Awesome Month of March

By: Veronica Leighton

 

When the awesome month of March comes, many people used to refer to March Madness (for the sports fans) and Ides of March (the historical date of the assassination of Julius Caesar) and, of course, the upcoming Holy Week religious celebration. But these days, as we get health-conscious, it’s the National Cancer Awareness Month and Nutrition Month, and the political issue of International Women’s History Month. What an amazing month!

Sure enough, we find ourselves busier than ever with so much activities filling up so fast as people are looking up to better weather. And, like thousands of birds flying back home for the good weather, VT staffers have flown back to Chicago, welcome home to Maria Girlie Pascual (GMail, page 27) and Melody Dizon (Health Matters, page 29), Jovie Calma (Wassup page 8) and Elsie Sy-Niebar (Notebook, page 14). And, one who recentlyflew away but will be back soon is Lou Cabalona (Art, page 35). By the way, belated happy birthday to Girlie (February 7) and Melody Dizon (March 5).

The star, the focus, and the featured cover this month is our “Warrior Lady,” Victoria Smith (Warrior Heart, Pilgrim Soul, page14), VT’s pride and joy, as she has been garnering literary national awards, recognitions, and accolades with her published poems and novellas, with one coming up soon on first week of April in California. Bigger thing for her this year as the Woman of the Year hall of fame award which she will be receiving on October 29th at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare. She is also a previous awardee for her Community Volunteerism and Involvement. Vicki also will serve the guest speaker at the upcoming Circulo Capampangan on April 30th.

Wonderful Holy Week message about “three crosses” by our Rev. Nancy Abiera (page 31) is not to be missed and Elsie Sy- Niebar’s miscellanies of interesting topics on page 14.

We’ve gone around to a lot of places by staying put in our city this month on covering the Ireland Tourism for an advance St. Patrick’s Day and promotion and visiting Paris Region travel promotion. Please enjoy Veronica’s Vibes on page 5.

Not to be overlooked is our coverage of the beautiful Chicago Garden and Flower Show and the grand opening of the Navy Pier’s murals for the Neighborhoods of the World annual event. Plus various pictorial pages of people’s remembrances and celebrations in the inside pages.

Welcome to our new VT legal columnist who is a big success in his own career field of law, Atty. Gilbert Dizon, founder and managing attorney of Dizon Law Office with offices in the suburbs of Aurora, Wheaton and Geneva. See his maiden column on page 35 of this issue.

Also, not far behind is the coming Philippine election in May and the Philippine Consulate’s announcement and guidelines for the voters abroad can be found on page 3.

As Easter is fast approaching and you’re thinking of celebrating your Easter Sunday lunch, brunch or dinner, please make it a point to celebrare and enjoy E+O in Mount Prospect and Sumo Restaurant in Naperville.

Mabuhay ang “Pyesta Pinoy,” an annual celebration of Filipino culture held at the Navy Pier on March 20th! Mabuhay ang Filipino! ###

Belated birthday celebrants (also a bienvenida– welcome) to VT Columnists Girlie Pascual and Melody Dizon at the CPRTV studio, from left, Girlie Pascual, Flor Kramer, Robert Chavez, Don Kramer, Melody Dizon, Dino Dizon, Joe Mauricio and Veronica