The past weekends saw a long roster of significant occasions, cultural events, and social celebrations which, if seriously considered, could have definitely occupied much of one’s precious time. As they say, there were so many social occasions but so little time…and there were even more significant things to concentrate on than merely socializing. But such is the decree of existence and the present-day way of life—to mingle and intermingle.
One affair hard to ignore was the recently concluded 2014 Philippine-American Friendship Committee, Inc. (PAFCOM) which kicked off with a Grand Marshall Ball last April 5, a Coronation and Friendship Ball last May 24, and a Golf Tournament on Saturday, June 21, prior to the well-attended annual Parade & Festival last Sunday, June 22, which marked the celebration of its 22nd year.
Aptly led by the affable PAFCOM President and Overall chair Mario Garcia, together with this year’s Grand Marshals Dr. Edgar and Mary Jane Lerias and Honorary Grand Marshal Freeholder William “Bill” O’Dea, the Sunday parade participants ardently converged at Claremont and West Side Avenues where an ecumenical and interfaith mass was held at 10:00 AM followed by the customary ceremonious ribbon-cutting.
The much-awaited parade kicked off at 12 noon and inched its way along West Side Avenue where a mammoth crowd of parade watchers enthusiastically lined on both sides cheering and ogling at the colorful multi-cultural assembly of floats and pageantry. The long carnival on-the-road ended up at Belmont Ave by Lincoln Park where an entertainment stage was already sizzling with attention-grabbing production numbers while the scattered crowd held on to their sufferance beneath the scorching temp.
Festival chair Maureen Javier Varco, herself a tested performer, effectively manned the program’s line-up to a smooth flow. The NU7 Band, composed of NY/NJ musicians, opened the show with a medley of alternative, pop rock, and easy listening music genres…and the first day of summer became even more scorching with the remarkably sizzling line-up of performers.
Truly a celebration of Filipino-American talents, PAFCOM’s music festival’s Part I segment was enormously loaded with promising and established performers: upcoming young singer Tiffany Salazar, aspiring singer-song-writer Camille Azarcon, star potential and NY-based rapper Paully Awad aka Paully Dot-8, singer-beauty queen Christine Soriano, PAFCOM 2012 Singing Idol Winner Radha Martinez, the Community for Urban Dance & Art (CUDA), the most in-demand OPM-Pop Sound of Manila (Suzanne Sabangan & Hermie Angeles), and PAAC (a Filipino cultural and civic group from Connecticut).
The sterling performance of the RELM Band, a diverse and unorthodox second portion group which features budding beauty queen thirteen-bopper Alyssa Jade Shoemaker and equally beauteous mom Maureen, undeniably raised the bar to a galliard level with an unprecedented 30-minute performance.
Other A-rated entertainers that composed the second segment were: multi-talented teen singing sensation Seven Odon, Dance Theater Philippines led by former Bayanihan member Virgie Alvarez, R&B singer-songwriter-recording artist Eric Garzon better known as Eric G, PIDCI three-time grand champion BMNYE, 8-year-old singer-pianist Reignn Acedera, terpsichorean champions Jaryd Farcon and Kyla Dzhaniashvili, young Fil-Am soprano and potential concert prince Jared Martin, comedian Rich Kiamco, and the multi-awarded 2008 Junior Champions of ABC hit show Dancing with the Stars and 2011 TV5’s Talentadong Pinoy Hall of Fame brother-sister tandem Craig and Samantha Abaya-Campos.
The final one and a half hours were designated for the most-awaited part of the show—the TFC Hour and hosted by Balitang America’s Don Tagala, Adobo Nation’s Monette Rivera, and comic segment host Gelo.
After a couple of fun games on movie trivia and quiz-type games about TFC-related shows, the vibrant hosts finally segued to what the audience had been waiting for—the personal appearance of celebrity guests Maja Salvador and Matteo Guidicelli.
Matteo, garbed in a sporty body-hugging long sleeved blue shirt over dark tight-fitting jeans, wowed the crowd with his own vocal rendition of popular ditties that excited the former despite the latter’s far-from-a-pro singing voice and merely capitalized on his self-acclaimed fame that was even hyped by his open romantic relationship with showbiz singing royalty Sarah Geronimo. The day before the parade, Matteo, having arrived ahead of Maja, graced PAFCOM’s golf tourney and gamely executed the sport event’s maiden swing- and-putting.
