Community Pictures

GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY--On October 1, 1961 Norma Lagman Maglalang and Alberto Garcia Reyes said their vows, They are native of Apalit, Pampanga. Their love bloomed with three children namely Rosalie Villanueva married to Ruperto Villanueva, Alex Reyes, married to Gina Carlos with children Kenn Pearson, Kristel Ann, Levi and Russel Reyes, Rosita Ocenada married to Benny Ocenada with children Kristian, Kristoffer, Kobe and Kamille Ocenada. They’re going to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary at 33 ARROYO SOCIAL HALL So. San Francisco CA

Synthesis Band @ Manila Garden Restaurant, Hayward
Oct.1st -Saturday, The most sought-after Band in the Bay Area & Peninsula- "Synthesis Band" will perform for the first time @ Manila Garden Restaurant Owned and Operated by Mina Amansec Basto- 20500 Hesperian Blvd. Hayward/8:30pm-1:30am. There's Karaoke alternating during  Band's break / Great Food selections, Guaranteed Awesome Music & Entertainment with Synthesis Band playing Non-stop music of the 80's ,90's and the  Current Radio Hits"It's gonna be a Good Night!"

The native people of Iloilo or "Mga Ilonggos" after the proclamation of Iloilo City Friendship City of Daly City held recently at Daly City City Hall. The Dominican Sister's of Holy Angels Church, President of Maigiao Association, President of Iloilo Circle of Northern California, Dorie Paniza, Perla Ibarrientos, MaryJo Montano and Arsenio del Rosario.        

Rizal High School Alumni Association of North America, 20th Anniversary Alumni Attendees - The 20th anniversary celebration was highlighted with a fundraising scholarship raffle drawing and a dinner-dance held at the Newark Community Center in Newark, California on August 13, 2011.  Front Row - L to R: Mario T. Ramos (Secretary) '56*, Rosie Zari Abo '56*, Cris Durol Marquez (Director) '64*, Leny Nair (Director) '75*, Aida Bandril Perez '66, Emy Bandril Samson '60~, Crisanto Beltran '30* (seating), Rosie Dayco Galve (Director) '65*, Estry Alan-Stephens (President) '61*, Lily Quion (Director) '54*, Norma Santiago Middleton (Director) '60*, Nieva Escall '59* , Annie Jose '70* Back Row - L to R: Adolfo Evangelista (Director) '64*, Vener Siasoco (1st VP) '58, Vic Dayco (2nd VP) '56*, Pedro Junsay '60, Bel Raimundo (Treasurer) ' 65*, Oscar Rosales (Director) '63*, Ed Padaoan (Director) '63*, Ed Escall '60*

September 2011 Novena to San Lorenzo Ruiz De Manila, First Filipino Martyr and Saint, Organized by Fr. Marvin Felipe of St. Anne of the Sunset Church.

DOT - Western Union Free Flight Promo Drawing

Deputy Consul General Alfonso A. Ver, Tourism Director Rene R. De Los Santos, Nonette Roldan of Mango Tours, and Lyn Abad of Pacific Air Leisure during the Raffle Draw of the winner of the Free Flight Promo last September 15, 2011 at the Philippine Center Social Hall at 447 Sutter Street San Francisco, Ca.

Consul General Marciano A. Paynor, Jr. with Tourism Director Rene R. De Los Santos awards the Certificate to Ms. Daphne Chew of  Pacifica, Ca. winner of the Free Flight Promo of the Philippine Department of Tourism and Western Union, in cooperation with Mango Tours and Pacific Air Leisure

The Philippine Department of Tourism and Western Union concluded the online Free Flight Promo for Two to the Philippines with the Drawing of a winner on September 15, 2011 at the Social Hall of the Philippine Center in San Francisco. Ms Daphne Chew of Pacifica, California was awarded two (2) round-trip tickets to the Philippines via Philippine Airlines courtesy of Mango Tours and Pacific Air Leisure, plus hotel stays at Shangri-la Makati Hotel, Manila Hotel, and Movenpick Resort and Spa in Cebu City. As per Ms. Daphne Chew who was born and raised in Singapore, she has never been to the Philippines and looks forward to exploring the country’s 7,107 islands with her daughter. 
 The online promotion which was implemented in cooperation with CBS5/CW TV and website had attracted more than 1,500 people to register at the Philippine Tourism website www.experiencephilippines.org during the promo campaign period. Prospective travelers to the Philippines can avail of special tour packages offered by Mango Tours, Pacific Air Leisure, and participating tour operators under the DOT's Filipino Homecoming Program.

