Page 12 - Hello Philippines January 2016 'A' Issue

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DALY CITY, Calif. — Every
December, many City Councils in the
50 states vote for one of their members
as Mayor to preside at their meetings
and represent them in community
events the following year.
Last week, Daly City welcomed
back Sal Torres, the lone Latino on the
council, as Mayor, and David Canepa,
the lone Caucasian on board, as Vice
Mayor.
For the Filipino-American
community, the big event of the night
was the commendation for two of
their own by the outgoing mayor, who
is also one of their brightest political Paniza built on her newfound network
stars.
Before stepping down from his
second go-around in four years, Mayor
Ray Buenaventura conferred his top
awards to Dorie Cachuela Paniza and
Jasmine Cruz, as well as to Moon
and Yoon Choi – residents who have
contributed to the civic and economic
well-being of the city with the highest
concentration of Filipinos in the
continental United States.
“I am thrilled to award these
distinguished ladies for their
accomplishments,” Buenaventura
told author. “They both are equally
deserving based the contributions
they’ve made in our community: Mrs.
Paniza for her outstanding community
service and Ms. Cruz for her impact in
the arts and culture.”
Paniza received the Citizen of the
Year award.
Pinoys in Dubai, Paris attend Simbang Gabi
DESPITE being far from home, many
Filipino Catholics in Paris, France, and the Philippines in their quest for the good crowd reached 20,000 people, which he
in Dubai, United Arab Emirates still
attended the first day of Simbang Gabi
or Misa de Gallo celebrated in their
areas.
In Paris, the Mass was held at the
Saint Bernadette Church with Msgr.
Donvito Pavilando of the Philippine
Chaplaincy in France as the celebrant.
The Mass was held in coordination with
the Philippine Embassy.
According to Pavilando, the message
of this year’s Simbang Gabi is the
protection of migrants worldwide,
including overseas Filipino workers
The Iloilo native who, with her
husband Lambert Paniza, owns and
manages care homes in San Francisco,
South San Francisco and San Bruno
and extended staff care in Millbrae but
equally devotes her time and energy to
activities in San Mateo’s biggest town.
Paniza first made her mark on Daly
City when she ran for the City Council,
perhaps the first Filipino-American
woman confident to concretize her
aspiration to join Buenaventura and
before him Mike Guingona as elected
members.
Though unsuccessful in that race,
and raised her visibility in the city.
Guingona took notice of her bravura
and appointed her to the Library
Commission.
Paniza currently sits on the town’s
newest panel, the Daly City Arts and
Culture Commission. She is also vice
president of the Pilipino Bayanihan
Resource Center and the Daly City
Host Lion Club. But her presence is
now felt beyond North County.
She is the current president of the
Filipino American Democratic Club of
San Mateo County and vice president
of the Filipino American Chamber of
Commerce- San Mateo County.
She is equally involved in
community organizations as adviser to
many local senior associations.
This season saw the Panizas –
including sons Gilvin and Reigil - in
the thick of donating, collecting and
(OFWs), who have to leave their families in
life.
He emphasized in his sermon that
migrants should be welcomed regardless
of gender and nationality.
And just like the Philippines, those
who attended the Mass feasted on known
Filipino delicacies afterward, among them
nilagang mais, kakanin and arroz caldo to
combat the cold weather there.
In Dubai, the Mass was held at St.
Mary Catholic Church and was attended
by a huge crowd of Filipinos, including
Philippine Consulate and labor officials
and their families.
