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Summer is a wonderful time to visit families and friends. Temperature in our area is not outrageously hot. We’ve so far experienced some hot days, but tolerable. Two options –

stay out to feel the heat or stay indoor to escape the sweat. No big deal. I opted to do the latter.

After the heavy and hectic June activities in the community, I was hoping for a more quiet July, but no, it turned out to be otherwise. My calendar, which I am so dependent on, has shown a busy July page. August is still clear, but the weekends are slowly filling up with entries. Summer is still here and I intend to make the most of it. Of course, family activities take the priority. I’ll try to enjoy the small pleasures in life while I slow down and take the balancing act once again. The mature trees outside our house are heavy with healthy and lush green leaves. The Bigonias that my husband, Pat, strategically planted in our front yard give us beautiful colors of deep pink and white. The yellow Black-Eyed Susan flowers proudly compete with the Bigonias. The sight is pleasing to my eyes. A man of habit, he chose the same plants every year, the same color and planted at the same spots. I could not complain because he was the appointed gardener in the family. And importantly, he buys the plants himself. There’s only one produce that I annually get from our backyard vegetable patch - tomatoes. At least, he plants different varieties every year.

Around three hundred Filipino Americans arrived at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C. on July 7, 2006. It was amazing that with barely two weeks in preparation, the Filipino American community was able to put up a farewell dinner and came up with a wonderful program to honor Ambassador and Mrs. Albert del Rosario. They’re returning back to Manila after the completion of the Ambassador’s assignment at the Embassy of the Philippines in the nation’s capital. He was actually requested by Philippine President to extend his stay for another two years, but the past couple of months could have been more pleasant and deserving for this very dignified, hard working and humble ambassador. He was fired for unacceptable reasons. As a result of these unpleasant developments from Manila, the community reacted and openly expressed strong support for the beloved ambassador.

The Filipino American community is still busy taking part in the remaining events in June. I can only applaud and appreciate all the efforts, commitment, dedication and enthusiasm of all concerned, the volunteers, in pursuit of showcasing the beauty of our culture and heritage.

On May 18, 2006, a photo exhibit known as Singgalot   :    The Ties That Bind, was launched at the Dillion Ripley Center at the Smithsonian Institution. As a part of the centennial celebration of first Filipino migration to the United States, blown up photographs in sepia color captured our roots and illustrated the humble beginnings of the immigrants. The first major wave of arrivals was the fifteen Ilocanos who were hired to work as sugar planters in Hawaii, also known as the sakadas.    

The different committees of the Philippine Festival  for 2006 headed by Dr. Vic Lorica and his Co-Overall Chair, Dr. Bambi Lorica,  have been a buzzin’ with meetings. These energetic doctors who are with the Philippine Medical Association, the organization on lead for this year’s festivities, have been coordinating and working with the different associations and individual volunteers in the community who have committed themselves to manage and/or participate in the different events.

San Francisco, Tacoma, Phoenix ... that’s where I will be from March 3 to March 19. I will escape the cold weather here and come back just in time to welcome Spring. My West Coast vacation is purely family related visits and invitations - to attend my older sister’s, BIG “O” birthday in SF/Daly City, the long overdue reunion with my husband’s sister in Tacoma, and our first time visit to our son, Rick, since he moved to Phoenix early last year.