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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.
Jericho "Echo" Rosales as he appears on the Cache Creek Website promo for his June 25-26 show.
Charice's photo appears more prominent in the Entertainment Weekly breaking news website than that of "Glee"'s main star, Lea Michele.
Philippine pop princess Sarah Geronimo before a crowd of thousands at the launch of TFC Summer Saya sa America
at the 112th Commemoration of Philippine Independence in New York. (Photo by Ronn Tann)
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Jose Claveria de Venecia, Jr. aka JDV or Joe De Venecia was the Guest Speaker at the US Ilocano National Association's Coronation Dinner and Ball held last Saturday night at the Hyatt San Francisco.
Congratulations and Best Wishes to Jay and Thess Dayrit who got married recently in Union City, CA.
Jorelle Yamsuan Gamez celebrated his big 30th birthday last Saturday at her mother's house in San Ramon, with a big stuffed lechon from Tastebud Restaurant, among Filipino traditional fare.
Seen celebrating 112th Philippine Independence Day at the InterCon SF are (L to R) Vic Barba, LuzViMin Chief, Hon.Gwendolyn Garcia, Gov. of Cebu, and State Senator Hon. Leland Yee.
Gracing the Coronation Dinner and Ball of the US Ilocandia last Saturday are former (and future - he is running again this November, folks! ) Mayor of Milpitas, Joe Estevez, 2nd right, with (L-R) Sunshine Home Health Administrator, Reggie Panganiban of Pleasanton, the International Beauty Impressario Ferdie Villar and San Jose's Philanthropist Susan Navarro Pacifico.
(L-R) The President of US Ilocandia, Elsie Grace Gracia Gacusan, Speaker Joe De Venecia Jr. and State Senator Leland Y. Yee, Ph.D. pose for the photographers during last Saturday's Hyatt SF dinner and gala.
Mrs. Ilocandia 2nd Princess Fely Casco, a Financial Anaylist in downtown San Francisco, paraded last Saturday at the Hyatt, with her escort and brother-in-law, Florenz Casco of Daly City.
Vallejo's Alberto Gerardo, left, with AT&T's Florenz Casco enjoyed the food and music at last Saturday's US Ilocandia gala dinner at Hyatt SF.
Charice IS definitely joining ‘GLEE’ cast
(Breaking News revealed by EW.com)
As of the time I am writing this column, it was posted on EW.COM and circulated rapidly online that our Charice (her new title now, according to the writer, is The International Popstar!) is joining the “GLEE” cast after all.
According to the Entertainment Weekly website, which I am quoting the writer, Michael Ausiello, verbatim below:
“Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Charice is joining Glee. No, really this time! When that rumor began to spread earlier this month via her loose-lipped manager, Charice herself shot it down via Twitter. “I just want to let you all know, that it’s not true that I’m going to be on Glee,” she said. Well, it’s true now! Sources confirm to me exclusively that the international pop star is signed, sealed, and delivered to recur next season as a foreign exchange student whose killer vocals get Rachel (Lea Michele) contemplating murder. Not literally, mind you. So what do you think? TV scoop is best served instantaneously, so follow me on Twitter at @michaelausiello.
SEEN IN THE CITY
TFC Summer Saya sa America draws 70,000 at Independence Day festivities in NY
Not even the schizophrenic June 6 weather of New York that combined extreme heat, intense humidity and a brief but drenching downpour could stop thousands of Filipinos from taking part at the 112th Commemoration of Philippine Independence in New York City .
The highly successful event, decribed as biggest to date in event history, which kicked off the TFC Summer Saya sa America festival series, attracted a crowd of 70,000, as estimated by the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI), the event organizer and TFC’s local partner.
To start with, following the flag-raising and Independence Mass at the Philippine Consulate General, over 140 marching groups participated in what could be the biggest Filipino parade throughout the entire U.S. Grand Marshalls Benjamin and Dr. Zenaida Santos, aboard a CAR-abao (a car dressed up to look like a mechanical water buffalo), led organizations from New York and nearby states that included tens of professional groups, Filipino school and youth clubs, service organizations, alumni associations, regional associations, religious organizations, social clubs, fraternities, marching bands, ethnic dancers, government officials and some 16 open cars and trucks.
Bringing up the rear were PIDCI’s officers and pageant beauties and the TFC float that paraded through ecstatic shrieks and chants of “TFC! TFC! TFC!” from the crowd that lined almost the whole stretch of Madison Avenue in Manhattan . Aboard the TFC float were RP’s pop princess Sarah Geronimo, Asia’s Romantic Balladeer Christian Bautista, veteran singer-stage thespian Carlo Orosa, Citizen Pinoy’s Michael Gurfinkel, Esq. and wife, Millie, famed cosmetic surgeon Dr. Vicki Belo, Barangay USA’s loveable host, Gelo, and the TFC contingent that included parade marchers bearing huge banners of local TFC shows.
PIDCI, in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General of New York, announced the winning participating parade groups (non-sponsors): Most Meaningful Float & Best Performance and Presentation – Waray Community Association of the U.S.A.; Most Meaningful Group – Gawad Kalinga; Best Costume & Liveliest and Entertaining Group – Philippine American Association of Western Connecticut; Best Contingent and Group Attendance – Philippine Forum; and Group From State or City Farthest Away from New York City – Alpha Kappa Rho from the State of Washington.
It was near pandemonium at the TFC and Belo booths when Sarah, Christian and Carlo had their Meet and Greet with the fans who wanted to have their signatures and photos. Meanwhile, Gelo was followed everywhere as he did his Man On The Street interviews, while people swarmed around Atty. Michael Gurfinkel who did a Q&A for Citizen Pinoy at one of the TFC booths.
