Weekend Balita- November 23, 2019

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13 VOL. XXVIII, NO. 47 LOS ANGELES

November 23 - 29, 2019

Nation Celebrates Its 399th Annual (Thanksgiving) Feast By DERICK MOORE

(senior communications specialist at the Census Bureau)

IN the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims — early settlers of Plymouth Colony — held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest. Many regard this event as the nation’s first Thanksgiving. The Wampanoag Indians in attendance played a key role but historians have recorded harvest ceremonies of thanks among other groups of European settlers in North America, including the British colonists in Virginia as early as 1619. H o w many colonists were there? The estimated population in 1620 was 2,499 according to the “Historical Statistics of the United States,” published in 1949 by the Census Bureau. The legacy of thanks and the feast have survived centuries since the NATION

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THE LEADING SOURCE OF NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR FELLOW FILIPINO-AMERICANS

WEST COVINA’S MAYOR PRO TEMP IS FILIPINA-MEXICAN By ABNER GALINO

(From left to right) West Covina Mayor Tony Wu (second from right) makes a “double” thumbs up sign as he poses with Mayor Pro Tempore letty lopez-Viado, lions Club District Governor Nic Delicana (1st from left) and Filipino American Community of los Angeles (FAClA) president Jun Gonong (4th from left). Gonong, along with a delegation of Filipino Americans went to the West Covina City Hall to confer Plaques of Recognition to both Wu and Viado for their respective display of exemplary leadership as members of ethnic communities. Photo by BOBBY CRISOSTOMO

Fil-Am seeks Assembly District 53 seat

Gratitude is also the force that empowers us to scale to greater heights: giving thanks, acknowledging of benefits or favors, celebrating kindness. Because we couldn’t last this long without the dedication, commitment, and competence of people who give their prime to these publications: writers, contributors, and photographers who help propel WB and USAP to become the leading source of information here and from the Philippines. Our biggest gratitute goes to all our loyal advertisers that, through thick or thin and despite the deluge of newspapers of the same genre in the market, trust and stick with us from day one.

Who’s in

LA?

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WEST

The true meaning of Thanksgiving is not about the blessings you receive, it’s how you use them — and be grateful for them.

educator and community organizer, is apparently on for an uphill battle against a fellow Democrat and incumbent Mig uel Santiago. Santiago is a Latino in a California assembly district that is 68 percent Latino. But this has not dampened Plata’s en-

CA State Assembly District 53 candidate Godfrey Santos Plata makes a short speech during a recent Pilipino American los Angeles Democrats (PAlAD) reception in long Beach. Behind him are fellow Filipino American Democrats Grace Barrios, Emma Hilario and Jessica Caloza. Photo by ABNER GAlINO FIL-AM P4

AS a Chinese American took over as West Covina’s new mayor, his heir apparent, a Filipina-Mexican-American also took over as the city’s mayor pro tempore. Subsequently after he was unanimously elected mayor, Tony Wu, joined his peers in the five-member city council in affirming the nomination of Letty Lopez-Viado as mayor pro tempore. Wu called Lopez-Viado’s election as a welcome development in the city’s political affairs, citing the latter’s long and commendable record as a public servant. The new West Covina’s mayor also said that Lopez-Viado’s ascent in the city’s political leadership was a long overdue reward to the city’s large and ever-growing Filipino American community. For her part, Lopez-Viado told Weekend Balita that she was so honored and thankful for having achieved a couple of “first times”

A BIG Thank You!

By ABNER GAlINO

A 35-YEAR-OlD Filipino American is campaigning to represent California’s 53rd assembly district. And he is presenting himself to prospective voters as an Asian, a gay person and with some emphasis on him being a renter. Godfrey Santos Plata, a Philippine-born

‘I need more work to buy a ring’: Matteo planned to propose to Sarah as early as 2014

TIRSO Cruz III, Christopher De Leon and Edgar Mortiz pose for Weekend Balita before their show in Long Beach Marriot last November 15. Tirso (who was teamed up with Nora Aunor) and Edgar (who was teamed up with Vilma Santos) used to be players in the two most successful love teams in the history of Philippine entertainment. De Leon, on other hand, is a multi-awarded actor. Their show titled: Timeless, through the years, was produced by the L’Aura Wellness in Cerritos. Photo by BOBBY CRISOSTOMO

Hats off to the officers and management of Balita Media, Inc. for their all-out support and for believing in the competence and skill of the Editorial Team. We also commend the employees (from the department heads to the delivery guys) who deliver a good job and help WB and USAP reach their public on time. This one deserves our utmost honor: our dear readers — who continue to patronize our publications every single week. From the bottom of our hearts, a BIG THANK YOU!

, y a D g n i v i sg k n a h T y p Ha p e v er y o n e!

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