EGA The Official Publication of N Ethe Filipino-American Associatio n o f Northeast Georgia (FAANEGA) S

Volwne 3 Number 1 Spring 2004

WDy]ie a Memamper

SQ shyfr th()se wbQ are flat

yet mem1l 5 why J1QCSt ri p tocL1Y-

I $spe

from IeI 10 right clockwise Romy Mercado Fred LnoJoe Porqzwz Rudy UIZO Glgi MClsnlin Claire Cnpnranga Ella de Guzman Nenab Vennard no pictured Mary AlIlle Akf1s Cbarlie Chong Nfda Fernandez Uly Pnguio Fmnccs Rmns(y

Officers and Committees of 2004

The ne w FAANEGA officers Conunittees and Communications Public Relations

of 2004 are as fo llows Chairpersons Ella de Guzman Charlie Chong

President shy Ways amp Means Wendell Tumale

Ella de Guzman Co-Chair Joe Porque z Co-ChairGigi Magsalin Cultural and Education

Vice President - Nida Fernandez Co-Chair MalY Anne Akers

Nida Fernandez Rudy Lazo Co-Chair Lily Paguio Romy Mercado FASA

Secretary -Claire Caparanga Membership

Ramon de Guzman Charity

Chair Gigi Magsalin

Treasurer - RudyLazo Fred Lao

Fred Lao Joe Porquez Lily Paguio

Counselors- Sports Congratulations to the executive

Mary Anne Akers Rudy Lazo Gigi Magsalin Romy Mercado Joe Porquez Frances Ramsey Neriah Vennard Socials

Chair Wendell Tumale Manny Aitares Edwin Hilario Jay Lao Jay Tumale

board of 2004 May your term be full of accomplishments and new opportunities As always the Filipino-American community supports all of your eandeavors Good luck

Co-Chair Claire Caparanga

Advisors - Co-Chair Neriab Vennard

Charlie Chong Lily Paguio

Gay Chong Agnes de Guzman Nida Fernandez

lffSsa e Pw1ii the Pre$iaent

Calendar ofEvents

Meet the Board

Alam ba Ninyo

Cales of Events

ARl l -Pa ler PICl1it - pdl 1 -Sandy cteik Park

- upcoming evenrs after lhe month I) f M~)( Will he pre-en4i in the next i Ot of the FAANBGANews

Ella de Guzman

Contributors Amy Combo EdwirfPolong

~~Artene Tumofe Wendell Tumole

~welCtlme )Olr sUlSCStIOts$nd COOIIlhlimls tltl the LltllJQjttbe above ttld~ s ortl Ihegt ~10Wihg

emall addrltsS

nr~cricI~Olltom

Message From the President Hello beautiful people of Athens and the world especiallyAthens I am quite flatte red that the FAANEGA community--authority figures in my eyes considering that this community includes my parents and their peers--has chosen me to represent this o rganization It is much appreciated Anyways

Since the beginning (and I mean beginning going way back to 1986 the founding ye ar of this organization that p erpetuates Filipino heritage in Georgia) I have observed that we ope rate on tradition This yea r I want to break tradition but in a positive way I apoligize for the lack of a Valentines Party this year which has been a traditio n in this organization However as I mentioned we are going to try to mix things up this year--fix the unbroken Nothing too se rious though We are just going to try out some new things

The board and I welcome any suggestions and criticisms only positive ones though Le ave the destructiveness and negativess outside with the shoes

Ella de Guzman

Announcements

- the Annual Easter Picnic will be on Sunday April 11 2004 at Sandy Creek Nature Park Look out for more information in your mailboxes in the coming weeks

- Vina Morales and Randy Santiago in concert at the Woodruff Arts Center on April 10 2004 at 8pm For information contact FeJipe De Leon at 770-214-2045

- Martin Nieve ra is scheduled to perform o n May 22 2004 at the Arena at the Gwinette Center For more infoimation email ticketsstmprodu~tionsnet

- Never doubt a small group of thoughtful committed citizens They can change the world indeed It is the only thing that ever has Let us Sparkle the way to fight cancer If you have spare time betwee n 630pm o n May 14th and 800am on May 15th come and join us at Southeast Clarke Prk for the American Cancer Societys Relay for Life For more infomation contact Gigi Magsalin at 706-613-1775