The parade was so long that it pushed back the start of the Cultural Program. Giving the Welcome Remarks on stage were 2010 PIDCI President Dr. Bernie dela Merced and 2010 Grand Marshalls Benjamin and Dr. Zenaida Santos. Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Wilfredo Gaa and New York Philippine Consul General Cecilia Rebong were also on hand to deliver greetings to attendees.
The cultural program, which featured local singers, dancers and musicians, was climaxed by the TFC Celebrity Hour. Gelo prepped up the crowd, throwing TFC shirts to the audience. Attorney Gurfinkel and Dr. Belo joked about the New York weather but stressed how much TFC wanted to reach out to all Filipinos in the East Coast. Christian then came on board, rallying the crowd under the downpour with his romantic renditions of classics from legendary Filipino singer-composer Jose Mari Chan. Carlo followed with a very challenging and novel version of “The Impossible Dream” from the Broadway musical, “Man of La Mancha”. For local flavor, TFC debuted TFC Got Showtime, unveiling three locally selected amateur performers: Riana Balahadia who placed third with her Broadway song-and-dance number; Bryan De Leon who placed second playing the guitar and singing an alternative rock tune; and first placer Eric Garzon who performed a traditional gospel/Christian number. All received plaques and cash prizes.
Then as the sun came back in full force, superstar Sarah thrilled with “Record Breaker”. She made the crowd swoon with the theme song from her huge box-office starrer, “You Changed My Life”. Then in keeping with the Independence Day theme, she fully unveiled her vocal prowess with the powerful Philippine Revolution Song of 1986, “Magkaisa” which had people waving flags and their arms in the air.
“Napakalaking pagdiriwang ito ngayon (Today is such a grand celebration),” remarked 2010 PIDCI President Dr. Bernie dela Merced . “This is so successful beyond our expectations. We are very pleased to have partnered and co-presented this with TFC. We at PIDCI are most grateful for the support of Filipinos in New York and in other states who trooped to this event to make it the most well-attended holding of this festival to date.”
“To kick off TFC Summer Saya sa America before a crowd of 70,000 is record-breaking and speaks well of the reach of TFC in our U.S. Filipino communities,” said ABS-CBN International Head of Cable & Satellite Jun Del Rosario.
Aside from the festival in New York, TFC Kapamilya Summer Saya sa North America will bring stars to the following events: Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson at Fiesta Mo Sa Florida on July 24; Rayver Cruz and Bangs Garcia at the 17th Pistahan Festival and Parade sa Yerba Buena, San Francisco on August 14 and 15; and Angelica Panganiban, Jake Cuenca, Bugoy Drilon and Laarni Lozada at the Philippine Fiesta Sa America in New Jersey on August 14 and 15.
Then all roads lead to the biggest and grandest TFC celebration with One Kapamilya Go 2010 in September. Last year, One Kapamilya Go Sa California’s Great America, which celebrated TFC’s 15th year, drew a capacity crowd of 10,000 which included Pinoy Big Brother’s very successful auditionees and today’s newest matinee idols – Tom Mott (now more popularly known on TV as Tom Rodriguez) and Hermes Bautista (now being seen every Saturday in TFC’s ‘Elias Paniki’).
TO-BE-SEEN IN THE CITY
Jericho Rosales will be in town
Jericho “Echo” Rosales will be in town to perform at the Cache Creek Casino (located at 14455 Highway 16 in Brooks, CA 95606-0065/ Phone (800) 452-8181) with PDA’s Yeng “Hawak Kamay” Constantino and Gabriel Valenciano (yes, he’s the son of Gary V) on Friday and Saturday (June 26 and 27, respectively). Prior to that, Echo will be signing authographs and taking pictures with friends at the Edna’s Ichiban Library located at 2236 Westborough Blvd, South San Francisco, CA 94080-5405 - (650) 737-9716 on Wednesday, June 23rd.
Ticket prices for the Friday performance are $89/$75/$65. Saturday prices are $10 more. He performs a week before Air Supply’s scheduled gig on July 3rd.
PERSONAL NOTES
Congratulations and Best Wishes to both Miss Fenina Gamez, 25, and Mr. Hoong Pham, 31, who are tying the knot at the All Saints Roman Catholic Church in Hayward, CA on October 10, 2010. She is from the Philippines and he is from a traditional family in Vietnam . Their amusing love story began when both of them attended a mutual friend’s wedding years ago.
Belated Happy Birthday to Jorelle Yamsuan Gamez (June 16) who celebrated last Saturday night at his mom’s house in San Ramon. His mom is Filipina Women’s Network’s 100 Most Influential Women, Nimfa Yamsuan Gamez.
Congratulations to Naty Padua, crowned Mrs. Ilocandia 2010-2011 last Saturday night at the Hyatt in San Francisco . Her Royal Court is composed of Marilou Ancheta, Fely Casco, Estrella Ramos, and Leonie Domingo (1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Princesses, respectively).
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“It’s all over.”– without admitting anything but admitted almost everything by Krista Ranillo after accidentally bumping into the very reliable writer (he recently received the Doctor Jose Rizal Award for Journalism), Ricky Lo in Los Angeles . She was referring to her highly-rumored relationship with that famous sports celebrity.
This column also appears online at www.FilipinoVillage.com andhttp://sites.google.com/site/adkinsmmcevents/Home/ with readership in 82 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
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