An Asian Journal Magazine
6 Perpetual Help devotees celebrate 26th ‘Fiesta!’
The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY J u N E 22 , 20 1 8
American soprano and Broadway star Alyson Cambridge (center) with some of her VIP guests (from lef) Maria Factora, Dr. Thelma Reyes, Menchie Portillo Peralta and Dr. Lourdes Felarca. Cambridge is one of the stars of Rocktopia, a multimedia musical extravaganza that features the works of musical innovators including Mozart, Queen, Beethoven, US, The Who and more.
New Yorker Menchie Portillo Peralta hosted a luncheon at Ichi Umi Japanese Restaurant for visiting long lost cousin from Los Angeles, Roger Oriel, publisher of Asian Journal and his daughter Carina Oriel.
nEW yOrK – a loyal and devotional group of Filipinoamericans in the lower East side of Manhattan celebrate their 26th annual “Fiesta!” in observance of the feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Saturday, June 30, 2018. The celebration starts at 5:30 p.m. with the novena to our Mother of Perpetual Help followed by Mass, which is then followed by an inside-the-church procession with the recitation of the Holy rosary after which there will be a salu-salo (fellowship) at the church’s parish hall, the Monsignor Farricker Hall where they will conduct a full program replete with a raffle drawing for
valuable prizes. The celebration will take place at the Church of the Epiphany on Second avenue at 22nd Street, organized by the Church of the Epiphany Filipino Committee, a group of Filipinoamerican parishioners of the Epiphany Parish who started this annual devotion back in 1992. The devotion is anchored on a weekly novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help prayed every Wednesday at the Church after the 12:10 p.m. Holy Mass. at the Church of the Epiphany, there is a miniature shrine installed for the framed icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.
The principal celebrant of the “Fiesta” Mass will be rev. Fr. anthony Gonzales, who is currently the Parochial Vicar of the Church of Our lady of lourdes, in Queens Village, Queens, new york. The concelebrant will be rev. Fr. Erno diaz. The music ministers (organists) are Carole Borlaza for the novena and rey lauron for the Mass. The novena reader will be norrie Cornelio. The Epiphany Filipino Committee is headed by community leader Jose ramos, as chairman; with another community leader, lolita Compas, as vice chairwoman; the secretary is Salve Stamatelaky and the
treasurer is nieva Cruz. EFC counts with a membership of more than 40 individuals among who are Filipino and Filipino-american community leaders, professionals, like doctors, nurses, engineers, and others. Some of these members are: luella ramos, Elvy Barroso, Phd; Gabriel and dr. Herminia rotor, nieva Cruz, agnes Gratil, nenita Go, Evelyn Barroso, Honey Guy reyes, dr. Concepcion Jaleco, Emma Tabile, Ben and narcy Vasquez, Frank and norma Caponong, norma Ortiona, rose yassa, Gloria Cabrera, Salve Stamatelaky, Tambi Wycoco and many others. (Tambi Wycoco)
UPaaa invites UP alumni in north america to its 20th Grand reunion and Convention San FranCISCO, Ca - The University of the Philippines alumni association in america (UPaaa) is set to hold its 20th Biennial Grand reunion and Convention at the Crowne Plaza located in the San Francisco airport in Burlingame, California on august 30 - September 2, 2019. This will be co-hosted by the UPaa San Francisco Chapter, led by its president Sonia delen. This celebration will be centered on this year’s theme, lEaP: lead, Elevate, advance and Participate, which aims to engage the UP alumni in the USa on upholding the values of honor and excellence whether it may be for their personal or professional growth as well as leading by example in their
respective communities. UPaaa President nelsie Tabudlong Parrado, a successful financial advisor and community leader in new york and new Jersey, welcomes all UP alumni in the USa and abroad to join this prestigious event. “I invite fellow UP alumni to join us at the 20th Grand reunion and Convention and hear how and why we are called Iskolar ng Bayan. It will be worth spending the long holiday weekend on august 30 –September 2, 2019. Tayo na!” The program includes a Fellowship night honoring Jubilarians on Saturday, a Gala night honoring the Outstanding alumni in various fields on Sunday and symposium and
workshops during the 2-day event. Elected members of the UPaaa Board of directors and Officers for the next two-year term (2020-2021) will be sworn in during the Gala as well. “We highly encourage all UP alumni residing in north america to support UPaa in america through this biennial gathering. It’s a fun way to build camaraderie with fellow alumni, give back to our alma mater by supporting our ongoing projects which benefit the UP community as a whole.” racquel lalo-Sabas, UPaaa-PrO and 2019 convention chair. The proceeds from this event will be used towards UPaaa’s numerous projects. In keeping with its mission,
