VIA Times – June 2014 Issue Vital News, Vibrant Views for Asian Americans in Chicago & Midwest
By: Veronica Leighton
Whether we have been celebrating a bogus Philippine Independence Day or not, as being touched on by our editorialist (page 4) and “Objectively Harsh” columnist (page 22) Joe Mauricio, our commemorative independence celebration must go on, particularly here in Chicago. The celebrations around town, with PIWC heading it traditionally, are all quite a big success. Mabuhay ang Bayang Pilipinas and to all the celebrators! Coinciding with the wonderful independence celeb news and features (please watch our upcoming July 2014 issue featuring the PIWC beauty queens) are the latest news and development from the homefront of VIA Times and CPRTV. We have now improved and relaunched our website and have now gone digitally modernized to keep up with the times in reaching the international community via social networking–Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Blogs. But we are still reaching out to our community in Chicago & Midwest through our very popular print newsmagazine in Chicagoland–making us the only ethnic Filipino tri-media (print, broadcast and web) in the Midwest, founded and managed by a Filipino woman for many years. Our most modern website layout, www.viatimes.com or .net, offers a variety of articles, website links, pictorials and CPRTV videos, including the current news from the Philippines, and providing a portal with real-time currency exchange rates (dollar to peso), the most current Chicago and Manila weather, current local news with vibrant views, windows for more advertisements for businesses, memorable corner and special feature for the Chicago Filipino American Hall of Famers (pet project of VT to benefit the CPRTV). We even added updated archives section, if you missed last month’s or last year’s editions (with some issues, like January to April 2014 still getting updated as of this writing). Yes, we are now in a fully sustainable publishing approach in order to survive the digital world as we do not want to be left behind and forgotten by this completely different but amazing generation. This is just the beginning of our entrance to this world, targeting millions of internet users in showcasing our Filipino heritage and in hearng the Filipino voices in the latest global developments.. Congratulations to Notebook columnist (page 14) Elsie Sy-Niebar for getting Channel 7 Network TV to showcase once again the Philippine native costumes for the occasion of the Philippine Independence celebration. Elsie, with a new title of “Impresario,” trooped down to Ch. 7 studio early morning of July 7 to catch the Ch.7 “Early Morning News,” with native fashion models headed by 2014 Mrs. Philippines Yoly Zoleta and fashion designer Mar Lapena. From our most talented poet-columnist, Maria Victoria Grageda Smith (page 24), here’s an interesting message regarding the digital marketing of her book. “In this day and age, digital and online marketing and sales of books are what make a writer. Although this does not necessarily translate to quality of one’s writing, this is the reality. I have been told many times by many of you how much you loved my book. Now, you have the chance to share what you think of it with the rest of the world! I would be so grateful to all of you who would be so kind to oblige me on this. Your favorable reviews could encourage more strangers/the public to buy my book. Although I really do not need to sell any more books to feel fulfilled, it is necessary to sell more books so that I could donate more royalties to the Immigrant Legal Fund and Typhoon Haiyan Victims Fund I have pledged my sales to. As of now, we are just breaking even due to hefty shipping and production costs.” So nothing can be further from my “digital talk” truth above. Marivic is asking us to post favorable reviews in the following Amazon link…http://www.amazon.com/War rior-Heart-Pilgrim-Soul- Immigrants/product-reviews. My warm thank you’s to the following great people for making sure that I don’t forget my “umpteenth” birthday last May (It’s only 2-digit numbers anyway)… My sis Neneth through her Chicago Dance Power group, Andy Sian, Edison Dayao & Chaz Patron of Ladies’ Choice Band, for their big surprise appearance, Nick Vera Perez for opening to me and my guests the D’Cuba Restaurant which he co-founded, VT/CPRTV staff, Vernie & Bob Morales, Girlie & James, Don & Flor Kramer, Fred & Nora Tsai, Jovie Calma, Atty. Manny & Mark Aguja, Angie Francisco, and, of course, my Irog Joe Mauricio. Please see pictorial inside page.###
