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Mr. Pure Energy does it again

GARY Valenciano once more showed his Washington audience that he is still the holder of the title, Mr. Pure Energy. His recent concert at the Comcast Arena in Everett, Washington, was a big hit. Although the show started an hour late, the audience was compensated with an extended show where Gary serenaded the audience with several love songs. Every time the audience started to leave the hall, they would go back to their seats when Gary started singing another number. For a while, I thought Gary would not stop singing which delighted his audience.

Gary greeted all the fathers in the audience a Happy Father’s Day. With his Seattle concert coinciding with Father’s Day, it was especially fi tting that he should have both his equally talented sons, Gabriel and Paolo, with him onstage. In keeping with Gary’s Christian devotion, Father’s Day also represents Mr. Pure Energy’s love for the Divine Father to Whom he has always acknowledged as the source of his success and inspiration.

But for many of us, Gary himself has become our signifi cant inspiration – as a man who beat personal odds to climb to the top of his field, as a devoted father to three wonderful children, as a husband to wife Angeli, and as a symbol of what one can continue to achieve when we pair talent with hard work, generosity and a humble heart.

Gary’s concert would not have been complete without his friend, Martin Nievera, doing some numbers with him. Martin was equally popular with the audience. Gary told the audience that if you are going to ask him, Martin Nievera is the real Mr. Pure Energy. At the ASAP shows, the ABS-CBN variety program, Martin is fi lled with energy even during commercial breaks.

Mico Aytona

One of the guests of Gary V. that caught my attention was Mico Aytona. He is new in the entertainment industry but his singing and dancing that evening was impressive. We rarely see Mico in TFC shows because he is from GMA 7. He is one of the co-hosts of Kuya Germs in Walang Tulugan and SOP on Sundays.

Mico started schooling at the La Salle University. For a while, he was with the University of the Philippines’ Th eater and Arts program before transferring to the Asian Institute for Distance Education in Makati. By the way, Mico is 19 years old. He celebrated his birthday last June 22. He was so excited for the opportunity to visit Disneyland and Universal Studios in California. Mico told me he will visit his relatives in Chicago before proceeding home.

Rogelie D. Rael, a June bride

Before the month of June could slip away, Rogelie Rael fulfi lled her dream to become a June bride. She tied the knot with Kyle E. Johnson on June 20, 2008. The wedding ceremony was held at the St Mary’s Catholic Church in Marysville followed by a reception at the Grand Vista Ballroom at the Naval Station in Everett.

Rogelie met Kyle while studying at the Everett Community College. Both were members of Phi Th eta Kappa. Rogelie was a Journalism student while Kyle was majoring in Linguistics before he joined the U.S. Air Force. Kyle is now training in California. He was allowed a three-day leave of absence in order to marry Rogelie. They plan to honeymoon in Nebraska.

Rogelie is the daughter of Felita and Auddy Rael. After the wedding, Felita will leave for Japan to join Auddy who is on a tour of duty. Auddy could not be present at the wedding but he called during the reception. Both Rogelie and Felita had tears of joy as they talked to Auddy.

FCS honors Parents of the Year and Mother of the Year

The Filipino Community of Seattle (FCS) honored the Parents of the Year and Mother of the Year in a ceremony held at the Filipino Community Center on Sunday, June 22, 2008. Due to time constraints, there was no Father of the Year Award at this time.

This year’s honorees were Felicito and Betty Barrera as Parents of the Year and Rose Correos Johnson as Mother of the Year. Handing out the awards were Manuel and Lauren Divina, 2007 Parents of the Year, and Purita Dimalanta, 2007 Mother of the Year. I assisted Lauren Ysmael Divina in awarding the plaque to the Parents of the Year.

Another highlight of the celebration was the awarding of the 2008 FCS Scholarship. Nolette Serra, FCS Board Member chaired the FCS scholarship award committee. The recipients of the 2008 FCS Scholarship were Sheena Floresca of Cleveland High School, Derrick de Vera of Ingraham High School and John Altamira of Rainier Beach High School.

The Parents of the Year Award started in 1988 while the Mother of the Year Award began in 1959. They have become a yearly event at the Filipino Community Center. FCS Board members Carmen de Guzman and Virgie Palisok chaired this year’s ceremony.

COFAO celebrates 110th Philippine Independence Day

The Coalition of Filipino American Organizations (COFAO) celebrated the 110th Philippine Independence Day with a grand banquet and ball at the Filipino Community Center on June 21, 2008. COFAO president Rick Q. Beltran gave the welcome address followed by a toast offered by Consul Arvic Arevalo to the U.S. President and the American people. Commissioner Antonio Cube, Sr. off ered the toast to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the Pilipino people.

The evening’s celebration included the coronation of 2008 Miss Philippines-COFAO Queen Kerstin Lee Laveturia. Her court of honor was composed of Manilyn Maglalang as Miss Luzon, Annaleis Ortiz as Miss Visayas, Eva Marie Arma as Miss Mindanao and Ashley Ann Tabila as Miss Congeniality.

The Philippine Independence Day celebration coincided with the Consulate on Wheels from San Francisco, California.
Consul Arevalo processed the renewal of Philippine passports and applications for dual citizenship. By late afternoon, Consul Arevalo swore in more than a hundred naturalized U.S. citizens to be Filipinos again. Consulate on Wheels is a yearly project of the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco and the Filipino Community of Seattle.

Pista na naman

Gaya ng himig, “Pista, pista, pista na naman,” Seattle is again going to have Pista sa Nayon on July 27, 2008 at Seaward
Park Amphitheater from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Pista sa Nayon brings together people from all walks of life. Sa pagkakataong ito, makikita ang pagkakaisa ng mga Pilipino. It’s an awesome sight to see the Filipino kids roaming around the park and experiencing a typical Filipino festival. Th e event provides the younger generation the opportunity to experience the culture and heritage of the Filipino community.

I encourage you to attend the Pista sa Nayon. It’s a wonderful opportunity for family and friends to get together and enjoy each other’s company. Th ere will be great entertainment and food. For your Direct TV needs (TFC and GMA Pinoy TV), please visit our booth. It’s also a place for you to pick up a copy of your favorite newsmagazine, One
Philippines. See you all there!

A celebration of life

Emma Floresca Lawsin, one of the beloved members of the Filipino Community of Seattle passed away on June 20, 2008 at the age of 81. She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Vincent A. Lawsin, children Zenaida Rosete, Vince Paul, Ramon, Carmelita Floresca and Emily.

Emma’s biography depicted her as a tireless volunteer. She received an award as the longestserving FCS council member who was elected first in 1968. She was a two-term past president of the Philippine War Brides Association of Seattle, life member and past president of the Veteran of Foreign Wars Ladies’ Auxiliary Seattle Post #6599, 33 Degree Member and 1st Worshipped Matron of Gabriela Silang Lodge #89 of Caballeros de Dimas Alang and member of various Filipino American organizations.

From 1979-81, she was an FCS Council Member and the First Lady of the FCS, after her husband Vincent won a hotly contested election for President. As a loyal FCS Board Member, it was her dying wish that her body lie in state at the FCS so she could be surrounded by her many friends.