HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

That's my Father's Day breakfast meal after the June 15 Mass. After that we brought food to Papa's house for a little salo-salo. I got a very touching card from Gino and also a Nano I-pod. It's very thoughtful of you. Thank you very much. I got text greetings from Ronnie, Doris and of course, Kuya. Thanks.

I also like to greet De a belated Happy Father's Day. I have no excuse why I couldn't call, but, let it be known that Daddy was on my mind that day. Take care and hope you celebrated it. I love you more now that I live my life patterned from what I saw and learned from yours. Like honesty, family pride, trust, fear of God and hard work ethics and most of all, I wish, your expertise in letter-writing. The last one is a tall order, but, nobody can say I couldn't try.

HIPOLITO REUNION

The Souther California Hipolito Family reunion was held at Jimbon's Chula Vista house. It was fun and very filling event complete with games and delicious Pinoy foods. Everybody was there except for Joy, who has to work and that's why we weren't able to see Tyler. I wish I would see him so I can take his picture and how he's looks and talks.

After that late afternoon, on the way to drop-off Fletcher at his downtown condo, we have the chance to drive around and took picture by the military ship-museum, SS Midway and the Bob Hope Tribute near the San Diego Bay. We feel like tourists in our own city. Again, we had fun. When you visit us, we'll show these and more. See you soon.

PHILIPPINE FREEDOM CELEBRATION

We showed some Filipino pride by wearing barong when we went to hear Mass last June 14. After getting home from the church, we took turns in posing in front of Gino's very big flag. Di ba Gino looks like Manny Paquiao. Cool na cool. Ako naman parang bigatin (dahil sa tiyan!).

Philippine Independence day is celebrated here by the Pinoy community with a cultural festival held at the City Hall grounds. We, here in the States, have in these past few months been feeling the Pinoy pride, starting with Manny Pacman's boxing win against Juan Marquez followed the discovery of singer Charice Pempengco and the new lead singer of the melodic rock band, Journey, by both the American music fans and musicians and celebrities like Ellen Degeneres and Oprah Winfry. I'll touch on these more in my next posts. And another singer who's getting a big exposure because of great voice is Madonna Decena in England's "Britain's Got Talents" TV show.

I've also read and watched American celebreties who are half-half say that they are proud to be a Filipino. And there are scores of them in the entertainment world that I didn't know before. All these attentions are well-deserved and it's about time the world take notice. And it's not the rich and famous, bright and beautiful Pinoys that gets the credit, it also include our ordinary countrymen like the many OFW who sacrifice their own lives, the ordinary employees who do their best to do the work right. Mabuhay Talaga Ang Mga Pinoy!