- Once again we have reserved limited beachfront rooms for FAANEGA on during the July 4th weekend at Panama City Beach Florida The dates are Friday July 2nd through Sunday July 4th For more information contact Gigi Magsalin at 706-613-1775

Meet the Board Fred Lao hails from Baybay Leyre and comes from a June 1 2000 She is married to Erwin Caparanga and big family of 11 siblings Before coming ro rhe Unired has a two-year-old son named Erwin James or Ej for Srares he studied and taught mathematics at the short She works in St Marys Long Term Care Facility University of the Philippines With a Masters degree in as one of the nurses in the Careplan Department and Statistics from the University of Georgia under his belt has been a nurse since 1992 Joining the Association is he now runs Athens Tutorial Center and teaches math a big help to break the monotonous flow of her life and statistics as well A die-hard Bulldog fan and avid particularly in the social area This is the very first tennis player Fred also enjoys travelling with his family association that Claire has joined in Athens and she is listening to classical music and he loves to play so glad about it and to be personally involved with its mahjong or scrabble with his friends (hates losing goals and mission though) He is the dedicated husband to Gene a Batanguena and supportive father to Athena Mary Anne Akers is originally from Baguio City She

is a faculty member in the College of Environmental Neriah Vennard is originally from Pampanga Design at the University of Georgia She is happily Philippines She came to this country in the early 1980s married to Tim Akers who is an Assistant Dean for Residing first in New York Chicago and Miami she Research at Kennesaw State UniverSity They have a fll1allysettled down in Cornelia Georgia with her seven-year-old daughter named Aubrey As a family husband Jim She is a very proud grandmother of they love to read and travel la-month old Matt who was born in Athens

Nida Fernandez is married and a mother of three Gigi Magsalin is a wife mother and grandmother who ages 27 20 and 8 An alumni of the University of the lives a blessed life and truly believes that each day is a East in Manila she graduated in 1975 with a Degree in gift from God How we are going to live that day is Business Administration majoring in Economics She our gift to Him (wow naman) works as an administratoroffice manager for Wayne S

Morris Md PC and an active member of 700 club Cla1re Irene R Caparanga is from San Fernando La

continued on page 4 Union Philippines She arrived in Athens GA on

Cales of Events

ARl l -Pa ler PICl1it - pdl 1 -Sandy cteik Park

- upcoming evenrs after lhe month I) f M~)( Will he pre-en4i in the next i Ot of the FAANBGANews

Ella de Guzman

Contributors Amy Combo EdwirfPolong

~~Artene Tumofe Wendell Tumole

~welCtlme )Olr sUlSCStIOts$nd COOIIlhlimls tltl the LltllJQjttbe above ttld~ s ortl Ihegt ~10Wihg

emall addrltsS

nr~cricI~Olltom

Message From the President Hello beautiful people of Athens and the world especiallyAthens I am quite flatte red that the FAANEGA community--authority figures in my eyes considering that this community includes my parents and their peers--has chosen me to represent this o rganization It is much appreciated Anyways

Since the beginning (and I mean beginning going way back to 1986 the founding ye ar of this organization that p erpetuates Filipino heritage in Georgia) I have observed that we ope rate on tradition This yea r I want to break tradition but in a positive way I apoligize for the lack of a Valentines Party this year which has been a traditio n in this organization However as I mentioned we are going to try to mix things up this year--fix the unbroken Nothing too se rious though We are just going to try out some new things

The board and I welcome any suggestions and criticisms only positive ones though Le ave the destructiveness and negativess outside with the shoes

Ella de Guzman

Announcements

- the Annual Easter Picnic will be on Sunday April 11 2004 at Sandy Creek Nature Park Look out for more information in your mailboxes in the coming weeks

- Vina Morales and Randy Santiago in concert at the Woodruff Arts Center on April 10 2004 at 8pm For information contact FeJipe De Leon at 770-214-2045

- Martin Nieve ra is scheduled to perform o n May 22 2004 at the Arena at the Gwinette Center For more infoimation email ticketsstmprodu~tionsnet

- Never doubt a small group of thoughtful committed citizens They can change the world indeed It is the only thing that ever has Let us Sparkle the way to fight cancer If you have spare time betwee n 630pm o n May 14th and 800am on May 15th come and join us at Southeast Clarke Prk for the American Cancer Societys Relay for Life For more infomation contact Gigi Magsalin at 706-613-1775

