ABILENE, TX VOL. 11, NO. 6 NOV. – DEC. 2003

Abilene, Texas Mabuhay! 2003-04 Upcoming Events The USPFO is always open for expansion in membership. At the June meeting, a motion was passed to do away w/2 We enjoy having new additions to the great, big, old USPFO of the events & to add a function. Both the Mothers’ & Family that consists of approx. 100 families. Since we are a Fathers’ Day picnics will no longer be held. In their places growing Filipino community, let’s try to recruit more people! will be a Halloween party, w/the 1st 1 being thrown this yr. Below is a list of the gatherings to plan for, so mark your MEMBERSHIP INFO calendars! The people-in-charge were chosen at that Family Membership is $20 per year. meeting, so contact them if you wish to volunteer your help. Single Membership is $10 per year. Event Date Chairperson/Contact Children that live in a member’s home and are not married Halloween Party 1 Nov. 2003 Lyn Rosario may stay on that member’s membership. X’mas Caroling Dec. 2003 Nenita Reyes If a child attends school and lives there, he/she may stay X’mas Parade Dec. 2003 Denny Svab on that member’s membership as long as he/she are X’mas Party Dec. 2003 J.R. Albritton attending school. Valentine’s Dinner Dance Feb. 2003 Once a child marries or moves out of the member’s home, he/she must obtain his/her own membership. Halloween Party The very 1st annual USPFO Halloween party, which will be Next Meeting headed up by Lyn Rosario, will be expected to be a huge WHEN: Sun., 2 Nov. ’03 at 6:30p.m. success. Among those in attendance to this Monster  Normally held on 1st Sun./mo. w/exception of holidays Mash/Bash, the following categories will be for the (i.e. 4th of July) at 6:30pm. costume contest: … WHERE: Sacred Heart Catholic Church Meeting Bldg.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS TITLE Name * Tel.# PRESIDENT: DON DOLTON 677-8453 VICE PRESIDENT: DONNY HUDDLESTON 677-4807 SECRETARY: ELAINE DISPO 518-5907 TREASURER: CHRISTY EMERSON 123-4567 ENTERTAINMENT A DECADE STRONG! COORDINATOR: MING CASE 698-5819 In the summer of 1993, Filipino families would gather at ASSOCIATE OFFICERS one another’s houses in order to discuss forming a union. To SECRETARY: RICHARD CHAMPAGNE 672-8866 make a long story short, this community came to be known ENTERTAINMENT COORDINATOR JOJO MIMS 695-2736 as the United States-Philippine Friendship Organization, DANCE GROUP w/its name suggested by Mr. Ding Villasis. Among other MANAGER: LYN ROSARIO 698-3123 founding fathers of this fine Abilene-based association are: SECRETARY: BEVERLY CHAMPAGNE 672-8866 Loyd Albritton & Denny Svab. Over the course of these TREASURER: MING CASE 698-5819 past 10 yrs, many more families have joined to make up this INSTRUCTOR: CONNIE CARMICHAEL 676-2276 big, happy family that we are in today. We have all grown to support each other in good & bad times & shall continue… ADVISORY COUNCIL ADVISORY BOARD CHAIRPERSON: ROSIE SVAB 675-0446 ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER: TERRY ROSARIO 698-3123 MILITARY AFFILIATIONS

Page 1 MILITARY COORDINATOR: RICHARD CHAMPAGNE 672-8866 SERGEANTS-AT-ARMS: DENNY SVAB 675-0446 WeddingWedding AnniversariesAnniversaries JORDAN REYES 675-6656 NEWSLETTER STAFF ([email protected]) DONNY HUDDLESTON ([email protected]) 677-4807 ELAINE DISPO ([email protected]) 518-5907 DATE NOVEMBER DON DOLTON ([email protected]) 677.8453 SUNSHINE LADIES DATE DECEMBER BEVERLY CHAMPAGNE 672-8866 ZENY HUDDLESTON 677-4807 ROSE SIMS 672-7884 HappyHappy BirthdayBirthday

