The Heat of Summer Community Events and Happenings

By: Veronica Leighton

 

Mid-July is the time that we are experiencing extreme summer hot temperatures in the 80’s and 90’s here in Chicago. We are likewise experiencing the hot tempos of many organizations’ summer activities plus personal events and occasions. Don’t we just love summer?

Recently-over community events bearing its flaming and flaring successes are the annual Philippine Independence Week Committee (PIWC) 2023 and the Dinagyang Chicago 2023, showcasing our beautiful Philippine culture, tradition, pride, and patriotism. Congratulations to these groups and its dynamic leaders.

Danceable touches to some of these dazzling and dizzying whirlwind of community activities are the many weekly dance sessions that abound around us for the various reasons of social, camaraderie, health and fitness, and many others. They keep on flourishing every week, and the names are getting quite familiar, such as: Chicago Dance Lovers, Chicago Dance Power, Joy Dance Club, Indakan, LaMar Dance Club, Forever Young, Starlight Dance, Juzz Dance, and Lina’s Dance Club. We have about a dozen choices to go and immerse ourselves for fun dance soirees in our lively Chicago town every week.

Our July issue cover features the beautiful PIWC Queens 2023 in their full coronation regalia, and an additional page inside features the many activities that were delightfully and specially presented to more than 600 guests in attendance at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Hotel last June 17th. My special personal thank you goes to the PIWC Committee headed by OAC Maritess Wynkoop for the Maharlika award given to me together with the other deserving awardees with me that evening. Please see pictorial on page 7.

Chicago is the home for many iconic restaurants, and added to its list recently is a new Filipino restaurant named Kasama (meaning Together) and was rated Michelin- starred restaurant, and the first Filipino restaurant to garner this international award. Special thank you to our VT columnist Melody Dizon for the gracious invitation to join her for brunch with her son Jericho together with friend and another VT columnist, Nancy Abiera. See photo here with Melodyl Jericho and Nancy not shown.

Enjoy reading, as usual, your one-and-only, favorite community newsmagazine in the Chicagoland that’s celebrating its 41st year of existence next month. ##

VT columnist Melody Dizon with Publisher Veronica enjoying Kasama restaurant’s brunch. Not shown in photo are her son Jericho and columnist Pastor Nancy Abiera.

Veronica, PIWC Maharlika award recipient, with Brenda Stevens, Maritess Wynkoop, and Elizabeth Vasich, awards committee chair.