- Once again we have reserved limited beachfront rooms for FAANEGA on during the July 4th weekend at Panama City Beach Florida The dates are Friday July 2nd through Sunday July 4th For more information contact Gigi Magsalin at 706-613-1775

Meet the Board Fred Lao hails from Baybay Leyre and comes from a June 1 2000 She is married to Erwin Caparanga and big family of 11 siblings Before coming ro rhe Unired has a two-year-old son named Erwin James or Ej for Srares he studied and taught mathematics at the short She works in St Marys Long Term Care Facility University of the Philippines With a Masters degree in as one of the nurses in the Careplan Department and Statistics from the University of Georgia under his belt has been a nurse since 1992 Joining the Association is he now runs Athens Tutorial Center and teaches math a big help to break the monotonous flow of her life and statistics as well A die-hard Bulldog fan and avid particularly in the social area This is the very first tennis player Fred also enjoys travelling with his family association that Claire has joined in Athens and she is listening to classical music and he loves to play so glad about it and to be personally involved with its mahjong or scrabble with his friends (hates losing goals and mission though) He is the dedicated husband to Gene a Batanguena and supportive father to Athena Mary Anne Akers is originally from Baguio City She

is a faculty member in the College of Environmental Neriah Vennard is originally from Pampanga Design at the University of Georgia She is happily Philippines She came to this country in the early 1980s married to Tim Akers who is an Assistant Dean for Residing first in New York Chicago and Miami she Research at Kennesaw State UniverSity They have a fll1allysettled down in Cornelia Georgia with her seven-year-old daughter named Aubrey As a family husband Jim She is a very proud grandmother of they love to read and travel la-month old Matt who was born in Athens

Nida Fernandez is married and a mother of three Gigi Magsalin is a wife mother and grandmother who ages 27 20 and 8 An alumni of the University of the lives a blessed life and truly believes that each day is a East in Manila she graduated in 1975 with a Degree in gift from God How we are going to live that day is Business Administration majoring in Economics She our gift to Him (wow naman) works as an administratoroffice manager for Wayne S

Morris Md PC and an active member of 700 club Cla1re Irene R Caparanga is from San Fernando La

continued on page 4 Union Philippines She arrived in Athens GA on

Alam Ba Ninyo

that Wendell Arlene Justin and Ayssa Tumale moved to Lawrencevi lle GA last October 2002 Their new address is 1223 Overview Drive Lawrencevill e GA 30044 Justin is attending middle school at Alton Crews and Alyssa is in Sa int Lawrence Pre-School

that Shelly Delgado Marcel and Maurice Bouchard and Athena Lao received a Superi or + ra ting at the Athens Music Teachers Piano Contemporary Festival

that Athens Lao an 8th grader won the GMEA All-State Piano Competitio n for her grade level and was a recitalist at the In-Service Confe rence in Savannah

that Athena daughter of Fred and Gene Lao won her school spelling bee geography bee and qualified for the state geography bee this coming April

that Carmin a Escalante a 5th grader at Timo thy Road Elementary and Athena both won in the Biochemistry category at the District Science Fair a nd w ill compete at the Regio nal Science Fair this March

Joseph son of ~herwin and Josephine Lopez an 11th grader at Athens Academy (Honors Program) is on the honor roll and is a member of the Varsity Tennis Team

that Victoria daughter of Bill and Fe Lafluer a 7th grader won a regional music competion (clarine t) in Augusta

that Fred Lao and Steve Barry won 2nd place in doubles a t the Augusta Tennis Invitatio nal

that Paola daugther of Edwin and Raquel Hilario was a gymnastics champion in Athens and Atlanta in her age group

tho TOJrTen FinaHsl Any Camba RighI FASA at tbeMi-SASianAtlanlo Pagae1Jl

Miss Asian Adanta ScholarshiRPageaat

TIle Miss Asian Atllnt1l ~kholarship P~ge~nt was 4~mtrii(ffable part qf mY life tpr rt11triy reas-etis ]l-~artjcuftr j loved reaming lhUul [11( I[Ve5poundfj ~eiShwell remalkahle girls Theyllave surpassed lhe barrie r of rJIe Asiltlrr stereotype arid proved their talenultillJ abiliUes from wit and dla risrna LO detenlunatlon a11d 1) pas$itm for ones Clcltliai iuentiiyeiWb girl 1 fought a upique e lem _fit and dyml~nict() ~he pagetnt experielce

