2011 08/10-08/16

MANILA MAIL COMMUNITY

Jed Madela sang 'The Past' in Vancouver, BC last Saturday afternoon.

If Fil-Canadian Riza Santos wins Miss World in London on November 6, 2011, it will be a first for Canada and a first for the Philippines. Good luck, Riza, coming from Manila Mail! This Columnist also invited her to model at the Bay Area Fashion Week in SJSU Barrett Ballroom on 09/24/2011.

Actor Derek Ramsay with this Columnist in Vancouver last Saturday.

(L-R) San Jose's Heavenly Ice Cream's owner, Ben Acorda, model Leo Reyes, choreographer MaryJane Datu-Powell & Richard Lao will be very visible at the Pistahan Parade on Saturday.

Pinoy Fiesta's Janice Lozano with Manila Mail's VP for Community Affairs, Joey Panlilio in Vancouver last Saturday.

Don't forget folks, the Filipino Community supports and will vote, solidly, Leland Yee for San Francisco Mayor - come November!

(L-R) Vancouver's Philippine Asian Chronicle Owner, Erly Juatco, actress/performer Nikki Valdez, Realtor Narima De La Cruz & this Columnist at Pinoy Fiesta last weekend.

Some of the guests that attended Susan N. Pacifico's Birthday Celebration last July were (L-R standing): Dr. Jinky Hernandez, Lita Papa, Mila Caguyong, Estie Santos, Susan G. Pacifico, Dr. Jaime Pacifico, Melissa Sayoc, Dennis Manalaysay, EP Pacifico. Seated (L-R) Lanie Pacifico, Leny Pacifico, Susan N Pacifico (the celebrant), Lisa P Ayran, Myrna Canizares and Ivan Desuasido.

Milpitas Mayor Joe Estevez with San Jose's Fashionista Rhuddee Vitug at Susan Pacifico's birthday bash last July 30th.

‘PISTAHAN’ PARADE THIS SATURDAY!

(The Filipino Channel, Wells Fargo Bank, PG&E are among the participants)

TO-BE SEEN IN THE CITY

Why watch the ‘Pistahan’ Parade this Saturday? Well, it’s just the ONLY Filipino Parade in San Francisco. It is a display of community pride along San Francisco’s main street – Market Street – from the Embarcadero to the Yerba Buena Gardens, the crown jewel of SF’s cultural district. Colorful floats, historical themes and lively community contingents has helped build Pistahan Parade, as THE Filipino counterpart of San Francisco’s great cultural institutions like Chinese New Year Parade, Carnaval, St. Patrick’s Parade, among others.

This year, the Pistahan Parade will kick off the Pistahan weekend. Witness a dazzling display of Filipino culture and traditions at this year's Pistahan Parade down Market Street, from the Embarcadero to Yerba Buena Gardens on SATURDAY, August 13, 2011.

Parade participants include, The Filipino Channel, Heavenly Ice Cream of San Jose (their models – 2010 Miss Philippines Earth-USA West Coast Melissa Sokukawa, Leo Reyes, Dara Bascara, Richard Lao, Malou Hipolito, Chris Castillo and 2 others, if plans do not miscarry, will wear all-white outfit with Angel wings (‘heavenly’ nga eh!).

At 11:00 am, the Parade begins on Beale Street, goes down Market Street, makes a left on 4th Street, another left turn on Folsom Street, ends at 3rd Street. At least 30 press photographers will cover and capture the event in pictures.

Show your Pinoy Pride! There will be dancing in the streets of San Francisco. Prizes will be awarded to the best contingent, best costume, best choreography and more!

Watch the Pistahan Parade this Saturday!

SEEN IN THE CITY

Pinoy Fiesta in Vancouver 2011

This Columnist appreciates the VIP treatment that the Manila Mail Newspaper Editorial Staff received from the organizers of Pinoy Fiesta: Unang Hirit sa Tag-init held at the Olympic Village in Vancouver, BC. Yes, as in Canada!

Jed Madela mesmerized the audiences with his ‘The Past’ and other songs. Nikki Valdez gained a few pounds and my respect for braving the scorching heat of the sun while performing. Canada’s bet to this year’s Miss World Pageant in London, Miss Riza Santos is a joy to talk to. Derek Ramsay was so accommodating to everyone – yup, those talks about his good breeding are true.

Thank you to the wonderful people of Vancouver, most especially the organizers and leaders of the event – Janice Lozano, Narima De La Cruz, Jojo Quimpo, Larry Baguisa, among others.

Briefs & Shorts

Maghuhula, anyone?

When I was at a very young age, my mother had her fortune told by a ‘Manghuhula’. Since I was watching & listening by their sides, she also told mine. She said back then – that she doesn’t see any travel lines in my palms. That, I won’t be able to travel, ever.

So when I was sent by my employer, years after, post-college, to attend an Accountants’ global conference in Singapore, I took mental note of everything from the plane taking off at Manila International Airport or MIA (now called NAIA) up to the succeeding travels to Saipan, Tokyo, Macau, Hong Kong, United States, Canada, etc – the list just goes on and on. Up to this day, I still keep in my car (I have changed cars so many times) a single memento of my very first travel to Singapore – a mini Koala bear given to me by the Australian delegate. It has been decades as the color of the Koala bear faded in time. I kept the toy to remind me everyday that the ‘Manghuhula’ was wrong. And I tried to forget that they even exist.

Until I met another one recently in the gated Blackhawk Community in Danville, CA. A University of the Philippines Nursing graduate, Madam Amirah told me disturbing truths in my past that I already had forgotten. So powerful were her revelations of my past that I come to realize now, how far I have changed, how far I have travelled circles already in my professional and personal lives. And I never told her anything about me. Not yet.

My lesson in telling this story is that nobody can tell our future. It’s always up to us, up to our faith and up to Him. But it doesn’t hurt, just like when we watch movies to entertain us, to pamper ourselves by listening to some of the ‘hulas’. Be inspired. Be entertained. Have your fortune told by Madam Amirah. You may reach her at (925) 314-6449 or (408) 770-7236. Yes, she has two phones as just like the rest of us, her AT&T wireless connection is not that reliable in her Danville area & other locations. So she got a 2^nd one from Verizon.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The happiest moment of my life is February 04, 1988 when I saw my daughter born,” a father, Manila Mail’s VP for Community Affairs, Joey Panlilio’s text birthday greeting to her daughter, Jacque.

Oh, she replied back – “Dad, my birthday is February 05! But I still love you, anyways. Harr..harr..harr..”

This story gave us non-stop laughter during our 16-hour drive from San Francisco to Vancouver last weekend. And we used the joke repeatedly on our way driving back.

This article also appears online at www.FilipinoVillage.com and http://sites.google.com/site/adkinsmmcevents/Home/ with readership in 139 countries now (& still counting!) according to the latest Google Analytics report.

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