UPaaa has been undertaking the following projects which are being implemented together with the University of the Philippines’ administration in various campuses: • Stipend Scholarship grant to deserving students in 7 UP campuses • adopt-a-dorm • alleviate Food Insecurity among students The online registration is now open. For more information, visit www.UPaaaGrandreunion. com, or e-mail kelliesabas@ gmail.com or soniadelen@gmail. com. you may also contact nelsie Parrado at upaaa.2017@ gmail.com or visit UPaaa website at www.upaainamerica. org
UnIFFIEd’s 5th summit goes global Maryland - Best Western Hotel Capital Beltway in lanham, Maryland was filled to capacity with 300 teachers and more guests to witness and join the 5th Summit of the organization UnIFFIEd, and its first Global one. Teachers came from places outside of the United States of america such as dubai, Macau and the Philippines. Chapter presidents and their officers arrived from arizona, Texas, los angeles’ Orange County, Sacramento and its vicinity, from the West Coast and from the East Coast, new york, new Jersey, Maryland and the host chapter, Washington, dC. The day started with a meet and greet of the teachers and the speakers: dr. rommel Sergio, a Canadian University professor from dubai, UaE; dr. Evelyn aguirre of leyte normal University from the Philippines; aris Pangilinan from Washington, dC, a finalist in the Global Teacher
Prize; Maria Feliza aguilar from Sacramento; ronaldo Panganiban from Harvard University in Massachusetts and Begonia Jensen of laC of new york. The speakers presented their prepared topics to about 100 teachers and guests. The evening was reserved for the Gala and awarding of Teachers and others. There were about 295 teachers, nurses, doctors, government officials, who were recognized, honored and awarded with plaques or trophies. The night was devoted solely for the awarding, the inspirational speeches from the office of the mayor of lanham, Maryland and the office of the ambassador of the Philippines to the United States, ambassador Jose Manuel romualdez who was represented by Minister of Economics, JV Gonzaga who gave a stirring and inspiring speech. rosemarie Parreno of Fil-am
nEEdS, Inc. in the Bronx did not forget the founding chair of UnIFFIEd, lumen Castaneda and its national President, ronie Mataquel, by awarding them plaques of appreciation for what they do for the organization. It was a fitting climax to a lovely and hectic day in lanham, Maryland where all the teacher attendees went home happily
Renowned Fil-Am Artist Nilo Santiago exhibits recent works on PH historic churches, women’s fashion WaSHInGTOn, d.C. – Sentro rizal Washington dC and the Philippine arts, letters and Media Council, Inc. (PalM) collaborated to mount an exhibition of the recent works of renowned Filipino-american artist nilo M. Santiago at the Philippine Chancery Building, in commemoration of the 157thBirth anniversary of dr. Jose rizal. The exhibit was inaugurated on Wednesday, June 20. a graduate of UST Fine arts School in Manila, nilo M. Santiago has been working for the past twenty years as an artist in the metropolitan Washington area – as a creative designer, a commercial printer, and a painter in various media. He is a winner of numerous awards in national competitions in the United States and served as the official illustrator of the U.S. air Force for many years. For this exhibition, he is showcasing his works on Philippine Historic Churches and Women’s Fashion at the Turn of the Century. “I wanted to preserve the look of those old churches in my mind and in my paintings which led to my Series on Historic Churches,” Mr. Santiago explained during his presentation. “I am also glad to show the progression of women’s fashion through the ages in the Philippines. I am amazed by the materials like piña cloth and the incredible weaving and embroideries which took hours, days, or even weeks to accomplish,” he further said. The experience of appreciating nilo Santiago’s drawings of Women’s Fashion
at the Turn of the Century, is enhanced by the Hibla ng lahing Filipino (Textiles of the Filipino People) exhibition featuring piña-seda cloths, which debuted in the United States on 10 June 2018. The launch of nilo Santiago’s exhibition is a result of the tireless efforts of PalM’s Steering Committee, which is composed of history professor and culture enthusiast dr. Bernardita Churchill; Ms. lyta Sese; Ms. arabella Harmon Horwitz, who turned over books to the Sentro rizal library; and Ms. rosalinda yangas, who introduced the artist at the exhibit launch. In her remarks, Ms. darell artates, Public diplomacy Officer of the Philippine Embassy and the administrator of Sentro rizal Washington dC, outlined the upcoming activities of the center, including a possible film-showing in august, and the launch of the book, The new Filipino Kitchen: Stories
carrying their plaques and trophies. The following day, reserved for Tours of Washington, dC was equally exciting. different groups went to bring the Philippine teachers to see the beauty of the landmarks in dC. The 2019 summit will be held in General Santos City in the Philippines. (Lumen Castaneda)
Depression and its alarming... From Page 5
