN IN THE CITY

‘Sister Act’ at the Silver Legacy-Reno

Watch the hottest sisters in Philippine showbiz, Ara Mina and Cristine Reyes with Pinoy Dream Academy ’s 1strunnerup ‘Paano Na Kaya’ Bugoy Drilon in "SISTER ACT". Billed as “a totally different kind of show”, “Sister Act” is a musical comedy written and directed by Mamu De Real and will be seen on May 30th at the Grande Exposition Hall of the Silver Legacy Resort and Casino.

Special guests include Jo Awayan and Joseph Gelito. For tickets and sponsorships, call (510) 552-6915 or visit www.filipinasproductions.com for more info.

PERSONAL NOTES

Happy Birthday to Jiselle Justine Kelsey (April 5).

Welcome home to Doctor Ricky Masiddo and Ms. Reggie Panganiban, RN who just arrived this Thursday (April 8) from several days of respite vacation in Davao , Cebu and Manila .

Congratulations to Ateneo de Zamboanga’s London-born 21-year old Filipina, Miss Marie Claire Fullecido, who graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Cum Laude honor at that. This information was relayed to this column by her parents, Mr. Mr. Juanito A. Fullecido, Partner in SGV & Co/Earnst & Young and Claire Fullecido.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"I deserve that crown!" by 2010 Miss Philippines Universe, Venus Raj (she also was a former Miss Philippines Eco-Tourism 2008) who was dethroned and stripped of her title, crown and privilege to represent the Philippines at this year’s Miss Universe pageant for ‘irregularities’ in her birth certificate. She said she did nothing wrong and vows to fight the fight to keep her title.

This column also appears online at www.FilipinoVillage.com and http://sites.google.com/site/adkinsmmcevents/Home/ with readership in 68 countries now, according to the latest Google Analytics report.

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