VIA Times - Notebook

Notebook

* The whole world lends a helping hand to Haiti’s (world’s) worst tragedy
* 500 Filipinos affected in Haiti, says Philippine Ambassador Corsino
* Business is brisk at Four Points-Mirage! Reserve your next party now!
* PIWC 2010 Executive Chair Joy Manuel is up to a very good start!
* Met Castelo is new president of PIWC, Inc.
* Dumping ‘friends’ whose ego overpowers their pea brains is never having to say you’re sorry!
* ’D.I.’ lost in hubby’s translation

Dumping ‘friends’ whose ego overpowers their pea brains is never having to say you’re sorry!

My most favorite quotation is printed on my personal letterhead. It says: “Friends are like Angels who lift us up when our wings have trouble learning how to fly.”

That’s how I feel about my GOOD friends. True Friends are like Angels. At times, real friends are closer to us than some of our own blood relatives or siblings.

We entrust and confide to them our innermost secrets which we hesitate to share with our family. Good friends listen with compassion and understanding. They are willing to share with us the last crumbs from their plates. They give without expecting anything back. They appreciate our honest eye-opener criticisms. More importantly, True Friends make us laugh through our tears. Their sense of humor is like a ray of sunshine on a gloomy, rainy day in our lives.

These feelings are mutually-shared between good friends. Until proven otherwise. When our so-called best friends eventually, show their “true colors” manifested by their sick “self-love” and superlative egos, particularly when we refuse to be a part of such pathetic life-drama they create to satisfy their megalomaniac self-portrait.

Nope! I never pretend to be “holier than thou.” (I leave to God the depth of my spiritual faith.) I speak my mind out because it is the truth that will set us free. However, I am very quick to say “I’m sorry” or “please forgive me,” after knowing I’ve (unintentionally) hurt other peoples’ feelings (oftentimes, lost in translation, figuratively speaking). At this time of my life, I give thanks to God every minute, so to speak, for His Gift of Life with a vow to use that Gift to help others within my human capacity. Unless refused, otherwise.

Unfortunately, we have some so-called friends who ALWAYS want to get things their way, due to their insecurities and lack of self-esteem, they want us to butter up their egos to satisfy their “I love myself” indulgence. Nope. I could not stand this drama. Yes, I RESPECT our fellow human beings regardless of their status in life – from the homeless to millionaires. But I do not adulate freaks and “superstars,” legit or wanna-bes. I do not adulate human beings. My adulation only belongs to the unseen God Almighty who was born in a dirty manger at a stable.

So, therefore, my friends whose friendship I treasure (until proven otherwise), dumping friends whose agenda is “I, Me and Myself” is NEVER having to say I’m sorry! Certainly, I am not alone having FUN DUMPING such freaky clowns, we once called “Friends.”

HAPPY AND BLESSED NEW YEAR 2010! May your Friendships last forever.

PIWC 2010 Executive Chair Joy Manuel is up to a very good start!

Congratulations to JOY MANUEL, executive chair for PIWC 2010 celebration whose Gala Night I heard will be on Saturday, June 12, same date with Kasarinlan, the Filipino American Council group. Other community leaders view the “sabay” (same date) situation as an “economic saver”during this economic recession. Many people lost their jobs, homes, and the number is going up. And we have two more groups -- the Kalayaan and the Philippine Week Committee. At least, each one maintains each own loyal followings. Good luck to all. You’re doing great helping our folks back home.

PIWC Picnic chair Tony Payoyo, chair asked me to help get the City’s Jumping Jack for the kids for the picnic on (Sunday, June 6, Grove I Labagh Woods, Chicago). I would like to ask the parents to bring their kids and grandkids to this picnic It’s FUN! It’s one day you can take them away from their television and computer games and be with Nature and family. We need candies and balloon donors. Better yet, could someone donate money to hire a clown who will perform tricks to the kids, give out balloons, etc. Call me (Elsie) if you want to shoulder the clown’s fee of maybe $250, including candies and balloons. Will be fun.

Suggestions... Joy, take heed of these: Coming from the washroom that night of PIWC kick-off, I met one couple, both respected community leaders on their way out. Grinning from ear to ear, the hubby told me:”Elsie, I’m out of here. We have enough repeat performances of those vintage queens,” “But the past queens are crowd-getters (or bring guests),” I justified it.

“I know.” he said, “Presenting outgoing queens from the previous (last) year are okay. No pun intended, Elsie. I suggest no more marching for ladies you call The Vintage Queens. Nakakasawa na rin. (It’s boring, or giving people sore eyes). In due respect to them, a public recognition of their presence is enough,” the gentlemen sounded serious.

My suggestion for a guest speaker: I often wonder why most Independence Day celebration always resorts to inviting politicians from the Philippines and paying for their fare and accommodation, including their entourage! Of all immigrant Americans, we are one of those few groups who do not seem to give importance in getting our community events out in MAINSTREAM AMERICA by inviting AMERICAN LEGISLATORS to let them know our CONTRIBUTIONS to make this country great and to educate them about our tradition, culture and history!