are common occurrences but sadly only those in the limelight are the ones highlighted while ordinary victims remain unheard of. Celebrity deaths due to depression have been currently hitting the headlines following the deaths of popular fashion designer Kate Spade (55) who ended her own life by hanging and celebrity chef and roving TV food connoisseur anthony Bourdain (61). Their untimely deaths motivated other celebrities to share their own personal battles with depression while simultaneously recalling big named stars who ended their own lives due to unbearable depressive moods. Here are few of famous celebrities and international figures that hogged the headlines and recipes from around the not because of their spectacular Globeon September 27 at accomplishments but due to their Kramerbooks and afterwords in unforeseen and startling demise Washington, d.C. that left their followers and fans in a On behalf of Philippine state of shock: ambassador to the United States 1. ambrose Olsen (24) inJose Manuel G. romualdez, she demand celebrity endorser of armani, Burberry, lois Vuitton, ySl, also thanked the individuals and Hugo Boss died by hanging and groups who continue to 2. Chris Benoit (40) WWE support Sentro rizal Washington superstar who hung himself after dC. Ms. artates cited Manilamurdering his wife and strangled to based painter Celeste lecaroz death his 7-year-old son. and the youth-led advocacy 3. Ernest Hemingway (62) an group Project Saysay whose american journalist and poet who contributions of a portrait shot himself to death, the same way of dr. Jose rizal and ten (10) his father did portraits of great Filipinos, 4. George reeves (45) american actor and popular TV Superman respectively, have considerably who died of gunshot wounds. enriched the cultural resources 5. Margaux Hemingway of the center. (42) a granddaughter of Ernest The exhibition of nilo Hemingway and Hollywood actress M. Santiago’s recent works who died of barbiturate overdose. and the Hibla ng lahing 6. Marilyn Monroe (36) Filipino piña-seda displays Hollywood’s top sex symbol who are open for viewing at the perished from pills overdose. Philippine Embassy Chancery 7. robin Williams (63) ace annex until July 16, from 10am comedian and serious actor took to 4pm, except on weekends and his own life by hanging following issues on depression, dementia, holidays.
and Parkinson’s disease. 8. Kurt Cobain (27) took a gun and put an end to his life after battling depression and drug addiction 9. Jonathan Brandis (27) star of “never Ending Story II” committed suicide by hanging 10. Sawyer Sweeten (19) famous for his role as Geoffrey Barone (son to ray romano of “Everybody loves raymond”) put a gunshot to his head after battling financial problems. 11. alexander McQueen (40) the famous fashion designer took deadly cocktails of sleeping pills and cocaine then hung himself following an extreme depression after the death of his mother. 12. Vince Van Gogh (37) an exponent of Impressionism style who suffered from bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and depression and put an end to all these with a gunshot. 13. Sylvia Plath (30) dynamic and most admired poet of the 19th century who committed suicide by placing her head in a gas oven. 14. Virginia Woolf (59) Popular novelist and author who drowned herself in a river with pockets full of stones after suffering from severe anxiety and mental health illness. 15. Tony Scott (68) The director of top grosser hits “Top Gun” and “True romance” jumped off the Vincent Thomas Bridge into the los angeles Harbor after losing his battle with cancer. 16. James Whale (67) The founder of Frankenstein having acted and directed the very first Frankenstein movie drowned himself in his swimming pool after a series of strokes and severe pains. Having anxiety and depression is likely being scared and tired at the same time. It’s the fear of failure but no urge to be productive. It’s wanting for friends but not to actually socialize. What people never
understand is that depression isn’t about the outside but the inside. When you’re depressed you don’t control your thoughts but it controls you. Just as someone who suffered from depression evidently puts it: “My moods don’t just swing… they bounce, pivot, recoil, rebound, oscillate, fluctuate, and occasionally, pirouette.” That’s exactly how depression affects an individual. People think depression is sadness, that depression is crying or dressing up in black. They just don’t know that depression is the constant feeling of being numb, numb of emotions, being numb to life. It’s like a bruise that never goes away, a bruise that’s so tender and swollen that keeps you in constant pain. depression exists without you knowing it. you don’t even know you’re in it…and it takes a while before you realize you are already a victim. Be stress-free. Stay away from being down in the dumps and downhearted. When depression attacks and the aggressive effect is too much to bear, waste no time and seek help. death isn’t the ultimate solution to any depressing problem. Come to think of this: even a padlock was manufactured with a matching key (and oftentimes with 1 or 2 spares) to unlock it and so are our predicaments. always remember that there is a perfect solution to every problem and there’s always an opportunity for us to be optimistic, for every door that closes behind awaits a breathing space for us to recover and rebuild. Photo credit: Thanks to promising model Jordan Baker for posing and internalizing various ranges of depressive moods. For comments and suggestions, please email to: gemini0646@yahoo.com