The crowd went wilder and turned boisterous the moment Maja Salvador mounted the stage. Attired in an all white ensemble of pants and blouse, the effervescent Legal Wife co-starrer, startlingly concealed her abated enthusiasm to perform (when her back-up dancers inevitably failed to show up) by gathering all her highly spirited tactics she could muster to maintain her cool and not be affected. Just like a real trouper and a pro that she is, a couple of songs were instantly added to her repertoire to make up for the dance number that her audience was expecting…and they were not frustrated.
Suffice it to say that the recently concluded PAFCOM parade and festival achieved a rousing success and based on statistics, this year’s event had greater number of attendees and a wider variety of vendors and stalls. While police and security visibility was in every nook and spot the event came to its end sans the slightest disorderly hitch and that rightfully earned due credit for the organizers.
Incidentally, PAFCOM’s 2014 set of officers and this year’s movers and shakers are: Overall Chairman/ President & Chairman of the Board – Mario V. Garcia, Executive/Recording Secretary – Helen Castillo, Corresponding Secretary – Ellen Alonzo, Treasurer – Ledy Almadin, Asst. Treasurer – Angelita Roxas, Auditor – Luis Morales, Asst. Auditor – Rebecca Cooney, PRO – Augustus Salud Jr.,
Technical Advisers – Gerry Austria and Domingo “Jun” Hornilla, Legal Adviser – Emerito Salud, and Governmental Relations – Ed Toloza and Pam Andes.
Overall Vice Chairs: Special Events- Isagani Puertollano, Parade – Joel Flores, Festival – Rose P. Javier,
Committee Chairs: Grand Marshals’ Gala Night Chair – Nena Smith / Co- Chair – Medy Taeza, Friendship Night & Coronation Ball Chair – Annelyn Flores / Co-Chair – Joyce Castillo, Parade Chair – Greg Agulan, Parade Marshal – Rene Reniva, Parade Logistics Chair – Lito Pernia, Festival Chair – Maureen Varco / Co-Chair – Bobby T. Yalong, Booths & Exhibits Chair – Mila Simba, Liturgy : Sonia Balandra, and Golf Tournament Chair – Oscar Fernando / Co-Chair – Jun Espiritu.
But behind all the grandiosity of the pompously celebrated festival and the full-blown intensity of the entire show was a noticeably substantive yet unrecognized and uncomplaining soul which this writer personally witnessed from the early start to the final moment. Comfortably donned in loose cotton top over a pair of cropped pants, barely equipped with a cap and shoulder bag, this overly zealous lady indefatigably meandered around the entire festival ground: overseeing, commanding, checking, and giving last minute instructions…making sure everything was going on as planned and every detail was accurately done. Unmindful of her unmade-up look, disregarded her being clurky and despicable with plain deportment (as compared to her colleagues who were all dressed to the nines and in full regalia), this hard-working unsung hero more than deserves an accolade. And for that uttermost dedication to your job, I doff my hat to you, Helen Castillo… you’ve effortlessly proven your worth as an indisputably unrivaled leader!
And so for whatever it takes and wherever destiny leads them, PAFCOM is determinedly committed: candidly treading diverse paths but merely focused into just one direction with a common goal.
Emma Sofia Gapasin turns two
Baby Emma Sofia Rojas Gapasin blew her 2nd birthday candle last June 15 amid a Disney Princess-theme party set at the posh The Manor Restaurant in West Orange, New Jersey. Proud parents Gregory and Patricia, together with grandparents Rogelio and Ramona Gapasin and Rolando and Gregoria Rojas, took turns in welcoming and entertaining guests. Dressed in a especially designed couture costume unmistakably a duplicate to cosplay her favorite Disney character the birthday baby gaily made the venue her spacious playground…running around and chasing with her equally costumed guests.
A namesake and avid fan of Princess Sofia the First, two-year-old Baby Sofia could stand watching the 3D computer-animated television series (featuring the little girl with a commoner’s background who became a royalty when her mother marries a king) over and over the whole day. If there’ll be but one thing that could instantly cast her tantrums away that would be playing the Disney character for her to watch or wrap her around Grandpa Roger’s arms and she’ll be okay.
To Baby Emma Sofia, may you grow up to be successful in whatever your heart desires!
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