IMMIGRATION / OFNEWS January 2016 – No. 01 • UK & Europe Edition
Philippines’ 45th Anniversary in
‘Citizen of the Year’ Dorie Paniza with life and business ‘Youth of the Year’ Jasmine Cruz with Daly City Mayor Manila.
partner Lambert Paniza. Ray Buenaventura Now a teacher’s aide at the famous
Daly City performing arts school
distributing toys in the Dec. 20 joint San Francisco native Jasmine Cruz, owned by a Filipino American, she
drive between PBRC and the Filipino whose parents hail from Leyte and is performing the role of Sugar Plum
American Law Enforcement Officers. Bataan, displays her commitment in a Fairy, Ballerina Doll and Reed Flute in
different milieu. theschool’s full-length production of
For herself and the family, Paniza the holiday classic The Nutcracker.
said she wishes “peace and prosperity” The 2015 Youth of the Year was
for the holidays. not quite 4 years old when she began Café owners Moon and Yoon Choi
displaying a talent for dance. Her have much in common with their
This latest laurel doused any doubt parents supported her passion for the fellow-laureates.
that she belongs to her home city. art form and encouraged her pursuit
of jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary and The immigrated from South Korea
Confronted by a fellow appointed classical ballet. in the early 1970s.
official why she deserved the mayoral
commendation, Paniza had no second The ballerina has been winning Coming to this country suspended
thoughts: “For community service,” dance competitions throughout the their military and teaching careers
which she said she vows to continue United States and received intensive but opened new opportunities for the
in 2016. scholarships from Gelsey Kirkland couple.
Ballet Academy, Boston Ballet, Next
“She always helps,” said PBRC Generation Ballet and American Ballet They first opened a cozy nook in the
president Erlinda Galeon. Theater. Fillmore District of San Francisco then
explanded to a full-service restaurant
“You can count on Dorie to be Last year she represented the on Polk Street. They headed south to
supportive,” said Perla Ibarrientos, Westlake School of the Performing Daly City, and called their They then
PBRC board chair and, with Galeon, Arts in the homecoming gala of Ballet bought Westlake Coffee Shop which
previous recipients of the mayoral has been a part of Daly City history for
award. over 60 years.
Moon and Yoon Choi have owned
and run Westlake Coffee Shop for
over 30 years, serving regular loyal
customers and senior customers in the
community. That shop was forced to
close, but relocated the business with
the help of The City Council.
Goodwill and service, the Chois,
Cruz and Paniza know, are more than
a holiday tradition. n Cherie M. Querol
Moreno / Philippine News / Published / December 25,
2015 / 1:26 pm
By Rev. Fr. Chito Bartolo’s estimate, the
said was higher than last year’s attendance.
In his sermon, Bartolo tackled unity
among Filipinos.
The event was also marked by the
lighting of the giant Christmas tree while
a choir sang Christmas carols in the
background.
Simbang Gabi, or Dawn Mass, is a nine-
day novena held in honor of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, prior to Christmas Day. It
starts on December 16 with the 4 a.m.
Mass and culminates with the Misa de
Gallo on Christmas Eve. n KBK, GMA News /
Published / December 16, 2015 / 5:56 pm
Parol from Pampanga featured in Geneva’s lights festival
A five-foot tall parol from San want to show a meaningful gesture festival last December 3.
Fernando, Pampanga will shine atop of friendship and camaraderie
“This glorious representation of the
Geneva’s main train station, Gare with Geneva and the international Star of Bethlehem… is a celebration of
Cornavin, throughout the holidays to community that has called it home, light and color, reflective of the vibrant
give residents and visitors a glimpse of so what better way than to bring here warmth of Filipino culture and traditions.
Filipino culture. an important facet of our culture, a It is also a beautiful symbol of openness
The parol, a donation for the annual piece of our own home?” said Amb. to the world from our international city,
Geneva Lights Festival, also aims to Cecilia Rebong, Philippine Permanent Geneva,” Barazzone said.
give the Filipino community in Geneva Representative to the United Nations
The parol was created by City
a sense of familiarity and to foster and Other International Organizations. Tourism and Investment Promotion
camaraderie with the Swiss city’s Geneva City Counselor Guilliaume Office of San Fernando, Pampanga. n
multicultural inhabitants. Barazzone thanked the Philippines for Rie Takumi / JST, GMA News / Published / December
“We in the Philippine Mission the addition during the opening of the 23, 2015 / 4:56 pm