THE Grand Dame of Philippine Fiesta in America, the effervescent Mila Mendez, celebrated her nth birthday in the towering function loft of a posh edifice with an elevation of four-stories above street level along the busy Broadway Avenue West of Manhattan. Attended by close friends and associates in the business, Mila painstakingly diced, chopped, sliced, whipped, and personally concocted every single dish especially for her invited friends and guests. On a table laden with sumptuously prepared “finished products,” Mila’s well-wishers insatiably enjoyed sampling the “results” of her culinary expertise.

While other parties often focus on a theme or elaborate settings, Mila’s main concern was what to serve and entertain her guests. With a program ably hosted by Ogie Afable, the high spirited ongoings neither suffered from a lull nor boredom. A night of fun, dancing, singing and even a naughtily-conceived parlor game kept the party ambience alive and atmospheric spirit at its ultimate high.

WASHINGTON, DC – Following a meeting with his U.S. counterpart at the Pentagon on 09 September 2009, Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gliberto Teodoro was assured by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates of the continued commitment of the U.S. government to support efforts by the Department of Defense and Armed Forces of the Philippines to crush terrorists undermining the peace and stability of the country and in undertaking capacity-building efforts for the Philippine Defense Reform Program.

The two officials were pleased with the progress of the security cooperation between Philippine and U.S. military forces and that this has enhanced and further strengthened the Philippine-U.S. strategic partnership and alliance.