2016 12/21-12/27
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Bradford Adkins, 'SCENES In The City' is a widely read Filipino-American community column in San Francisco since 2008. Online, it is being globally read by more than 176 countries. The column features include: the issues and events, the individuals and organizations moving the community.
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(OXON HILL, MARYLAND) - Crowned Miss World 2016 last Sunday, December 18 is Stephanie Del Valle of Puerto Rico (2nd right) shown here with her runners-up, Yaritza Miguelina Reyes Ramirez of Dominican Republic (1st runner up; 2nd left), Natasha Mannuela of Indonesia (2nd runner up; middle), Catriona Gray of The Philippines (3rd runner up; leftmost) and Evelyn Njambi Thungu of Kenya (4th Runner Up; rightmost). Congratulations! Photo by India Today
(OXON HILL, MD) - 2016 Miss World Top 4 Winner Catriona Gray's boyfriend, Clint Bondad (front/center), a Fil-German model based in the Philippines, flew in to the US last week with his family and friends to personally witness the Filipina compete against 116 beautiful candidates from all over the world. Photo from Clint's Instagram
(MANILA, PHILIPPINES) - Congratulations and Best Wishes to Actor Billy Crawford, 34 and girlfriend Coleen Garcia just got engaged Tuesday, December 20, after two years of exclusive dating. Photo by Director Gino M. Santos via Instagram
(DALY CITY, CA) - Attention: CPAs, Accountants, Bookkeepers, Finance Professionals, Tax Preparers and other interested parties: You are invited to attend the “2017 Federal & California State Income Tax Update Seminar” with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) & Franchise Tax Board (FTB) Speakers on Saturday, January 14, 2017 (from 12:30PM to 5:00 PM) sponsored by PICPA California Chapter-San Francisco at Hampton Inn, Daly City, located at 2700 Junipero Serra Blvd., Daly City CA 94015. Limited capacity, Prepaid-Registration required on or before December 29, 2016. For more information, send email c/o: Roland Ditan at PICPAInternational@yahoo.com
(TRACY, CA) - SAVE THE DATE for Gino Padilla (shown here in his last visit in San Francisco) performing LIVE with Rey Kilay and Jelly on Saturday, April 29, 2017 @ 6:00PM at the Sansar Banquet Hall located at 430 W Grant Line Rd, Tracy, CA 95376. For tickets, advanced reservations and sponsorships, please call the Producer, Lita Eubank @ (209) 831-0901. Photo lifted with permission from Lita Eubank's Facebook
(BURLINGAME, CA) - Philippine Airlines, San Francisco Office held their Annual Christmas Party led by Area Manager, Dellilah Merano, leftmost joined by travel agency and ticket consolidator employees (represented by Lyn Abad, 2nd left) around the Bay Area last Wednesday, December 14 at Doubleree by Hilton Hotel. Photo by Jua Rattanaphun
(BRENTWOOD, CA) - Amavi Home Health and Hospice Care Agency held at their first and annual Employees' Christmas Party held last Saturday at Trilogy at the Vineyards. On hand to greet employees in person with their family and friends are owners Ricky Masiddo, DDS, Reggie Panganiban, BSN, RN and Jennifer Mosqueda, BSN, RN. Photo by Richard C. Lao, CPA, MSMOT
(MILPITAS, CA) - PNB Remitance Centers, Inc., (Aileen J. Villamiel, Branch Manager; leftmost) San Jose and Milpitas branches, celebrated their annual joint employees' Christmas Party last Sunday, December 18th at Seasons MarketPlace office in Milpitas, attended also by loyal customers and supporters (Commissioner Evelyn Sangalang, Commissioner Linda Reyes, Marisa Pascua, Demos Punsalan, Fe Rodriguez, Flor Tabin, Milton Cabiong, just to name a few). Photo lifted with permission from Aileen J. Villamiel's Facebook
CATRIONA GRAY
FINISHES
MISS WORLD TOP 4
SEEN IN THE CITY:
(OXON HILL, MARYLAND) – It was Miss World Philippines, Catriona ‘Cat’ Gray’s crown to lose last Sunday night, December 18th at the MGM Grand National Harbor – at least that’s what every major pageant website is saying as she tops all predictions list of winner. Even pageant fans that never supported Miss World flew all over the world just to watch Cat win it in person. Splendidly spreading her potentials, before the grand finals night, Cat easily won Miss World MultiMedia, Top 2 Miss Talent and Top 5 Beauty With A Purpose, a not so easy feat to accomplish considering she’s up against 116 of the most beautiful women from all over the world.
