The first day was pleasant, cool and comfortable. As days progress in June, I begin to feel the heat. This is expected and I should not complain. Problem is I develop cold when I feel the heat and the symptoms are the same as in the winter. I really don’t understand this. But there’s one thing I am glad about – my pollen allergies are gone. I felt so miserable the whole month of May suffering from the Maple tree pollens.

* Consul Joy Quintana
I would like to thank the First Secretary and Cultural Consul Joy Quintana for all the help and assistance that she extended to the Filipino American community during her tour of duty at the Embassy of the Philippines in Washington, D.C., after her diplomatic assignment in Beijing, China. She achieved the goals that she has set to benefit both the Embassy and the community with much success. Her valuable assistance to numerous community activities was very much appreciated. As an example of her work in the past, the members of the community were mobilized to participate in the Cherry Blossom and July 4th Parade in Washington, D.C., a lot of coordination done, it ran smoothly. Another was the Centennial Celebration of Filipino Migration to the United States with a Fashion Show featuring the designs of world renowned Pitoy Moreno. Her diplomacy, professionalism, talents, and resourcefulness combined together were partly the reason for the success of her projects.

My favorite project that she created and accomplished was the Costume Library mainly because of its lasting legacy to the community. This project aimed to address the constant need of Filipino American student groups in the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. area for Philippine dance costumes for use in their annual cultural shows. It also highlighted the role of the Fil Am student groups as positive contributors to community resource-building efforts. Most importantly, this project will continue to enhance the quality of the students’ performances by having access to high-quality authentic costumes/accessories that would impart confidence to the performers. I am most happy about this. The five dance suites can also be lent to other cultural groups in the area. I was most appreciative of the fact that Joy had consulted with me during the early stage of the project.

Not too many people know that Joy had made arrangements with the Bayanihan Folk Arts Foundation to be the designated partner in the Philippines. As partner, they produced all five sets with discounted cost and needless to say, these costumes have world class quality. Learning of this wonderful project, some members of the community did not hesitate to donate monetary contribution to help cover the cost. Some of these costumes are now prominently on display at the Embassy. This project and the library at the Embassy which contained books on Philippine Folk Dances which Joy spearhead and organized will compliment the workshop on “Philippine Folk Dances: Training the Trainer” that I will conduct later this year.

To show appreciation for her contribution to the community, organizations and numerous friends gave her farewell parties in Washington, D.C. and other places like Virginia Beach. Bidding her goodbye, I wish her good health and success in her future endeavors.

* Fil-Am Youth Festival
The FiIipino American Youth Festival was held on June 16 at the Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington. It was a gathering of Filipino American youth from youngsters to teenagers, mostly accompanied by their parents. I saw this event as a window of opportunity to enhance the interests of these young individuals in sports and in Philippine culture.

As a part of the Philippine Independence celebration in June, sponsored by the Philippine American Foundation for Charities and organized by the Filipino Ministry of Northern Virginia led by the committee of Ed Tiong, the volunteers in the community pulled their resources together and played active roles in managing the whole event. Sport activities like Basketball, Track, Soccer, Badminton and Tennis, and workshops in Arnis/Escrima Martial Arts, Philippine Folk Dancing and Games, and Hip–Hop were simultaneously conducted at separate rooms and open spaces at the school facilities. The participants also took part in a live musical performance. The festival also provided a fun activity for the parents while their children were engaged in their favorite events.

I joined the workshop on Philippine Folk dancing which I loved the most. I observed and watched the ladies in-charge, patiently and joyfully teaching the small children, “Sayaw sa Bangko, then, “Tinikling,” “Itik-Itik” and “Binasuan” The children were very much interested and enthusiastic learning the steps and movements, evidently having fun. Inspired with what’s going on, I joined them and now giving some pointers to the teachers on proper execution of the dance steps and movements. One of them, Carolyn Benigno, from the “Mabuhay” Cultural School in Maryland, who attended the Gala Ball the previous week, informed the others that I directed and choreographed the dance presentation at the ball.

These volunteer teachers encouraged me to demonstrate some more. At this point, I told them that I will plan to hold my second workshop on “Philippine Folk Dancing: Training the Trainers.” Three years ago, The Embassy of the Philippines under the leadership of Cultural Consul Joy Quintana sponsored my first workshop. It was attended by folk dance teachers and trainers in the Metro Washington, DC area. Some were university students from Georgetown University, George Washington University, Catholic University, George Mason University and American University. Others were from the University of Virginia who drove all the way from Charlottesville. These young leaders had a common desire to promote Philippine culture by presenting Philippine Folk dances for their school programs. Observing how they performed, I was inspired to help them. They became the focus of my workshop admiring their genuine interest and enthusiasm to promote Philippine culture. I was informed that they learned the dances from one source to another, copied here and there, and therefore, along the way the authenticity was lost. The result, as I observed in many instances, was that they were performing without the proper discipline of the real Philippine Folk dance steps and movements. On one occasion, I was horrified to see a teen-ager dancing the Tinikling and Binasuan wearing a white sleeveless undershirt and a short skirt obviously without a clue on the proper costume to use. This pushed me to hold the workshop earlier than the planned schedule and included lessons on Philippine costumes and cultural background of representative dances. Going back to the Fil Am Youth Festival, it was indeed a wonderful event for the future leaders in our community. Congratulations to all volunteers involved under the leadership of Ed Tiong.

High-Profile Birth of a Baby
I congratulate Fred and Viqui Embuscado on the recent birth of their first grandson by daughter Michelle. Friends and other people knew about the baby’s birth because it was in the TV news. Why? Because the baby was “pinanganak sa daan.” Michelle miscalculated the time based on her experience with the first baby. She did not make it to the hospital, called 911 shortly before the baby came out. It happened somewhere along the Dulles access road. The paramedics arrived, but it was the father, Norman, who nervously did the greater part in the emergency delivery process.

I actually did not pay much attention to the TV that evening because I was multi-tasking – cooking, writing my “to do” list and listening to the news, glancing at the TV once-in-a-while. It was Norman at first shown in the hospital room being interviewed by the anchorman and I thought he was just another Asian guy. But when the camera closed in on Michelle holding the baby, I recognized her and glued my eyes on the screen. Of course, the phone in the Embuscado household immediately was burning with calls. It spread very fast like a wild fire.

Cheers to the young parents of baby Jasen, Michelle and Norman Cruz, to the maternal grandparents, Viqui and Fred Embuscado and to the paternal grandparents, Norma and Henry Cruz.

Email: Pagsibiganr@aol.com