By Marivir R. Montebon
New York – During the 7th Homecoming sa Konsulado, two new things happened: the better half of Consul General Claro Cristobal, the Fil-Am community’s First Lady Ms. Marilou Medina Cristobal danced a southern cultural dance before an enthused audience along with some dancers of the Mindanao State University alumni group. And a new organization was born – the University of San Carlos Alumni Association in New York on that Saturday, October 20, 2018.
Ms. Marilou Medina Cristobal, known for her dancing prowess, dances with MSU alumni at the 7th HSK. (Photo by Boyet Loverita)
Newest alumni group: University of San Carlos in Cebu City with Consul General Claro Cristobal, rightmost. (Photo by Edwin Josue)
From a participant of one, Steve Parrado, the USC alumni, all Cebuanos, grew to six. This adds to the briskly growing HSK, a brainchild of the Philippine Consulate since 2012. Twenty-two alumni organizations participated in the whole day affair at the Philippine Center.
The organizers, led by secretary Alex Esteban of the Philippine Women’s University Alumni Association Tri-state, Vivian T. Cruz of Assumption Alumni Association, Consul Arman Talbo, and cultural officer Olive Magpile, managed the homecoming impressively, with the foremost challenge of quieting a typical Filipino audience that loves to chat and do selfie despite an ensuing program. Michelle Llado Wrzos and Marcelo Inot hosted the program.
A substantial achievement of the HSK is its mentoring program led by Dr. Joie Calub which began in 2017. In her heartwarming speech, Calub encouraged volunteer teachers who go home to the Philippines can now duplicate the program of providing mentorship to young students in Science, Technology, and Math in coordination with the education department of the Philippines.
After the project presentation, fun broke lose through games, line dancing, and by excitement that the raffling of tickets bring. Young FilAm performers graced the event: Broadway Barkada, Fil-Am performers on Broadway, saxophonist Dr. Kevin Obate, and singer Krizia Daya.
L-R: Marcelo Inot, Michelle Wrzos, Olive Magpile, Mimi Samson, and Alex Esteban
Esteban expressed elation over the success of the HSK, which he said was due to the camaraderie that was developed over the last seven years. “All the school leaders and representatives work as a team. I think our priority for the next year would be to look for a bigger venue for our growing membership. We need to regroup for new ideas and suggestions by the Consulate,” he said.
Millennials Honor Seniors in PCCSA Junior-Senior Prom
The Philippine Community Center Services for the Aging (PCCSA) held a unique kind of Junior-Senior prom at the St. Patrick’s Church on Long Island City on October 13, 2018 to celebrate what it calls “the graying Fil-Am New Yorkers.”
PCCSA’s inter-generational dance: millennials honoring seniors.
The younger generation of Fil-Americans paid tribute to the older generation of Filipinos who have raised and nurtured them. Poetry, monologues, and the inter-generational dance were the order of the day.
PCCSA president Consuelo Almonte said her group wanted to create family-like connections with the younger Fil-Ams in order to prepare themselves towards the golden years. “We all age. I hope that our programs will bond us together,” she said.
PCCSA president Consuelo Almonte with guest, Fiesta in America CEO Fernando Mendez.
Dr. Mike Jampayas also launched the agency’s Kagalakan program where seniors share home-based events for leisurely relaxations and fun.
IFFM Gives Honorable Mention Medals to Two GMA Programs
International Film Fest Manhattan (IFFM) president Luis Pedron cited two actors of GMA programs during its week-long festivity. Actor RuRu Madrid was honored for his performance in Magpakailanman and TV news anchor Mariz Umali for the documentary ‘Behind the Banquet.’ The awards were accepted by Ms. Grace Labaguis on their behalf on October 20, 2018 at the Producer’s Club on Times Square.
Luis Pedron with Ms. Grace Labaguis
‘Behind the Banquet’ featured at Producer’s Club
NAFFAA Sponsors WWII Documentary Film Unsurrendered II
Literally by a snap of a finger, officers of the National Federation of Fil-Am Associations in New York put up a movie night to show ‘Unsurrendered ll’ to commemorate October as the Fil-Am History Month in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General in New York.
Lucky Gutierrez
Film director Lucky Guillermo who also manages the production outfit Spyron AV Manila, said his worked in collaboration with Philippine scholars who dedicated themselves to the study of WWII to verify facts from narratives and documentary evidence. Unsurrendered 2 is about the young members of the Hunters ROTC guerrillas who fought against the Japanese in 1942-1944, just before the liberation campaign of the US. (Featured photo the growing HSK by Boyet Loverita)
Leave a Reply