PHONE COMMITTEE DATE NOVEMBER ALVINA KITCHEN 672-2590 PILAR MCDONALD DATE DECEMBER 677-9753 TIM MARSH 793-9687 The Dispos’ Prayer Requests LINA MUSGRAVE 692-4085 During Labor Day weekend, the Jun & Estrella Dispo, * Please remember that due to the high volume of service, joined by their older daughter, Elaine Dispo, went to 2 Abilene’s area code has changed from 915 to 325 effective family events. Unfortunately, the first one was for the between the months of April & October 2003. If you need funeral of Jun’s paternal cousin, Norma Ramos, who also to call any of the above long distance by dialing the area happened to be their younger daughter, Joanne Dispo’s code first, be sure to use 325 instead of 915 from now on. ninang (godmother). She perished from sarcoma, among other tumors that had spread throughout her body since Good & Bad News her return from the Philippines just a few months shortly Our hearts go out to all that have lost love ones. If you before her death. The late Mrs. Vennie Ramos is survived have lost someone near & dear to you: a family member or a by her husband of 34 yrs, Ven, & their dog, Princess of friend, pls. contact one of the MABUHAY staff members Carson City, Calif. Another one of Jun’s cousins, Karen, the (below), and we will print your announcement so that others older daughter of his father’s cousin, Dr. Honario Dispo & can help & share your grief during your time of sorrow: Mrs. Helen Dispo, tied the knot in Plattsworth, NY on Sat., NEWSLETTER STAFF ([email protected]) 30 Aug. Welcome Home once again, Aida Razon! Estrella DONNY HUDDLESTON ([email protected]) 677-4807 Dispo’s older sister recently returned to the States on ELAINE DISPO ([email protected]) 518-5907 Sept. 14 from the Philippines, where she spent a month DON DOLTON ([email protected]) 677-8453 w/their mother & her children & grandchildren. Their eldest sister, Dr. Fe T. Reyes-Dollette, of Towson, MD, DEADLINES celebrated her 62nd birthday the following day. The due dates for the MABUHAY bi-monthly newsletter are usually on the 20th of the mo. prior to its press release: Smooth Recovery 20 Dec. for Jan.-Feb. ‘04 In late August, Tina Gunn suffered from a stroke & was 20 Feb. for Mar.-Apr. ‘04 admitted into Abi. Reg. Med. Ctr. Now that she’s back at 20 Apr. for May-Jun. ‘04 home safe ‘n’ sound, we’d like to extend our best wishes for 20 Jun. for Jul.-Aug. ‘04 her steady healing. She’d Let’s reassure her that she’ll be 20 Aug. for Sept.-Oct. ‘04 in our intentions & thoughts of her feeling better soon.  E-mail info to [email protected] OR Inform a newsletter staff member about your news. SUNSHINE ladies The Sunshine Ladies were recognized for their generous Corrections efforts at the Oct. monthly meeting. They are the ones Hey, we try but let’s face it, perfect is hard to be. If you who make phone calls regarding illness or death of members find something in the newsletter that is incorrect (like or their families, as well as collect donations or bear gifts – birth dates, anniversaries or just something) please bring it such as fruit baskets or floral arrangements – to hospital to our attention and we’ll once again try to be perfect.~DH rooms, the homebound, or to funeral/memorial services. They include: Beverly Champagne, Zeny Huddleston & Rose Sims – who is usually only limited to making phone calls. Beverly has been a Sunshine Lady for a few yrs. already, but the latter two have recently joined. If you know of a

Page 2 member who has taken medical leave or is terminally ill, pls. & the Winners are… refer to the roster for their contact information. The 50/50 drawing winner for September was Beverly Champagne & for October was ___. If you attend the  Fun ‘n the Sun  monthly meetings & contribute to the raffle for tickets, Now the kids can continue on enjoying the USPFO you too could become the one who goes home with half of festivities when the families get together at the picnics. A the $$! soccer ball has been purchased for the main purpose of youth entertainment - & there will be additions, such as: a Turning a New Leaf volleyball, a basketball, & a baseball that is safe enough for - Elaine Dispo – children use. If you have anymore ideas for sports Now that fall has just begun, it’s time for Back-to-School. equipment or toys that can enhance the youngsters’ This yr, I didn’t return to graduate school in pursuits of my activities, pls. Let Beverly Champagne know, & any Masters degree, yet I hope to do so next yr if I’m lucky. contribution they will be greatly appreciated. However, instead of joining a newspaper staff or news team, I’ve chosen to follow a different path. Much of this CookBook decision had to do w/the lack of Good News: We are still working on the USPFO Cookbook  anchoring/editing/reporting jobs in the area, as well as my As many Filipinos as there are who have shared w/us their own lack of working experience (w/only an education behind exotic cuisine, now is the time to give us your secrets! You me & student publications under my belt) in order to land a can still submit any recipes to Richard Champagne. job elsewhere. Anyway, I’ve taken on a job as Fitness Consultant/Personal Trainer at the Power Shack Gym in the USPFO T-SHIRTS & CAPS River Oaks Village. Pls ck out the ad below for more info: Let’s hear it for some Pinoy Pride! We have tees & hats galore for our members to show USPFO spirit wherever they represent. The T-shirts – which are available in sizes Large, X-Large, & XX-Large - are $10 each. The adjustable baseball caps are $6 a pop. Buying & wearing our association apparel is now a proud tradition of the United States- Philippine Friendship Organization! Power Shack Gym & Fitness Center! Abilene’s Oldest & Something New Most Professional Health Club! They’re here and you can have one today. That’s right: the flags that show your pride & its part of your USPFO Logo are a part of your heritage. The twin flags of the U.S. and the Philippines gather on one pendent. Get yours today from Rosie Svab for $5.00. All proceeds go to the USPFO. (Actual size shown.)

Money Corner STARTING (beg. Oct. ’03) $2,251.61 INCOME: $ 197.00 EXPENDITURES: $ 440.44 ENDING BAL. $2,008.17 DANCE GROUP TOTAL: $ 487.36

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BA in Communication

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