One of the contestants had sta ttd If ir

were to judge tlull pil~eart 1lt10 nOt roink dWJ 1 C9 11lt1 pick one girl Qur of all rhe re~t especiaUYl(ler gelling to know

bull Aifd lQ tIlt J whoJe-BtJtlg in their COmpall)i

-~ my

N t ohly was the png6nl an (lppoI1uniry ro make new [ r iOds bur als()31 opportunity to arm Ones self with th~ kiUs to d()ing well in thl ~aln world I lite outside of school aridm-tlJe j( 1) market The conte~tants attended a tbCU~$i()n pand aboutA -ians iii rhe job maIKlilt where WI ienmed the importance of networking iU)t how [0

find our lliche in a cOrpQ[1tc Sliming What 1 Learned lIt me PIOel WiS empowering heclue it brvughl IDt one srep closer to hecoming sUllces~1iul It gave m~tht kinow~edge aod the ~onfjdence ro PUfSl1 - my g()al~ fnd drearru

When r first jOifled he pageltlut I di9 qQt really know what I W~ts-g(ttlng into ~ut somttimtt jtllnpihg-inro an exfl~lence headfitSt comes oul with unexpeltted resul antl unexpected Ie ons Iw~d like to tak [his opPQrtlICity to t11111k all those who rook me time tel attend the pltlgeantThe ~L1pp0rt 1received frltlm the fUrpinQ Gomrnunitie~ yent AtlfeQs Allanta and iogusla bas als()llepe~1 t(gt make the pageant one of my rn05t memoralllt expenence

Gary V in Atlanta

What a n incredible experience for me to watch up close o ne of the icons of the Philippine Music 1ndustry--Gary Valencia no Mr Pure Energy was live in concert at the Dekalb Atlanta Centre in Atlanta this past February 06 2004

From his first song to his last in his onshygoing nearly three and a half hou r concert called Gary V Gary gave everything he can offer to his audience

He sang as if it was his first time to face an adoring crowd who screamed a t his dance steps laughed a t his gigs and shrieked at the mere tw ist or bend of his body He was very good at working the crowd too--not just with his songs but a lso with his dance routines So rry but no other Filipino concert performer comes close to Gary not even his closest rival Martin Nievera when it comes to dancing

He shared the cramped stage with half a dozen musicians including musical di rectora rranger Mon Faustino

G arys repertoire included a number of medleys from the 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s hip hop and rock And guess what For those yo unger generations he rendered his own version of Where is the Love by the Black Eyed Peas featuring Justin Timberlake with his talented daughter Kristina singing with him on video screens

When it was time for him to sing his own hits everyone was ecstatic and sang with him He did a medley o[Original Philippine Music such as Di Na Natuto Gaya ng Dat Reaching Out Natutulog Pa Ang Diyos Each Passing Night and Babalik Ka Rin

The screams and adu lation of the crowd grew louder with everyJamiliar tune Otso Otso was definately the crowds most requested number of all And Gary was more than willing to oblige and asked the audi ence to dance with him

I am most touched when Gary fl ashed old film clips of him and his beautiful Puerto Rican mother w ho presently res ides in Orlando Florida The crowd feels for him because Filipinos know what family is a ll about Sentimental as it was it never went overboard

continued on page 4

FAANEGA NEWS Filipino-American Association

of Northeast Georgia (FAANEGA)

PO Box 7123 Athens GA 30604

--------------------------- _ _--------___ _-----------------__- - -_ _------ - - - __---------------- ---------_ _ -__---shy

roam ed to Gay Egtjgilmon CMlli for 17 years and is bIt sed with tw9 eJUlCiten H middotyear old Carlo ancl middotl ear old Aisabtjle

continued from page 3

Gary upped the adrenaline level with dance hits w hich pulled the audience to its feet Songs like Shout for )oy Di Bale Na Lang Look In Her Eyes and other hit songs including Smooth by Santana

Toward the end of the show he sang Sana Maulit Muli with his own accompaniment to the delight of everyone

At the end o f it all I reali zed how sincere and amazing Gary is r admired him even more nO( only for his exceptional tale nt and energy but more so fo r his faith in God commitment to his family and to encourage and inspire people through his gift of music

This concert was promoted by Felipe De Leo n from Carrolron GA who will have Vina Morales and Randy Samiago next on his list

-Arlene Tumale

Collage made by Wendell Tmnnle