We focus on inviting politicians from the Philippines, many of whom turned SNOBS when it’s our turn to visit them in their “Ivory Tower” in the Philippines. And their speeches takes hours and...sooo boooring...sending guests out of the ballroom. What have these Philippine politicians done to us? Has anyone of them helped a distressed Fili-Am citizen Balikbayan who encountered problems back home? Tell me one. When I was in Makati, I made an appointment to interview Makati Mayor Binay who, I, then, heard would like to run for President. He had no time. He instead assigned his assistant. I told him NO DEAL. If it is not him, then no interview.

I do the same when I invite local (American) government officials as guest speaker at some of my community programs before and even now. Even for our small Silliman U event, I always invite one from the American government and one from our Philippine Consulate. I am more rigid with my invitation to the American politician. I do not accept a “representative.” And I always suggest how long will their message or speech be.

Another thing: Not one of the media chairpersons invite the local American media. That’s why every year, on my own (not as a media member) I try to touch bases with my contacts from American media “begging” them to showcase any Philippine culture like Norma’s HIT cooking demo of pancit over ABC Channel 7 last year and the Tinikling dance performance by the young people from my church – Faith Community Presbyterian Church, in 2008. Let’s spread our wings outside our turf, Kababayans!

Met Castelo is new president of PIWC, Inc.

With Dr. Virgilio Jonson’s seemingly “dynasty” control of the chairmanship of PIWC, INC., for more than a decade, Met Castelo’s ONE VOTE VICTORY over Romy Gumila during the last election for the presidency, came as a huge surprise to me! When Met first told me that he was running, I gave him a long sigh, then asked him: what made you think you have a chance to defeat the Old Boys Club? No pun intended. Dr. Jonson has held that title for over a decade without holding an election every two years as mandated by the Constitution. The “dynastic” rule rubs also on the way they choose the annual PIWC executive chair. If the Old Boys (and Girls, too) Club likes the prospective chair, NO ELECTION is mandated, unless someone comes forward to challenge it as in the cases of MARY ANN CASTELO and LUCY MACABENTA. Lucky for these two ladies. They each won by two votes! At least some PIWC committee members recognize their EXPERIENCE and PROFESSIONALISM.

Met told this columnist:“I will not dwell on negatives. I will work with everyone. I will ask for their opinions for what is best for PIWC.” Watch for Met’s plan of action next issue.

Oh, yeah, Baby! Congratulations to MARY ANN’S 65th WING-DING SENIOR PROM last January 16 at the Doubletree Hotel in Oakbrook. Sure did, everyone had a great time!. Thumbs up for LINDY, for his great choreography of “Hello Dolly”. Sorry folks, my pictures are dark. can’t use it here! See the Special Feature on Mary Ann’s B-Day next issue!

The whole world lends a helping hand to Haiti’s (world’s) worst tragedy

All hearts around the world are now open to Haiti on account of the worst devastation caused by the earthquake that hit this small and very poor country last January 6. As usual, AMERICA, the greatest country in the world, is out in the forefront with no less than PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA assuring the Haitians that America will never let them down, that help is on the way! This, in spite of the sad fact that millions of Americans nowadays are losing their jobs, their homes, and many families are without food on their tables. I don’t need to describe the saddest situation in Haiti now. It’s all in the media. Fundraisers are everywhere. Please donate, no matter how small.

Honestly, I try to avoid watching the media coverage. It makes me cry. I feel the pains of those victims. However, it makes me PRAY HARDER to God and THANKING HIM always for the warm bed I sleep on this cold Chicago winter nights, with a warm cup of milk and chocolate or tea to sip when my stomach grumbles.

Meanwhile, former fellow Sillimanian Atty. MacCorsino who is the Philippine Ambassador to the Dominican Republic (close to Haiti), visited Haiti to look into the situation of some 500 Filipinos living there. Amb. Corsino said they need food and money to go home to the Philippines although some opted to stay in Haiti. We, at Silliman Alumni Int’l-Chicago, donated $500 which we are sending directly to Amb. Corsino. Anyone who wants to donate on behalf of our Kababayans in Haiti, can send their donation to our Philippine Consulate here in Chicago, the number is (312) 332-6458.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security has suspended the deportation of more than 30,000 Haitians in detention in the United States in response to the appeal of lawmakers (Republicans and Democrats) to put these detainees under “temporary protected status.” Let’s include the Haitians in our prayers.

’D.I.’ lost in hubby’s translation

One (LOL) for the road:

Wife to non-sociable hubby: “Honey, tonight is Friday night. I’ll be late coming home. My D.I. and I will have a session after work and, maybe, a quickie nightcap.”

Hubby: “That’s fine, Hon. I’m gonna have a long day today. I will just hit the sack after a brief munch for my dinner. Have fun with your D.I. ‘Bout time you drop off some extra pounds,” he said with a teasing smile.

Poor hubby. He was lost in translation. To him D.I. means “Diet Instructor” from Jenny Craig. To his wife, D.I. means a younger, lookin’ good male Dance Instructor! HAVE A HAPPY ST. VALENTINE’S DAY, FOLKS!

Back to Columnists