Brief Respite

By: Veronica Leighton

 

I thought that a better way of spending birthday for a change is to be away from it all, away from the mad rush of press coverages, deadlines, parties, and all kinds of community activities, actually I guess I was just trying to avoid hearing greetings of “one year older na naman”. So, to the idyllic Vancouver, Canada I flew (with my Irog JM) last May 29th (my bday is May 31). Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada, where I saw more Asians (Chinese and Filipinos, etc.) abound. Warmest thanks to our wonderful hosts Edward and Lulu Sian Navarro, whose interesting immigrant story will serve as a bright light for every striving immigrant away from the Motherland to emulate. More on this on Veronica Vibes.

Congratulations to the following VT columnists for the latest feathers addition on their caps… First, to our Poet Victoria Smith (Warrior’s Heart, page 26), who sent us an email about her New York City Reading Debut (Sunday, June 14, 7-9:30 p.m. at the Gallery, Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St, New York, New York 10012 ). Vicki shared with us the following…”I’ve always said I’m the fluke in this group as I feel I am just emerging into this national platform, and thus, am so grateful to my publisher, Black Lawrence Press, and my editors, Abayomi Animashaun and Angela Leroux-Lindsey, to be included in this line-up consisiting of some of the most talented and notable contemporary poets and writers in the U.S. who also happen to be immigrants. While the classic song says, “If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere!” I knew long before this, as most immigrants in the U.S. do, that I feel I was already a winner from the beginning, as many of you also are, because it takes great guts, grits, and gravitasse to move from one’s native country and be successful in recreating one’s life by reinventing one’s self anywhere in the world. I feel this is just the start of my beautiful adventure, and I hope you all will continue to follow and join me through the years in this fantastic journey!!!”

Once again, that’s another immigrant success story that we must emulate. Vicki is a resident of Des Moines, Iowa and a graduate of University of the Philippines College of Law, and has started publishing her poems in VIA Times four or five years ago.

Next is quite a shocker to me, a big surprise, when one day my 12-year-old granddaughter Maya Leighton (Bata Korner, page 34) had told me that they were given an assignment at her school to write about a country and she chose the Philippines (she is a 7th grader at Oscar Mayer Magnet School). I asked her to show me her Philippine essay (where she got a grade of 100%, published in her column in the last issue). To my amazement, this kid has got a Filipino heart (she is half- Mexican, 1/4 American & 1/4 Filipino). I asked her if she might be interested in joining the PIWC’s Essay Writing Contest, chaired by Ms. Jo WeeSit, which she immediately agreed to do so.

The rest is history… Maya won the fourth prize of the essay contest for $100 (her piece is reprinted in her column), being the only girl and the youngest winner. I’d like to make mention that David Rivas of CPRTV LOL segment received the 4th prize, and the 1st prize winner, Christian Luciano, is son of a long-lost relative from our hometown. Congrats go to Benjamin Lortie, 2nd place winner, and Reijhay Vargas, 3rd place winner. More on this on page 34.

Happy birthday to VT/CPRTV’s June celebrants Jovie Calma, David Rivas, Chaz & Jhun Patron of CPRTV family. More photos on LOL, page 30.

Congratulations to the PIWC 2015 Queens, officers and committee chairs headed by Ellen Tan, to be featured in VT’s July 2015 issue. The event was hailed a big success, warm congrats to the able and professional emceeing of Nick Vera Perez, CPRTV’s Host of “Dance with Nick,” and emcee extraordinaire.

Enjoy, as usual, VT;s June issue from cover to cover. ##

 VT/CPRTV’s David Rivas & Maya Leighton, and Nick Vera Perez.