Autumn or Fall?

By: Veronica Leighton

 

When I was a little girl, I really enjoyed listening to the song, “The Autumn Leaves,” and it was one of my dreams growing up to see, feel and play with the “autumn leaves.” Coming to America in my young adulthood, I got a little confused hearing the Americans referring to “Autumn” season as “Fall” season. Until it dawned on me that they are referring to the “Falling Leaves”, the characteristically simple natural, annual happening on this beautiful season, transitioning from summer to crispy, colorful season and the falling of leaves. Love it!

September 11 has now become the central topic since 2001 in this country, for the horrors that it brought up to the people of US on that fateful day. Our columnist Elaine Lehman (Water & Fire, page 10), who used to live in New York had a hands-on experience and touched on the grim memories that still linger in her mind. She and husband Ari reached out, helped and supported in any way they could, aftermath.

Our editorial editor Joe Mauricio, on this page, writes about China and Hong Kong’s current problem on China’s unauthoritative encroachment, not only on Hong Kong but also on its Asian neighbors. Read “China, the Encroaching Dragon.”

We are now gearing up with adrenalines rush for our up-coming gala pet project, the Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame 2019, celebrating this year its silver anniversary and grand reunion on November 9, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare. We look at this celebration as our most exciting gala so far, as many past awardees are coming back once again as part of the grand reunion.

For this reason, we formed a very good group of the HOF Reunion Committee (composed of past awardees themselves) headed by Maria Fides Balita, together with Salina Vest, Liza Vasich, Marilin Solomon, Rev. Nancy Abiera and Cindy Flores, to handle this most important part of the program.

It’s already official that our keynote speaker will be the new Philippine Ambassador to U.S., Honorable Jose Miguel Romualdez, together with other exciting luminaries from the government, politics, and business arenas in our community.

The 2019 CFAA Hall of Fame inductees will be officially introduced and featured on the cover of our October 2019 issue, so watch for it. Who will they be? They are a group of well-selected, outstanding and most distinguished individuals who are accomplished in their own lines of career, talent and professions with the innate mission of helping and giving back a good name to their communities. Many of them are already serving as role models for many members of the community we live in.

Via Times columnists are bringing to you, as usual, the latest community happenings as they have experienced them and lovingly shared with their readers, in their own beautiful words. So stay tuned!

Enjoy reading this special September issue, the month that we also celebrate important occasions like National Grandparents Day (Sept 8) and Labor Day (Sept. 2). And, prost! to the upcoming Octoberfest!

The Hall of Fame Reunion Committee meeting held at Space Stage Productions. Sitting, L-R: Liza Vasich, Veronica, Maria Fides Balita (Chair), and Phil Contursi. Standing are Joe Mauricio and Salina Vest. Not in picture are Marilin Solomon and Cindy Flores.