Parol Making Kit Available

San Francisco – Thinking of saving money this Christmas on your decoration budget? Would you want to share Filipino Christmas tradition with your friends and relatives in the United States ? Would want to see something Filipino iconic item in your décor at home or in your office?

Why not make your own parol lantern? Parol is a five-point star that is made of Philippine bamboo, papel de japon (tissue o rice paper) and cellophane. The parol lantern is a symbol of hope, blessings and peace.

Don’t worry about supplies; they are now available in the U.S. and can be ordered at the Bayanihan Community Center (on 1010 Mission Street in South of Market in San Francisco ), online at  http://bayanihancc.org/parol2011/build_parol.html, or at 415-348-8042.  You can also get tutorial and how-to-tips in building your own parol.

In San Francisco , the Filipino community celebrates the annual Parol lantern Festival and Parade annually.  This is the 9th edition which was started in 2003 and has become a must-see event during the holiday season in San Francisco. 

The parol making activity brings people and community together. As an art and craft imported from the Philippine Christmas tradition, the Parol Festival is an effective vehicle in promoting Filipino culture and creativity.  

The festival begins with a series of parol lantern-making workshops held at the Bayanihan Community Center ( 1010 Mission St. on 6th Street), every Friday night from 5:30 pm to 8:00 p.m. and in other community centers. The parol making workshop is open to the public.

The largest public event, which features the culminating activities of the Parol Festival, is held on Saturday, December 10, 2011, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Yerba Buena Lane , Jessie Square and St. Patrick’s Church. There will be a parol stroll, a pageant of brightly lit lanterns made by participating contingents who are vying for the Tala Awards. The theme for this year’s Tala Awards is Pag-Asa: Bright visions for the future. Pag-asa means hope in Tagalog. 

Each year, the South of Market neighborhood and Filipino community showcase the parol lanterns - the quintessential Filipino symbol of hope, blessings, luck, peace, and light during the holiday season - and brighten the Jessie Square , Yerba Buena Lane and Mission Street between 3rd and 4th Street .  

The San Francisco Annual Parol Lantern Festival and Parade is organized and presented by the Filipino American Development Foundation, Bayanihan Community Center , Kularts and supported by the Grants for the Arts, MJM Management, Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, Alliance for California Traditional Arts, St. Patrick’s Parish, Western Union and ABS-CBN International. For more information, please contact Parol Festival at 415-348-8042, email parolsf@gmail.com or visit www.bayanihancc.org.

The First National Assembly of Filipino Priests, USA, November 8-11, 2011, Westin Los Angeles Hotel, Los Angeles, CA

October 4, 2011, Los Angeles, California. In conjunction with the 10th Anniversary of the USCCB Pastoral Statement, “Asian and Pacific Presence: Harmony in Faith” and in solidarity with other Asian and Pacific Catholic communities in the United States, the first ever National Assembly of Filipino Priests, U.S.A. will be held on November 8-11, 2011 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel in Los Angeles, California.  The assembly aims 1) to promote unity, support, and growth among Filipino priests ministering with their cultural gifts and 2) to serve as a forum for collaboration and effective pastoral leadership development.

To date, there are approximately 900 Filipino Catholic priests serving in different capacities in the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S.A. They serve in parishes, schools, seminaries, chaplaincies, chancery offices, and national institutions in the 50 states and some US territories.

The national assembly will hold dialogue sessions and workshops for continuing education, spiritual growth and pastoral enrichment. Some topics are Intercultural Competencies for Mission; The Spirituality of the Filipino Priest; The Priest’s Role in The Public Arena; Mens Sana in Corpore Sano: Priest and Wellness; Lay Ministry: Joys and Challenges; and Priestly Fraternity and Ministry. The workshops will be facilitated by renowned speakers and presenters in various fields in the Church’s ministry, as well as respected Church leaders like His Eminence, Roger Cardinal Mahony, D.D., Archbishop Emeritus of Los Angeles; Most Rev. Randolph Calvo, D.D., Bishop of Reno and Chair of USCCB Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Island Affairs; Most Rev. Gerald Kicanas, D.D., Bishop of Tucson; Most Rev. Luis Antonio Tagle, D.D., Bishop of Imus, Cavite, Philippines; Most Rev. Robert McElroy, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco; and Most Rev. Oscar A. Solis, D.D. Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles and Episcopal Liaison to the Filipino Priests in the U.S.

