Notebook

By: Elsie Sy-Niebar

 

*Marriage, ‘for better or for worse, in sickness and in health’ — until the “Other Woman” or ‘Lover Boy’ did us part’

*Asian Health Coalition of Chicago reports ‘promising decrease in drug use among middle school and high school use”

*Maywood Bataan Day Organization (MBDO) getting ready to celebrate Bataan Day on September 13; Fil-Am Vets invited

*Month of AUGUST is “Araw ng Wika” (National Language) month

*FACGC holds first graduation of Home Caregivers *Please come to the DENNIS J. NIEBAR FUNDRAISER on Sept. 13

CHICAGO: The Asian Health Coaliton (ACH) of Chicago, is a non-profit agency serving to improve the health and wellness of the Asian Americans through advocacy, technical assistance. Recently, AHC received a report from the White House Drug Policy Office which shows a significant decrease in drug use among middle school and high school youth.

Today, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) released the Drug-Free Communities Support Program . The report shows that across the 618 Drug-Free Communities (DFC) funded by the ONDCP of which Asian Health Coalition from Chicago is a part, shows that there are promising results for middle school and high school youth substance use and perception, including:

• A significant decrease in past 30 day use for alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and prescription drugs among middle school and high school youth;

• An increase in the percentage of survey respondents who reported that regular use of tobacco, alcohol, or prescription drugs has moderate or great risk;

• An increase in the perception of peer disapproval among middle school students in each of the four substance areas, and for high school students in each substance except marijuana.

• An increase in perception of parent disapproval for each of the substance areas, with the exception of marijuana among high school youth. * A significant decrease in past 30 day use for alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and prescription drugs among middle school and high school youth; • An increase in the percentage of survey respondents who reported that regular use of tobacco, alcohol, or prescription drugs has moderate or great risk; • An increase in the perception of peer disapproval among middle school students in each of the four substance areas, and for high school students in each substance except marijuana. • An increase in perception of parent disapproval for each of the substance areas, with the exception of marijuana among high school youth.

“We know that preventing drug use before it begins is the most cost-effective approach to reduce drug use,” said Michael Botticelli, Director of National Drug Control Policy, who unveiled the findings at the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) 2015 Mid-Year Training Institute — one of the largest gatherings of youth drug use prevention advocates in the country. “By bringing together schools, businesses, law enforcement, parent groups, and other members of the community, DFC-funded community coalitions are helping to protect youth from the devastating consequences of substance use disorders.”

As part of the Drug-Free Communities program, the Asian Health Coalition has partnered with multiple sectors in Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhoods of Armour Square and Bridgeport to form the Coalition for Asian Substance Abuse Prevention (CASAP) since 2010 to address substance use and abuse among Asian American youth. Activities have included working with law enforcement to conduct party patrols and compliance checks, pioneering culturally- tailored social marketing campaigns, and engaging in media advocacy to increase awareness among community members. “We are not powerless against the challenges of substance drug use among Asian youth in Chicago,” said Alia Ryan, Program Manager at the Asian Health Coalition.

The goals of the DFC program are two-fold: to establish and strengthen collaboration among communities, and to reduce substance use among 2.9 million middle school youth and 4.1 million high school youth.

For more information, visit www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp or visit www.asianhealth.org. For more information, please contact Edwin Chandrasekar at ASIAN HEALTH COALTION at (312) 372-7070, ext. 223. *****

MAYWOOD BATAAN DAY ORGANIZATION (MBDO) Marks Bataan Death March With Solemn Ceremony

In keeping with their annual honoring of the Heroes in Bataan they started in 1942, the MBDO will celebrate Bataan Day on September 13, 2015, at 3pm, in Maywood Veterans Park at 1st Ave and Oak St. in Maywood. It is open to the public: community leaders, veterans – where descendants will celebrate the heroism of those brave heroes who with thousands of Filipino WWII veterans have fought and many have died in the hands of the ferocious Japanese soldiers on April 9, 1942, in Bataan, Philippines.

The program will include music from the Navy Ceremonial Band, Great Lakes, as well as color guards from various Veteran Groups and guest speakers. Master of Ceremonies will be MBDO Vice President, Edwin H. Walker IV.

THE PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE WEEK COMMITTEE (PIWC) 2015 ALL-COMMITTEE GROUP PICTURES at the APPRECIATION NIGHT, last July 25, held at the Lone Tree Manor. Seated from left front row: Edwin Pineda, John Tablizo, Nick Vera, Lindy Tan and Lito Pineda. Second row from left: Edna Pavel, Evelyn Tolledo, Anita Rosa, ELLEN TAN , EXECUTIVE CHAIR, Jo Wee Sit, Dalisay Villalon, and Lydia Rhoton Tayco. Third row: Jean Tablizo, Mercy Matousek, Norma Manankil, Myrna Mahant, Yoly Tubalinal, Elba Torre, cora Guzon, Sally Abuton, Leticia Freihaut, meg Advento, Julie Chavez, Divine Pineda, Leilanie, and Vella Guffey. Back row: Vishnu Mahat, Delfin Masangcay, Anong Santos, Myrna Cordero and Chris Brioners. Photo by Edna Pavel.

