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It’s almost unimaginable but true—some 800 wildfires are blazing
in many western states, and in the Midwest, their problem is of an
opposite kind: Stormy weather and flooding in the plains as levees
and dams fail to contain the rushing waters of the Mississippi.
In our beloved golden state of California,
runaway fires destroyed thousands of acres of fields and mountain
forests as close to San Francisco as Santa Cruz, San Jose, Brisbane
and Napa Valley. The culprits was either Mother Nature, an arsonist
or an accident.
From our front door (in South San Francisco) on
Sunday, we could view the fiery spectacle in nearby Brisbane, as
flames gobbled up acres of brush on the San Bruno Mountain, but
luckily saving the homes on its slopes. Lightning strikes also
sparked countless fires in places too remote and inaccessible to
reach except by air.
From the Philippines, on the other hand, The
Filipino Channel and local media kept us updated on the destructive
typhoon and the tragic shipsinking that claimed more than 600 lives.
Filipino-Americans commiserate with our kababayan and even now,
fundraisers are being hastily organized. In fact, we have already
received emails from Assumptionistas (Grace Maramba) who are
spearheading a fundraiser for the victims, mostly from Iloilo and
Antique, the provinces hardest hit by the storm. The US government
has been quick to come to the country’s aid. No less than US
President Bush after his meeting with President Gloria Arroyo
announced that help is already on its way.
The Philippine Independence Day celebration was
reportedly Ambassador Paynor’s first big event hosting the Fil-Am
community. He’s been stationed here for almost a year, but has
been most often out of town.
The reception was held at the historic War
Memorial building across San Francisco’s gold-domed city hall,
where just a few days before, Lea Salonga performed to a full house
of adoring fans at the Herbst Theatre. Paynor personally greeted
each guest and the Consulate offered a brief and simple program and
outstanding Pilipino merienda fare courtesy of some restaurants like
Jollibee and Tipanan.
Among the community leaders and long-time Bay
Area residents who attended were Vic and Aida Barrios, Mario
Panoringan and Marico Enriquez (Fil-Am Coalition), Chit Applegate
(true-blue Republican who is bravely running against an unbeatable
Democrat incumbent for the state assembly), Linda Galeon (Philippine
Association of University Women), Cherie Querol-Moreno (who just
recently lost her mom, Charing Querol, former Evening News society
editor), Dalisay Bocobo-Balunsat, Lorna Dietz, travel executive
Manolo Relova and Ninoy Aquino Movement leader Goya Navarrete (also
known as the mother of famous standup comedian Rex Navarrete).
Fine wine, good food and entertainment that was
truly Pilipino—the Independence Day celebration was another
milestone event for the community.
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