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Flores de Mayo & Santacruzan: classic Maytime festivals that inspire nostalgia
By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D. The month of May has just joined the 2013 scene. Yet, what seeks their place via the vehicle of nostalgia are two festivities central to homespun memories: the Flores de Mayo (flowers of May), and the Santacruzan (Holy Cross), another time-nurtured event. The Flores de Mayo is a showcase of […]
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Why must currency determine our beauty contest winners?
By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D. Chances are, by now, the readership of TheFilAm has lent some attention or some may have become more than conversant about pageants: beauty and popularity contests, if you will. In some cases, that all-too-familiar yardstick called the trek of currency might possibly have rendered its job. But, if in the […]
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Consul General’s daughter among Santacruzan ‘reynas’
This year’s Reyna De Las Flores (Queen of Flowers) in Catholic Action of Mary’s (CAM) May 26th Santacruzan is Joyce Kathleen De Leon, 17, the youngest daughter of Consul General Mario de Leon Jr. and wife Eleanor. The New York-born Joyce will be joined by Medy Solero Taeza as Reyna Elena and Chelsea Pauline Lumbres […]
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DCG Theresa Dizon-de Vega: FilAms need to be ‘more engaged politically’
By Cristina DC Pastor The night before the interview, she was “dancing” with Jimmy Carter in the interactive documentary about the party-loving Imelda Marcos. Hours after this sitdown, she was administering the oath of allegiance to dual citizens at the Philippine Center lobby. Deputy Consul General Theresa Dizon de Vega’s life is one in perpetual […]
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Independence Day Parade Grand Marshal feted in gala
This year’s Independence Day Parade Grand Marshal, Dr. Rebecca Castro Rivera, was honored at a “Gabi ng mga Bulaklak” gala at the Grand Ballroom of the Renaissance Newark Airport Hotel in Elizabeth, New Jersey on April 15. The evening’s program was highlighted by the investiture ceremony where Rivera was bestowed her sash by last year’s […]
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Mrs. Kalayaan beauty contest marred by ugly accusations
By Elton Lugay This is Ernestine Hollins’s story. Let’s read on because what she has to say may have to do with who we are as a factionalized community living in America. On March 23, Ernestine and several other married Filipino women participated in a beauty and fundraising competition called Mrs. Kalayaan. Proceeds from this […]
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Mayhem: On my birthday, in my favorite city
By Olive Melaya On April 15, my birthday, a pair of bombs battered the beautiful city of Boston. Everything I planned for the weekend went well. Prayer meeting Friday night in Gemma Evans’ house, dinner with my husband Steve and my in-laws Saturday afternoon, followed by a party for Norman Laviolette’s 65th birthday. Sunday, we […]
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The Philippines, America and a love affair with sugar
By Rene Pastor As Mayor Michael Bloomberg tries to cap the amount of supersized sugary drinks to New Yorkers, one can only wistfully reflect on a time more than 70 years ago when the Philippines, an American colony, was one of the biggest suppliers of sugar to the United States. The other was Hawaii. Both […]
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A prepaid calling solution tailored for Filipinos in the U.S.
Retired chemist Necitas Golecruz of Ohio is what one would call the ‘as the need arises’ phone card user. She calls the Philippines only when there are urgent family matters – a medical emergency, maybe, or house repairs after a strong typhoon — that need quick response and decision-making. Matters that cannot wait for an […]