Iloilo City forges pact with Daly City

 

 Mayor Carol Klatt welcomed representatives of Iloilo City during the DCQC 16th Annual Fil-Am Food + Arts Festival last Sept. 17th, 2011 at the Serramonte Shopping Center in Daly City. Pictured (from left to right): Genevieve Jopanda, District Representative at 12th Assembly District, Joe Atayde, DCQC, Vice President, Perla Ibarrientos, DCQC President, Dorie Paniza, Daly City Commissioner of Library (Board of Trustee), Arsenio del Rosario, Chorit Mabilog, Mother of Iloilo Mayor Jet Mabilog, Sister Leonarda Montealto and Evelyn Del Rosario.

 

ILOILO City is set to sign a ‘friendship agreement’ with the Daly City in California, USA to establish affiliation and reciprocal exchanges in culture, education, business, sports and tourism.
Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog presented to members of the media the “Cooperative Proclamation between the Cities of Daly City and Iloilo City” sent to him by the Daly chief executive Carol L. Klatt who already signed the document.

Mabilog will sign it once he gets the authority from the City Council.
“We are truly pleased that Daly City is interested to establish this friendship affiliation with us for this will mean vibrant exchanges in tourism, culture and education,” Mabilog said. The relationship will also “jointly contribute to the promotion of friendship between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines and along with that effort contribute to peace and prosperity for both countries,” the proclamation reads.
This early, Mabilog is planning to invite Daly City officials and guests for next year’s Dinagyang Festival.
He is also encouraging Ilonggos in Daly City to go home for the celebration of 75th Charter Day in August during the city’s Diamond Jubilee Year in 2012.

Mabilog said he was able to forge the agreement during his meeting with Klatt in the United States last year when Iloilo City received its award from the International Awards for Liveable Communities (Livcom).
Known as “Gateway to the Peninsula”, Daly City is located at the northernmost edge of San Mateo County next to San Francisco and extends from the Pacific Ocean on the west to nearly San Francisco Bay on the east.

It is a regional hub for retail, healthcare and small business with diversified economy, excellent transportation links, and a growing young and productive labor force, according to its website www.dalycity.org.
By: Lucy Montealto-Sinay

Beyond a century of a life well lived

Nieves Galvez-de Castro

My lola is 108 years old," boasted my 10-year old daughter, LA, to her classmates last year. But instead of getting the usual "oohs" and "ahhs," her classmate answered, "Sooo! My lola is 109 years and can still cook."
With this funny exchange of "Wala ka sa lola ko!" Stories, my daughter went home frustrated that classmates did not believe her at all. I had to explain to her that people rarely reach hundred years old, and rarer still, to live beyond a century. And that her great grandmother is an exception to the rule, and is truly blessed to still be alive and healthy to this day.

 Yes, my grandmother Nieves Galvez-de Castro or Lola Bet is past a hundred and has turned 109 on June 20th. She originally hails from San Rafael, Bulacan where she also finished her grade school and high school in San Rafael and Baliuag, respectively before finishing a degree in Home Economics from the Philippine Normal College (now Philippine Normal University). By now, she's probably one of their oldest living graduates.
Her husband, Arcadio Sr., passed away in 1953 and she was left to rear her four children, Erlinda, Arcadio Jr., Celia, and Rolando. She has 10 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

On some days, when we visit her, she can still answer basic questions and recall some details of her life. Her stories will not be complete without mentioning that during the time she was teaching at Magdalena Elementary School in Sta. Cruz, Manila, she has for her pupils the like of Maria Kalaw Katigbak, a former Miss Philippines and well-known actress, Carmen Rosales. However, on other days she sits quietly with her eyes closed and seems to just be enjoying the peace enveloping her. When we were younger, we were left in lola's care during the summer vacation. Since our cousins lived with her, it was also a perfect time to bond with them. When we got older, summer vacations with lola became few and far between. However we still visited and stayed with her on special occasions like her birthdays, Christmas, New Year, Mother's Day and Holy Week break. Or she would go to Manila for visits and we sould see her.