 

 

 

PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE WEEK COMMITTEE OFFICERS photo-shoot at the APPRECIATION NIGHT last July 25 at the Lone Tree Manor: seated from left are Ellen Tan, overall chair; Lydia Rhoton Tayco, Appreciation Chair and Lina Jonson, Board of Trustee (BOT) President. BOT members standing at back from left are Anita Rosa, Norma Manankil, Maryann Castelo, Lucy Macabenta, Jo Wee Sit, Dalisay Villalon, Faye Mendiola, Virgilio Jonson, M.D., past BOT president; Romy Gumila; Dr. Edward Hernaez, Nick Macabenta, and Met Castelo. Photo by Edna Pavel.

 

 

 

Special Hawaiian dance number performed by the members of Faith Comm. Presbyterian Church in Chicago during its International Day celebration last July, from left areLai Villegass, Mabel Estavillo, Tess Hernandez, Cheryl Aduana, Luind Rickert, Kristen Abogado and Girlie Abogado. (Esn)

 

(1) EVELYN TOLLEDO, sings a song of Praise at the Faith Community Presbyterian Church (FCPC) International Day celebration last July. (ESN); (2) Rev. Ernie Luat, Elsie’s former co-worker at the City of Chicago Dept. of Human Services, visited Chicago with his wife, Farida. The couple now lives in Las Vegas where they have a church. (ESN); (3) US Flag: Boy Scouts of American Troop 485, Angeles City, Philippines Scout JD Salonga and Maywood Bataan Day Organization (MBDO) President Colonel Richard A. McMahon, Jr.

 

Colors will be presented by several area American Legion, VFW, and ROTC Color Guards. In past years color guard units from Maywood, Melrose Park, Berwyn, Hillside, Des Plaines, Chicago, Palatine, Elmhurst, Frankfort, Mokena, River Forest, LaGrange, Northlake and many other Chicago and suburban cities have participated.

A Rifle Squad Gun Salute will be provided by the Howard H. Rohde American Legion Post #888 in Northlake, Illinois. Preceding the service will be a concert by the Navy Ceremonial Band, Great Lakes.

Keynote Speaker will be Maywood Bataan Day Organization Director, Stephen Gibson, son of Maywood’s own Captain Emmett F. Gibson. Richard A. McMahon, Jr., President of the Maywood Bataan Day Organization, extends an invitation to the entire community.

On a separate press release from the Philippine Consulate General, Consul General Generoso Calonge is inviting the Filipino- American community and the general public to participate in this 73rd Annual Maywood Bataan Day at the Veterans Memorial of Maywood Park, Illinois on Sunday, 13 September 2015, at 3:00 pm. Participation is free. *** .

The month of August 2015 is a celebration of “Buwan ng Wika or Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa” (National Language Month) of the Philippines. This year’s theme is “Pilipino: Wika ng Pambansang Kaunlaran” or PILIPINO, Language of Progress. This Philippine National Language celebration highlights our Filipino language, pursuant to Proclamation 1041, signed by former President Fidel V. Ramos, which declares the annual national celebration of the National Language Month every August. The month celebrates the the birthday of the late President Manuel L. Quezon, the Father of the National Language, who was born on August 19, 1878. *******

PIWC Chair ELLEN TAN thanks all committee chairs at the Appreciation Night, held at the Lone Tree Manor last July 25. Among others, she surprised some Committee Chairs with a $50 Restaurant Gift Certificate.. Another big surprise was knowing that Lydia Rhoton Tayco footed the dinner bill at Lone Tree for the Appreciation guests. “God loves a Cheerful Giver!” ***

COMING-UP EVENTS:

Saturday, Aug. 29, “Dancing with the Stars Part 2.
St. Hedwig Church* 2226 N>Hoyne” Chicago, IL
Call Ed Cabanayan (773) 3150380

Saturday, Sept. 12: Laguna Asso.
Dinner Dance White Eagle Banquets* 6839 N. Milwaukee, Niles IL
Call Lindy Tan (847-691-8220

Sunday, Sept. 13, from 5 pm-11 pm.
DENNIS J NIEBAR CHARITABLE FUND
FOUR POINTS AT SHERATON O’HARE HOTEL, 10255 W. Irving Park Rd., Schiller Park, IL
Call Elsie Sy-Niebar (773) 610-1287
PILIPINO AMERICAN SOCIAL SERVICES (PASS)
Kickoff of “CALENDAR MOMS/DADS & GRANDMAs

Friday, Sept. 18, 2015
Four Points Sheraton Hotel 10249 W. Irving Park Rd., Schiller Park,IL, Call Angie Francisco, 773)
653-3939; Faye Mendioal 708) 533-8060