Call it FACLA’s coming of age, as this Sunday, April 24, will be an unbridled polished affair of sight, sound and scene that will collide with the Filipino American’s Community of Los Angeles at the Glendale Hilton.
It will be a promise of a life-changing celebration about dignity, respect and caring; a splendid celebration of youth and the nuance of growing older, grappling as individuals with multifaceted experience, human development, recognizing growth potentials inherent in growing 71.
The quest of every heart is the deepest human yearning of acceptance and recognition (and so shall it be). In the noisy confusion and pressure of today’s world, against the great canvass of economics, politics and far reaching world affairs, tt makes one long for warmth, tenderness, kindness. Anchored on the principle of respect for a united Fil-Am community, all of these echoes the goals of incoming FACLA President Fernandico Q. Gonong Jr. His best friend is peace, as he has watched and listened to tales of both tears and laughter, their weaknesses and strength, learned some good lessons to illuminate a sense of openness to large issues one needed to know. Materialism coarsens the soul, so that aspect was never a problem for this young leader.
What he had invoked was an openness about the management of the office, that brilliantly reflects the full dimension of perseverance, honesty and hard work.
So it is not surprising that since his assumption of the leadership in FACLA, his regular meetings are an assessment of parallel efforts, not discounting in a light vein, includes current events, who’s rocking the boat, who’s been misbehaving, among officers for each camp. This creates a bond of unity, if not gratitude.
The back story
It was called FACLA’s coming of age—when leaders weighed down with a sense of guilt about the seniors. It became a place of togetherness and belongness where they regularly danced, held birthday parties and prestigious beauty contests.
That sense of importance and worth they feel they earned was never denied them by any president, regardless of how turbulent and fragmented their reigns were.
For years, it was a serious haven, even when frictions grew and stirred other groups. Competitiveness, jealousy, pique, hurt feelings, obsession and inferiority outrage has caused unnecessary stress on all the officers.
This can and do explode periodically. The tumultuous time of FACLA’s fragmented souls, the elders were there not waiting for death, but for each day to come.
Today, it has come a long way. The incoming president of the Filipino community of Los Angeles is (among other things) dedicated to the Fil-Am youth of today and tomorrow: to generate interest in them towards our rich cultural heritage, to perpetuate the ideals of our forefathers, and to promote a greater harmony in our own society.
It is equally dedicated to all past presidents, officers and loyal members of the organizations through the years. With their unnerving spirit and perseverance, they have made this center possible.
Benjamin Manibog was President in 1965 and of the most popular PR persons, was “Uncle” Larry Perkins.
Today, it has come a long way.
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E-mail Mylah at [email protected]