On her 109th birthday, I payed a tribute to my loving grandmother who continues to be the anchor of our family, our inspiration of a life well lived and our measure of true beauty, inside and out.
By: Renelle
De Castro-Ferraris

GMA Pinoy TV bags 2 prestigious awards for Marketing Excellence

Lolit Tuazon, Sales and Marketing Director of Tahanang Walang Hagdanan with Joseph T. Francia, Vice President and Head of Operations for GMA International

 GMA Network’s flagship international channel GMA Pinoy TV continues to uphold excellence in marketing the Kapuso brand, and this is again proven by two valuable awards from the 2011 Excellence in Multicultural Marketing Awards (EMMA) of the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC).  

The EMMA recognizes the members of the television cable industry and their efforts in reaching different cultural segments through their creative and innovative marketing strategies including print, TV commercials, and other marketing materials.

Landing 2nd Places in Marketing Tactics are GMA Pinoy TV’s “Kapuso Abroad” magazine for the Grassroots category and “Manila Jeepneys” for Diversity Awareness.

The “Kapuso Abroad” is GMA International’s glossy magazine targeting Filipinos all around the globe to keep them updated about their favorite Kapuso stars and provide them more stories behind the most anticipated programs from the Philippines as delivered by the two international channels, and soon by the third international, all Filipino news channel, GMA News TV International.

Kapuso Abroad cover page

 

The magazine has become a popular and favorite item distributed in Filipino community events, in consulate offices, and in Filipino establishments. It has also proven to be a very useful tool for the call center representatives of GMA Pinoy TV and GMA Life TV channel carriers when offering subscription opportunities to their customers. Because of its popularity, GMA International has taken the next step that is to produce the digital counterpart of “Kapuso Abroad” so that it is made available to its online audiences. The magazine, which can now be viewed online via www.gmapinoytv.com, is also a venue for readers to know about the latest events and activities of the Filipino communities worldwide, providing them the opportunity to connect with their kababayans wherever they may be.

Meanwhile, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, GMA Pinoy TV partnered with the non-government organization Tahanang Walang Hagdanan – the Filipino counterpart of House with No Steps in Australia – in producing items that promoted the international channels and helped raise funds for its orthopedically handicapped members as well.

The “Manila Jeepneys” – hundreds of miniature wooden replicas of the iconic Pinoy vehicle, meticulously crafted by the TWH members – became a means for GMA International to contribute in raising money for the livelihood, medical, and educational efforts of the group. Part of the sales of the wooden jeepneys was also allocated for the special education program for children with special needs.

Through these collectible items, the representatives of the channel carriers acquired a better understanding and appreciation of the Filipino culture and its corresponding market.

Manila Jeepneys

“We are very honored that a renowned body like NAMIC has again recognized our efforts, this time for the ‘Kapuso Abroad’ magazine, which continues to be an effective communication tool among Filipinos living abroad, and the ‘Manila Jeepneys,’ which boast highly of the Pinoy identity. This inspires us to continue reaching out to our kababayans in the country and around the world by tapping means which do not only speak of Pinoy creativity and innovativeness, but also that which are relevant to the larger community,” shares Joseph T. Francia, Vice President and Head of Operations for GMA International.

This is actually the third year that GMA Pinoy TV was cited by NAMIC. In 2006, the “Comcast San Francisco Bay Area GMA Pinoy TV Launch” was awarded 1st place in the Case Study Cable category for being “the most successful cable network launch in Comcast Bay Area history, dramatically exceeding goals.” The Kapuso international channel also bagged the 1st place award that same year in Marketing Tactics for Network Internet/New Media category for its website www.gmapinoytv.com. And just last 2010, GMA Pinoy TV, together with GMA Life TV, again landed 1st Place in Direct Mail Marketing Tactics for “Time Warner GMA Pinoy TV and GMA Life TV launch postcard” and 2nd Places in both Direct Mail and Print Marketing Tactics for “Comcast GMA Life TV Upsell.”