The assembly will also hold a special Concelebrated Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 11:00 A.M. The Mass is open to the public. There will also be a Filipino Priests Concert and a Barrio Fiesta on the evening of November 10th at 7:30 P.M. at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel Grand Ballroom.  For tickets to the concert and the Barrio Fiesta dinner, please contact Marilyn Walberg at (818) 640-9038.   For more information about the First National Assembly of Filipino Priests, USA and to give donation, please go to www.filipinopriestsusa.org or contact the Very Rev. Vic Dela Cruz at (985) 876-6904 or NAFP.USA@gmail.com. 

TFC marks debut into international film production with the U.S. premiere of “A Mother’s Story”

 

REDWOOD CITY, CA, November 2, 2011 – Filipinos worldwide will once again witness another first in Philippine cinema as TFC unveils its very first foray into movie production with A Mother's Story.
Headlined by Pokwang, one the country's leading comedy sensations in her first dramatic role, A Mother's Story will have its premiere showing at the Alex Theatre in Glendale on November 6 with two screenings at 1 pm and 6 pm.

Some 100 TFC subscribers, who were selected randomly, will get a chance to have their pictures taken with the film's lead star, Pokwang, at the premiere's venue.
Filipino movie enthusiasts around the world will also get their chance to witness Pokwang's transformation from a comic host to a dramatic actress when A Mother's Story is shown starting November 11 in major cities worldwide including Calgary, London, Madrid and Milan.

“We at TFC are overseas Filipinos ourselves so we live and breathe in the world our kababayans abroad are in. Thus, it’s not enough to tell stories of Filipinos that come from the homeland through TV programs and movies, but also share those that come from us who have lived outside of it,” said Kerwin Du, TFC North America’s head of theatricals.

Du continued: “Film is one of the essential purveyors of narratives. The journey of the overseas Filipino is among the finest and richest sources of compelling stories that need to be told to the world. Hence, TFC’s foray into film production is a natural and relevant progression of our mission to serve Filipinos wherever they may be.”

Du also shares that most of the film's screenings in the US will be subtitled to allow even non-Filipino speaking moviegoers to understand and appreciate the film.

A Mother's Story gives life to the story of Medy, played by Pokwang, a make-up artist who dares to make a life in the United States as an illegal immigrant in exchange for saving the life of her infant daughter.
The film focuses on the everyday sacrifices that millions of Filipino parents make as they leave their homes to find jobs overseas.

“For TFC's initial offering, we dedicate A Mother's Story to all the Filipino parents and children who continue to live and love apart,” explained John-D J. Lazatin, the director of A Mother's Story.
Lazatin embarked on the journey of helming TFC's very first production as a way to honor his own mother. “She was a widow who also came to America and sought the American Dream to secure the future of her kids,” shared Lazatin as he added that the film, “is very personal to me, having lost my mother during the post-production stages of the movie.”

Beyond the universal themes of a parent's love and sacrifice, A Mother's Story also showcases both the travails and triumphs of illegal immigrant Filipinos.

Juxtaposed with their humiliation as they suffer from physical and emotional abuse from employers as well as the betrayal they experience from fellow kababayans are the kindness of strangers and the value of treating every human being with decency.

In returning to the Philippines, Medy is also forced to deal with the resentment of her oldest son King, who felt that his mother abandoned him seven years ago, while her seven-year old daughter Queenie treats her with innocent wonder.

