From the Readers

Thanks From April Cover Girl
Thank you, my friend Veronique and Via Times for the beautiful cover and story for my 85th birthday. I will pass it on to my children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, their great grandmother, at 85 years old, cover of a magazine. You said to me four years ago when I reached my 85th birthday you will have me in the VT Cover. Wish my mother is still around…when she saw your comments about me in your column years ago, she said, “Naku, Dely, para ka palang artista!” THANK YOU, MY BFF of MANY, MANY YEARS. You Have been there thru thick and thin of my life, thru all the ups and downs of my life. THANK YOU, many millions LOVE!
Dely Villalon,
VT April 2026 Cover Girl
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Special Thanks
Special thanks to VIA Times & Chicago Philippine Reports TV for the interview opportunity!
Shoutout to Ms. Vero Leighton for your time and support —truly grateful for the exposure and platform.
We appreciate you Via Times Newsmagazine
Chris Cardenas
Kultura Nation
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Thanks from CHALC
Thanks po Tita Vero Leighton and Via Times Newsmagazine we appreciate po yung support to Chicago Healthcare Alliance Lions Club.
Lea Agaton
President, Chicago Health
Alliance Lions Club
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Errata
Maraming salamat for publishing the Errata on PESO Inaugural pictorial. Much appreciated po. Best regards…
Anita Sladek
PESO President
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Billy Dec’s “Food Roots”
I’m an Asian American restaurateur who recently created a documentary with Oscar/Emmy/Grammy-winning producers called FOOD ROOTS (trailer here: www.FoodRootsFilm.com), premiering this May on PBS TV (check PBS local listings and app) in celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Since we are connected as fellow supporters of culture and community, I’d like to give you a special sneak peek before the public release tomorrow, May 1st! Here is a link to the full documentary (56 min), on a special link for you:

https://tinyurl.com/FoodRootsFilm
We would be grateful if you’d consider helping us share it with your friends, family, and communities on Friday, May 1st to kick off AAPI month and more. Truly appreciate your support, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s ever anything I can do for you.
Best,
Bily Dec
CEO / Founder / Esq.
Emmy Winning TV Host
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Invite for AAPI Conference
Greetings Veronica,
As sports betting booms across Illinois, a silent crisis is impacting local Asian-American families, often hidden behind the “model minority” myth and intense cultural stigma.
To break this generational shame, the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling (ICPG) is hosting a free, community-led event to tackle the issue head-on:
• What: 3rd Annual Asian-American Conference on Problem Gambling
• When: Friday, May 1, 2026 (8:00 AM – 2:30 PM)
• Where: Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago
Instead of focusing solely on clinical data, this event centers on lived experiences and building culturally affirming safety nets.
I have included the full press release. High-resolution media assets are linked at the bottom of the release.
Mims Chavez
Support Manager
Chicago Asian Network
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From Piyesta Pinoy
Hello Ms Veronica Leighton, We are happy to announce the date for the 12th annual Piyesta Pinoy, the biggest Philippine Festival in the Midwest. Piyesta Pinoy, Saturday, June 13, 2026,11am-7pm at The Roger C. Claar Performing Arts Center 375 W Briarcliff Rd Bolingbrook, IL 60440.
We would like to invite Via Times/CPRTV to join this wonderful celebration of Filipino culture as a media sponsor. Below is the link to our sponsorship form.
For more information about the event, please visit our website and social media. Website – https://piyestapinoy.
com/Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/PiyestaPinoyInstagram
– https://www.instagram.com/piyestapinoy/
Feel free to contact us should you have any questions.
Thank you very much. We look forward to hearing from you.
Best Regards,
Tito Ruben
(630) 379-9636