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November 20, 2007  --  Got something to say?
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Kutitap by Becky PagsibinganMabuhay ang Manila Mail!
Another wonderful year of existence, I congratulate my Editor-in-Chief, Bert Alfaro, and the behind the scene editorial and administrative staff for their continuous dedication in the spirit of volunteerism. Over the years, this newspaper has maintained its integrity and quality that helped sustain its continuous operations. Our readers look forward to getting copies because they find Manila Mail both informative and entertaining. It is gratifying to know that they read this column.

Thank you so much.

For Vellie: The Aftermath of the Elections
The raging sea has calmed down,
It was bitter but sweet, the loss and gain,
The triumph and glory of my enemy,
The love and support of my friends and family.

All these engulfed my body and brains,
The ideals, the passion, the hopes, then, the pains,
Its time to turn the turmoil to a peaceful change,
For tomorrow the tiger in me will emerge again.

By: Becky

What Vellie Dietrich Hall Represented
She lost the battle. Sure, it was hurtful and disappointing. Vellie was not alone. We felt it, too.
We worked with her and gave the best of ourselves. Why? Because she inspired us with her passion to give back something to people now that she has reached some success in life. She had humble beginnings, the reason why she understood the situation down there, but she knew also what it takes to rise up.

Vellie was a winner, too. Having a lot of guts in the fiber of her being, she took a stand and assumed a leadership role where she started as a candidate in her district. She was restless. She wanted to make a difference. She got many of us involved in her candidacy. A few were seasoned but most of us in the community were neophytes. She gathered us and shared with us a higher level of experience in politics. This got us personally engaged in activities which gave us the opportunity to be a part of the potential change in the way things were in the district where she belonged. Our own transformation in ideals and social behavior was, indeed, a victory that could be credited to Vellie.

In Appreciation
I personally thank Vellie Dietrich-Hall very much for giving me the opportunity to be a part of her campaign. I was a greenhorn, a neophyte. I knew nothing of politics. She opened my eyes and made me circulate in the real political arena which was alien to me. This was totally different from my experience with volunteer work in the community. I gave it a try and surprisingly, I took the challenge.

The tasks were neither like heading the gala ball nor being in-charge of the Philippine Fair in Washington, DC. Phone banking was a humbling experience. It required exercise of humility and patience. Some people at the other end of the line were nice and sympathetic even if they belonged to the other political party, but the others were nasty and even rude. Whatever the case, your voice must always have a smiling sound as if the other person was right there in front of you.
Other roles I have played were as a volunteer group coordinator, social director, fundraising event leader and parade organizer. I liked the last two activities a lot. On the second thought, the fundraising event was pretty much like being the chair of the gala ball and the parade was like being in charge of the fair. A lot of coordinating efforts were exercised and a thousand details were taken care of the hosts, the invitation, the program, registration, the headliner and/or guest speaker, the emcee, sound system, decoration, etc ..

I loved the parade the marching, orchestrating the coordinated chanting of the walkers, the top-down car, the open-back truck, campaign placards/posters, continuous waving and more chanting/shouting. I guess it was the feeling of pride and loyalty for our Filipino American candidate that kept our adrenalin level high.

In retrospect, I unknowingly became a part of Vellies ideals and what she stood for. She wanted to effect some positive change in her diversely populated district. Had she won as the Mason District Supervisor, I realized I was a part of it. She declared that this candidacy wont be her last. If and when she decides to run again, I am in.
On to Recovery
Mike Banagan of Vienna, Virginia is now home from the hospital recovering from a recent gall bladder operation. An ever jolly and full of humor guy, we knew he was on his way to recovery when he was telling jokes again. Wife, Chris Banagan, was at his side when we visited him.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Mike, for a speedy recovery.

Life Is Too Short
Cora Manansala of Alexandria, Virginia passed away on October 30, 2007. Fred, her husband, related to us that in a span of two minutes he lost her.

That morning, Fred and Cora prepared to go to work like the usual routine. Fred proceeded to their car carrying the bag of his wife. Cora was left behind and said susunod na ako. Two minutes later, Fred had become impatient. He went back to the house and called for Cora.

There was no answer. He went up to the bedroom. The bathroom door was open, the light was on and he heard the water running from the faucet. There he saw his wife lying down on the floor. Immediately he performed CPR on her and called his sleeping son to help. Being a CPR expert, he knew he lost his wife already. The paramedics arrived, did the same thing and brought Cora to the hospital.

The day after Coras death, it was Fred himself who called me to break the sad news. He was very calm. At the funeral, Fred was composed as he received the sympathizers. I thought that he was still in a state shock or in a state of denial. It happened so sudden that things were not sinking in his head, yet. How could you lose your spouse in a span of two minutes? The answer is yes, you could.

The couple had a wealth of friends in the community. They had a pleasant and cheerful disposition that endeared themselves to many colleagues. We pray that Fred find true peace and inner strength as he comes to realization that Cora is now resting in peace in the hands of our Lord. I thank Remy Cabrera and Judy Campanilla for also taking the time to call and inform me of Coras demise.

November Birthday Celebrants:
Christian Mirasol of Burke, VA on 11/4
Dr. Rene Alvir of Annandale, VA on 11/7
Ruby Barbosa of the World Bank on 11/14
Chelo David of Gaithersburg, MD on 11/18
Nina Cunanan of the World Bank on 11/26
Email: pagsibiganr@aol.com

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