April, No Federal Holidays But Full of National Days

By: Veronica Leighton

 

But Full of National Days Here’s wishing our readers a Happy Easter 2025! May the spirit of Easter bring us a feeling of happiness and love for the celebration, renewal, and faith!

Our Editorial this month reminisces about the celebration of Easter in the Philippines. Yes, the Philippines has its own amazing rituals of Easter observances. Please read Editorial on this page.

Here in America, although there are no federal holidays in April, yet there are numerous national days and observances throughout the month besides Easter this year. We can start from the fun April Fool’s Day, “not fun” Tax Day, Earth Day, and Arbor Day. These days, there are also observances, such as Stress Awareness Month, National Garden Month, Sexual Awareness Month, National Siblings Day, Autism Awareness Month, just to name a few.

We also celebrate the “Araw Ng Kagitingan” (Day of Valor) in the Philippines in April, a day of remembrance for our Philippine heroes who were killed in the fatal Bataan and Corregidor World War II deathly incident. Please read “Veronica’s Vibes” on page 5.

Our beautiful cover features some of Chicago’s local singers who will be performing for their fans and Chicago audience on May 3, 2025 at St. Eugene’s Catholic Church Gym, produced and directed by Gerry Rebello. The show is entitled “Chicago’s Spring Musical Fest 2025.” Please read the show details, for more information.

Sending belated birthday greetings to these wonderful March celebrants, columnists Melody Dizon (Health Matters) and Nirmla Johnson (Careless Whispers) and to my lovely daughter-in-law, Christina Leighton.

Always happy to see, meet and chit-chat with our father-and daughter VT columnists tandem, Ryan Tejero (Club Presidents) and Kayla Tejero (YFA On Campus). Ryan is now a Houston, Texas resident and actively involved with his new community, while Kayla stays in Chicago, working full time as a nurse. It was a fun-filled afternoon of laughter, sweetness and camaraderie, that it felt like Ryan was just living in the neighboring suburbs of Chicago.

We welcome our new Consul General in Chicago, Atty. Melanie Diano, She is a young, personable ConGen that we are interviewing on CPRTV soon.

Enjoy, as usual, following up and enjoying your favorite columnists in this special Easter 2025 issue of the Via Times Newsmagazine.

Melody Dizon, vacationing with her beautiful family (hubby Dino and children Joshua, Jericho and Jassy) while celebrating her birthday last March 1st.

Ryan and Kayla Tejero enjoying a tete-a-tete with VT Publisher Veronica during Ryan’s Chicago visit from Houston.

Nirmla Johnson (columnist, “Careless Whispers,” celebrates a quiet birthday with Veronica at MingHin Rolling Meadows.