VT Columnists’ 2014 Thoughts, Lookbacks & Wishes for 2015

By: Veronica Leighton

 

I thought of starting out differently for the new year, that instead of focusing on the resolutions that are mostly broken after a month or two, hearing back from the VT staff’s mostly creative minds would bring more excitement for me and our readers. Let me share with you our writers’ special thoughts about VT’s past, present and future look and outlook

Thanks for all your hard work in 2014. The magazine looks great. (Prof. Bob Boyer)

Clearly the most sought-after FilAm magazine in Chicagoland, I get a lot of requests for copies of the Via Times soon after they run out at the stands. Diverse points of views and Interesting features that are in tune with Filipino Americans today. More power to Via Times and the whole staff! (Lou Maningas Cabalona)

I applaud you for the publication of VIA Times for many years and counting. Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts about my Fave5 in life: Entertainment, Fashion, Travel, Music and Arts while contributing to humanity and spreading love like a disease. Cheers! (Jovie Calma)

Thank you for your sustained courage and devotion to staying a shining beacon of cultural celebration and communal reflection for our Fil-Am communities! (Victoria Smith)

Congratulations for a fantastic season in 2014! Looking forward to an even more awesome one in the coming year!” (Pastor Richard Mirpuri)

Tip of the hat to you and Joe for your efforts over this past year. The VIA TIMES Magazine looks fantastic, and the updated website is earning “bookmarks” throughout the community. KUDOS!(Atty. Robert R. Gard)

As always, thanks so much for all your support in getting the information out to the community. You do so much; all your passion and drive is so inspiring! (Mayra Salazar)

In the years I have written for Via Times, I have met and talked to readers of our publication who say that they enjoy it, and look forward to our monthly magazine to know about issues that impact our Filipino American community in Chicago, which in turn, benefit our advertisers and sponsors. (Maria Girlie Pascual)

Via times has helped to unleash my comedic side and in return has helped to make people laugh away their stress– thank you Tita V! (James dela Cruz)

On behalf of our Via Times and CPRTV FAMILY, specially to our publishers/producers Veronique Leighton and Joe Mauricio — I give Thanks to our God for the past good years– garnished with human ups and downs which we all have surpassed. God will not give us “problems” we cannot handle if we keep the Faith in Him. To our dear Advertisers and Readers, thank you for your continued loyalty to VT. As editor and columnist — I write to INFORM by “calling a spade a spade; the Truth will set us free.” HAPPY and PROSPEROUS NEWYEAR 2015! Keep your FAITH. STRONGER.” (Elsie Sy-Niebar)

The Via Times delivers a very important service to the Chicagoland Filipino community through its news stories, commentaries, event announcements and more. I am grateful to be a part of the VIA Times family and look forward to another successful year of newsworthy stories in our community. Thank you, Veronica and Joe for all your dedication and passion.” (Mark Javier)

Via Times thoroughly, fairly and clearly presents the relevant facts, and shows the intended meaning of the FREEDOM OF THE PRESS and documents the reasoning of those who disagree. Many VT staff members dogmatically and strongly believe in the freedom of expression as their collective rights. We don’t lift from other people’s writings and ideas– we present original stories on our own words and styles of writing.” (Joe Mauricio)

The above messages are so uplifting as I know it came from their own thoughts and feelings as I know them. Thank you all to your wonderful commentaries.

So Christmas 2014 is over and we all look forward to a wonderful new year of 2015. Looking back, I will be missing one precious item and that is my kalamansi (citrus) Christmas tree– a real tree that keeps on growing and bearing more fruits (about 200) every year, competing with hanging Christmas balls’ beauty and glitter. Many friends enjoy the fruis after Christmas!##