Also, during the critical and deciding Final Top 5 Q&A portion, Miss World 2015 Mireia Lalaguna from Spain asked Cat, “Which qualities do you think it will take to wear my crown?” the Philippine beauty gave what many pageant fans call a ‘phenomenal’ answer, to wit: “I think first of all it takes bravery, to be a Miss World is to carry a burning torch, it is like action carried out by one to illuminate the lives of many. And I would dedicate my whole self, my love for the arts and my voice to try to uplift, empower and educate people. And it would be my greatest honor and duty to hold this torch high enough, so that the all the world could feel and see it’s light.” Some even shed tears for her sincere and heartfelt delivery.
But as fate would have it, she did lose the crown to Stephanie Del Valle, 19, of Puerto Rico who was named Miss World 2016 edging out runners-up from the Dominican Republic Indonesia, Philippines and Kenya, in that particular order.
Cat’s longtime boyfriend has this to say after the pageant – “Family came from literally all over the world to watch our darling and sweet heart @catriona_gray. We all love her. And are more then proud of her. Such a true beauty and with such a HUGE heart!
... Also why my mother loves her so much after spending some time with her in 2014 and my father always talks about her as if she is a daughter to him. And the rest of my family just absolutely loves her and calls her family too.
When @kirk_bondad came to the Philippines for a year when he was 15 and stayed with Catriona and me, I always remember how she made Kirk the best sandwich/burger he has ever had and even made him have tears in his eyes because she spoiled him so much.
When I brought Catriona to my family's store in Quezon City and we met up with my filipino family she started helping around in the store and surprised my family so much because she sat on the floor and organized bottom shelfs. They always ask about Catriona first then about me haha
I share this because its those things that don't usually get attention but I believe those are the things that show character most. People around you really tell the story of who you are.”
Her mentor, Aces and Queens Beauty Camp’s Jonas Antonio Gaffud posted on social media, "A top three finish would have been great, but I was hopeful of the blue crown. Nevertheless, I am still very proud of your achievement at Miss World @catriona_gray . Top 5 is tough. Wishing you the best on your future endeavors.”
Cat’s supporters were equally restless and relentless online – bashing judges from Indonesia (her candidate won ‘Beauty With A Purpose’ and Miss World 2nd runner up – what a surprise!) and Puerto Rico (she asked her Top 5 question to Miss Puerto Rico – who eventually won the blue crown!) for not recusing themselves from the judging process.
Gaffud has to pacify them and had to post this online: “Hey c'mon Philippines. If we won, no hatred on social media right? But we did not. Let's be proud as Filipinos and pageant fans of our girl Catriona Gray. For us she will be always our Miss World. But there are other families, friends and fans who root for their girls as well. I exchanged pleasantries with an older guy who was so proud of Miss Puerto Rico and he told me, he's the Father. I was touched by how happy he was for his daughter. Remember this: WE ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS WORLD. THERE ARE OTHERS. #beasport”
Jem Sis of Las Vegas, NV, interviewed via long distance telephone call, cannot contain his disappointment on the final outcome, as this is his very first time that he supported Miss World (for it’s not so good reputation before). But due to Cat’s growing popularity and belief that she has what it takes to win the blue crown, he decided he will spend the money this year just to see Cat compete and to witness her crowning moment.
Full pageant results:
Fast Track Winners:
Top Model: China PR
Sports: Cook Islands
Talent: Mongolia
Multimedia: Philippines
Beauty with a Purpose: Indonesia
Top 20: China, Kenya, Belgium, Ghana, Philippines, Cook Islands, Mongolia, Indonesia, France, USA, India, Slovakia, Korea, Hungary, Dominican Republic, Japan, Brazil, Thailand, Australia, Puerto Rico
Top 10: Philippines, Indonesia, China, Kenya, Belgium, USA, Korea, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Puerto Rico
Top 5: Kenya, Puerto Rico, Indonesia, Dominican Republic, Philippines
5th Place: Kenya
4th Place: Philippines
3rd Place: Indonesia
2nd Place: Dominican Republic
Miss World 2016: Puerto Rico
This article also appears online at www.eManilaMail.com, www.BradfordAdkins.com, www.ScenesInTheCity.com, and http://sites.google.com/site/adkinsmmcevents/Home/ with readership in 176 countries now (& still counting!) according to the latest Google Analytics report.
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