Mabuhay ang Filipino Sa Amerika!

By: Veronica Leighton

 

Interestingly, with the celebration of our FilipinoAmerican History Month for October, other ethnic groups are also celebrating their heritage and historical presence in this country…to note, there’s the Black History Month, National Hispanic American Heritage month, and German American Heritage Month. Let’s not forget that we also celebrate Women’s History Month, LGBT History Month, Learning Disabilities Month, Bilingual Child Month, International Dinosaur Month, etc., making us think why so many celebrations and festivities for the month of October.

Maybe with October as the 10th month, the year will soon be over in a couple of months so our legislators rush to lump together all ideas of commemorations and throw them in one pot, to the month of October. Let’s not forget that the official holiday of Columbus Day and many people’s favorite Sweetest Day get celebrated in October, too. And, of course, the most-awaited Halloween.

Here in VT family, we join and participate in many activities of the Filipino American History Month, reflected on our columnists’ topics that they have written in this issue…our editorial written by Joe Mauricio on “Reflections on Celebrating Filipino American History Month,” Elsie Sy-Niebar’s (Notebook on page 14) touches on this month and the success of her third annual fundraising event for her church in honor of her late husband Dennis, Lou Cabalona (Art on page 36) gives out some tips on how to celebrate our history in this country if you are a proud Filipino, Veronica’s Vibes’ topic on page 5, about the first-ever White House kick-off of the Filipino American History Month and other distinguished Filipino headline makers, andAeron Lancero’s (Fil-Am Eats on page 43) and his fantastic restaurant E+O enjoyed a very successful Kultura Festival event showcasing Filipino Kitchen, and talking about the long lines of people, with thousands in attendance and appreciating different tasty Filipino dishes, held in Logan Square on Milwaukee Avenue very recently.

What is a better way to honor and salute our beautiful heritage by giving them recognitions, accolades and awards which we have been doing for the last 21 years on November 14th at the Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame gala awards night event.

We are honored to feature on our cover and inside pages 40-41 the 2015 batch of the hall of famers who are being recognized for their outstanding accomplishments in this country, back home, and even throughout the world, an inspiring project that highlights the best in the Filipino and Filipino-Americans.

It honors high-achieving Filipinos/Filipino Americans & Friends, focusing on their achievements in their own field of interest or profession, and in their abilities and capabilities to promote the positive image of the Filipino wherever they are.

Going back to the celebration of the FilipinoAmerican History Celebration, it is exciting to note and be proud of, that for the first time the White House (first-ever, last Oct. 2) commemorated the rich history, heritage, and culture that bond the Filipino American community with the larger mosaic of the American immigrant story. More than 175 Filipino American leaders from almost 25 states joined this historic occasion, dressed in Filipinana attire.

The White House Initiative on AAPIs and the White House Office of Public Engagement hosted this first-ever White House Celebration of Filipino American History Month, since their first documented arrival in Morro Bay, California on October 18, 1587, Filipino Americans have made remarkable contributions to every sector of American life. (More on this in Veroonica’s Vibes, page 5). ****

With a heavy heart, I would like to make mention that VT’s former (first and the original) advice columnist for many years, Ging Micor, died of natural causes last Oct. 12 at the age of 87.Avery popular columnist and favorite of many, Ging has touched so many people’s hearts, including mine. I can never forget our good times and laughter together, as she had the sweetest way with her natural commentaries and in extending to everyone her motherly love. Warm condolences to her ever-growing family of 5 children, 14 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. We will surely miss you, Ging!##

Ging Micor and Veronica during their VT” good old times” together.