Never-Ending Thank You’s From Thanksgiving to Christmas

By: Veronica Leighton

 

It has been a hectic more than two months of preparation and transition from one major event to another, where we saw ourselves trying to catch our breaths and praying to God to give us the strength and energy to keep on going through all the challenging tasks to be done and accomplished…October 29th, the 22nd annual Chicago FilipinoAsianAmerican Hall of Fame’s great success has been the talk of this great town and congratulations still keep pouring in, followed by the Thanksgiving festivities that took us to our self-devotion in thanking God for all the good graces that have been given to us, and equally for all the tests, trials and tribulations we faced this year, this was followed immediately by our annual Christmas party celebration that VT/CPRTV staffers and friends look forward to (please see page 28 for our party’s pictorial page held on Dec 2nd), and now, the most-awaited event of the year, Christmas 2016.

But what is the real meaning of Christmas? Joe Mauricio (Objectively Harsh, page 22) tries to take us to deep thinking about Christmas, saying that for some people, it can be a season of great joy and for many people, it is a time of sorrows. True, particularly when you lose a loved one, just like our cover story, “The Celebration of Life of Lita Angeles Navarro,” with full story and pictures on pages 40 and 41.

Our Rev. Nancy Abiera (On A Bright Side, page 31) wrote about “Joy to the World,” one of her most favorite Christmas songs and composed an acronym for CHRISTMAS. Quoting her, “It is my prayer that we will all experience the true meaning of Christmas this season. It is of great joy/blessing when we open our hearts to Jesus Christ and invite Him to come in and dwell with us forever.”

Lou Cabalona, columnist of Arts/Tech (page 37), reminisces about the unforgettable tradition, Christmas childhood games they play on Christmas eve and day, which she wants to keep with friends and family nowadays, away from home.

Aeron Lancero, columnist of FilAm Eats (page 42), talks about our traditional Noche Buena Feast that we are all very familiar with and yearn so much around this Holiday season, such as the lechon, hamon, pancit, embutido, lumpia shanghai, and yummy desserts, sapin sapin, buko salad, puto bumbong and bibingka.

Elsie Sy-Niebar’s column discusses about the exciting first snowfall of the season for her feeling of Christmas and the Dec. 7 historic bombing of the Pearl Harbor (now on its 75th year (where thousands of American soldiers were killed and wounded, plus another history made upon U.S. Congress’ passing of Gold Medal of Heroism for Filipino WWII Vets (after more than 72 years).

The best news of the season comes from our columnist of Warrior’s Heart, page 24, Ms. Vicki Smith who’s sharing with us the note below…

Dear VIA Times Family,

Even with Thanksgivig now over, our reason for giving thanks never ends! I’m humbled and honored to share that my poem, “Mother of Exiles,” was chosen finalist for the 42nd New Millennium Poetry Awards by final judge, Don Williams, and the New Millennium Writings editorial staff.

I hope you see that this is a blessing not only for me but for our people who inspire my work, and to whom I always dedicate my literary accomplishments.

Do please check out in the link below the accomplished company I competed with, bested only by Kerry Tepperman Campbell’s most worthy poem, “Bougainvillea.” Big congratulations to Ms. Tepperman, my fellow finalists, and the honorable mentions.

https://www.newmillenniumwriti ngs.org/winners-and-finalists…

See, that’s what I love to call never-ending thank you’s and endless accolades to our VT/CPRTV family. May you all enjoy the best meaning of Christmas and the brightest coming New Year!##

VT/CPRTV gents with helping hands and indefatigable spirit, “always there when you need them,” left to right: Baron Cabalona, Ryan Tejero, Joe Mauricio, and James DC. If I hadn;t told you before, I am telling you now, thank you for everything.