TFC chose host and comedienne Pokwang to play Medy because her own personal life epitomizes the struggles of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW). “She does not just know it, she has lived it. She has a full grasp of what sacrifice means to the overseas Pinoy,” Lazatin pointed out.

Lazatin praised Pokwang for her “authentic” portrayal of Medy. “Her performance in the film is a reflection of an honest and pure heart. Watching her, what is left is a thin layer between the reel Medy and the real Pokwang,” Lazatin further shared.

Joining Pokwang are Nonie Buencamino, Daria Ramirez, Rayver Cruz, Ana Capri, Beth Tamayo and child sensation Xyriel Manabat. Screenplay is by Senedy Que, who also wrote the award-winning film, "In My Life".

A Mother's Story will be showed across the U.S. in the following theaters and on the following dates:

SAN FRANCISCO
November 11-17, 2011
UA Stonestown Twin
501 Buckingham Way,
San Francisco, CA 94132
SAN FRANCISCO CENTRE
November 11-24, 2011
Century San Francisco Centre
845 Market Street,
San Francisco, CA 94103
SF-UNION CITY
November 11-24, 2011
Century 25
32100 Union Landing,
Union City, CA 94587
SF BAY - MILPITAS
November 11-24, 2011
Century Great Mall
1010 Great Mall Drive,
Milpitas, CA 95035
SF BAY - SACRAMENTO
November 11-24, 2011
Century Laguna 16
9349 Big Horn Blvd.,
Elk Grove, CA 95758

Power ng Pinoy holds Filipino trick or treat with Seafood City in Concord

Trick or treat with Filipino touch seems to be a new idea to many Filipinos in the Bay Area but that was what GMA Pinoy television show Power ng Pinoy was after in partnering with Seafood City Concord in coming up with Halloween Trick or Treat Tent Event last Oct 30, 2011.  In a rather first-of-a-kind approach to celebrating Halloween, the event showcased less tricks although overflowing with treats of Filipino talents especially in the simultaneous shows held both inside and outside Seafood City.

Considering, however, the huge turnout of an estimated crowd consisting of families towing along children spruced up in costumes, this event may well become an annual thing that is expected to be awaited during this time of the year.

Among the activities featured were Ethnic Baybayin by Christian Cabuay, pumpkin carving contest, Sing Galing Competition for aspiring non-professional singers, ethnic instrument Kulintang numbers by Ron Quesada, an array of Filipino rural dances (Subli, Pandanggo, Tinikling, Singkil, etc.) by Johnny Veloso’s Mabuhay Folkloric Society, a Halloween Green Screen Photo booth, vendors’ booths and entertainment numbers held simultaneously at the indoor and outdoor stages.

“This was started by a joint effort from volunteers in the Contra Costa County along with Xclusive Marketing, Power ng Pinoy team and Seafood City. It was initiated to give a safe and fun environment for kids and adults to celebrate Halloween with Filipino flavor,” shared TV program and event host Anthony Rivero. “The Power ng Pinoy team was there to show our kababayan that we can gather as a community and even for a day forgets all our troubles and just enjoy each others' company and talents.”

Rivero co-hosted the event with Power ng Pinoy co-host Jessica Cabuay, together with Nanette Cartago, Trina Soledad, Sansu Johnson, and upcoming singer and entertainer Nicole Donesa.

The artists that showed their talents include Simply Just with Stella Ruiz, Grupong Pendong that featured artists from and sang popular songs from popular folk band "Asin"),  Classic Rhythm Band, Marie KB Revue, Anthony Bunales, Michael Cruz (of TV show Singing Bee fame), Nicole Donesa, student performers from the Bytes and Notes and the Maharlika Dance Troupe. Power ng Pinoy Executive Producer Arnold Pedrigal added that while the hosts and crew were there to promote Power ng Pinoy, the show’s team was also there to be one with the Pinoys in celebrating Halloween in person.