The awarding ceremony for the 2011 EMMA is set to take place during the 25th Annual Conference of NAMIC on October 5 at Hilton New York.

First Asian-Filipina American to serve as the state's Chief Justice

Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye was sworn into office as Chief Justice of California on January 3, 2011. She is the first Asian-Filipina American and the second woman to serve as the state's Chief Justice. After former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger nominated her as Chief Justice on July 22, 2010, the California State Bar Judicial Nominees Evaluation Commission rated her as exceptionally well qualified for the position. At a public hearing on August 25, 2010, she was unanimously confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, and in a general election on November 2, 2010, an overwhelming majority of voters elected her to that position. Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye chairs the Judicial Council of California, the administrative policymaking body of state courts, and the Commission on Judicial Appointments.

Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye with Incumbent Candidate for Daly City City Council Raymond Buenaventura

Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye

On Tuesday, September 20, 2011, Chief Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye spoke to a large crowd gathered at the Old Courthouse in Redwood City, CA to discuss issues of Diversity in the legal community.  The event was sponsored by the San Mateo County Bar Association's Committee on Diversity.  The Chief Justice gave a warm and heartfelt speech on her background and history, including reflections on growing up as a Filipina and the cultural issues she faced.  She spoke of her history as a Deputy District Attorney the opportunities and struggles she faced as she ascended to through the judicial ranks.   She was greeted with thunderous applause and a standing ovation.  In addition, Attorney Joe Cotchett was present and received the distinguished Diversity Award from the San Mateo County Bar Association.

 

Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye has served for more than 20 years on California appellate and trial courts. In 1990, Governor George Deukmejian appointed her to the Sacramento Municipal Court and in 1997, Governor Pete Wilson elevated her to the Superior Court of Sacramento County. On the superior court, she presided over both criminal and civil assignments. In 1997, she established and presided over the first court in Sacramento dedicated solely to domestic violence issues. In addition, then-Judge Cantil-Sakauye chaired the court's criminal law committee and was a member of the presiding judge's task force on domestic violence and the Home Court committee. In 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger nominated her to the Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District.
Chief Justice Ronald M. George appointed Justice Cantil-Sakauye to the Judicial Council of California in September 2008. She has served as vice-chair of the Executive and Planning Committee, vice-chair of the Rules and Projects Committee, chair of the Advisory Committee on Financial Accountability and Efficiency for the Judicial Branch, and cochair of the Judicial Recruitment and Retention Working Group. Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye was also a member of the California Commission for Impartial Courts. She previously served as a member of the Judicial Council's Domestic Violence Practice and Procedure Task Force and chaired its Best Practices Domestic Violence subcommittee. She is president of the Anthony M. Kennedy American Inn of Court, an organization dedicated to promoting civility, ethics, and professionalism in the practice of law. Since 2007, she has been a Special Master, selected by the Supreme Court to hear disciplinary proceedings before the Commission on Judicial Performance.
Born in 1959 in Sacramento, Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye attended C. K. McClatchy High School (1977) and Sacramento City College (1978) before receiving her BA from the University of California, Davis, graduating with honors in 1980. After taking a year off to visit her ancestral homeland, the Philippines, the Chief Justice entered the UC Davis, Martin Luther King, Jr., School of Law in 1981. After receiving her JD in 1984, she worked as a deputy district attorney for the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, where she prosecuted a variety of criminal offenses. In 1988, she served on the senior staff of Governor George Deukmejian in two capacities: as deputy legal affairs secretary and as a deputy legislative secretary.
Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye is a former board member of several nonprofit organizations and has been active in numerous professional community organizations, including membership in the California Judges Association, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and the Sacramento Asian Bar Association.
She has received many awards, including honors from the Sacramento Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, the 2005 President's Award from the Sacramento Asian Bar Association, the 2003 Trailblazer's Awardfrom the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the Filipina of the Year Award, and other awards from youth groups.