Finding Sugar Ray Dr. José Rizal: Meaning Leonard? What Do We This An inspirational and Really Know “real” talk about your About Him? Season health goals to Teens speak about welcome the New Students take a look their Christmas Year 2019. into his relevance. Page 1 Page 1 Page 5 December 2018 · Vol 2 No12 FILIPINO AMERICAN VOICE • UPLIFTING OUR COMMUNITY FREE inside Season Of Love Christmas means... Christmas is... This Sakada’s Offspring Hopes fulfilled, dreams to come! has engaged so much on Maui. Would you believe? Ghenesis Jhay Balaan p.6 t’s the season of giving, peace, and love. Christmas is filled with traditions, from I gifts wrapped under the tree to mistletoe hung in the doorways. Christmas used to be an annual festival held at churches to commemo- rate the birth of Jesus Christ. Now, when the word Christmas is mentioned, people think about presents, lights, trees, food, family, and Sometimes we need to do friends. As we celebrate the holidays, we are a double-take to identify, passing down the traditions to the next gener- Christmas defines who we are as we relate to each other—to our family, friends, who is the real Santa... ation. They are the ones who will keep the schoolmates, workmates and other people in our lives. What does Christmas mean to p.7 Christmas spirit alive in the future. Teens today you? see SEASON next page Welcome 2019 How do we really spend Start Strong–Start Now! the Christmas Season in our hearts? Sharon Zalsos Banaag p.12 erry Christmas to Coach, Health Community and you! My family Food. Armed with dedication, “M health issues really determination and self-discipline, helped me in my weight loss.” A Oandasan achieved her goal to strong why from Leizl Oandasan drop unnecessary weight, and of Kahului, past president of the more importantly, to live a Santo Niño Club of Maui, which healthier lifestyle. flourished under Oandasan’s She was so inspired by her leadership. In addition to her in- now health coach who also lost volvement with the Santo Niño fifty-seven pounds after being in Club of Maui, Oandasan is also a the program for eight months. supervisor at Marriot, Kä‘anapali, To witness someone’s health a mother of three and a grand- transform from bad to good, mother. She loves to travel and Oandasan wants to also inspire is involved in the Visayan com- others with her own success sto- munity statewide. How does she ry. Now, as with anything in life, make time for her health? “Since there are challenges and hurdles my Dad died from colon cancer to be faced. For her during this and my Mom is a dialysis pa- weight loss, it was rice. “I grew tient, and I myself have my own up eating rice all my life, three health issues, I decided to join a square meals a day included nutrition program.” According to rice. Food with high amounts of Leizl Oandasan inspires many with her determination and Oandasan, this program is com- sodium and sugar; I had to self-discipline. It is evident in a noticeable change to her prised of four components which change my eating habits to that body structure, but also to her personality, confidence, and includes Free Education, Health see START STRONG p.3 self-image that she exudes and carries well. PHOTO: LEIZL OANDASAN 99% of the time that I was on the 4 a.m. in the morning. If Louise could Season… skating rink” she said. It was also the ask Santa for one gift, it would be a rest of her family’s first time ice-skat- round trip ticket to Italy. “I want to from p. 1 ing, “so it was funny to see all of us visit my grandma and to explore the view the holidays as a reward after holding onto the wall for dear life.” country’s beautiful streets,” she added. completing another stressful half of a Katrina would definitely rather spend Katrina Rabang believes we need year in school. During the holiday sea- Christmas in the snow because “in more humanity in this world especial- son, they are able to thank their Hawai‘i we don’t get snow–only friends and family whose continued every once in a while at the peak of support and love keeps them inspired Haleakalä.” Since her family spends while they study. The celebration of most of their holidays in Hawai‘i, it giving, and the celebration of family would be nice to spend it somewhere and friends are not really new but where it snows. they are new in that today they are Christmas has a special place in Ka- trina's heart, it’s the time where she can spend time with family. A lot of families, including her own are very busy throughout the year. Christmas is the one day they can all spend time Louise Dantes together. Her mom usually makes pancit or Filipino desserts to celebrate. to those around her. “I love the hype Some of her favorite Christmas tradi- leading up to it. Whether it would be tions are going with her family to through setting up a Christmas tree, church in the morning and then re- shopping for friends and family, bak- turning home to open presents. Later ing, making gingerbread houses, open- at night, her whole family, including ing advent calendars, or watching aunties, uncles, grandparents, and Christmas movies,” she added. Just Katrina Rabang cousins have a get-together at one of thinking of Christmas makes Louise her family member’s house. “There, the happiest. ly because of the amount of negativity we eat lots of food, exchange gifts, Her holiday season revolves around and cruelty that people around the and sing karaoke” she added. her family, being merry, and experi- world are experiencing from others. To Louise Dantes, Christmas means encing euphoria. One of her favorite This is why for Christmas, if she could a time of pure bliss. Once December Christmas memories is celebrating in ask Santa for one gift, it would be Katrina Tolentino 1st comes around, she is instantly hit the Philippines in 2016. “I have never everlasting world peace. She prefers by excitement. She enjoys shopping felt the spirit of Christmas as much as giving rather than receiving because what defines Christmas. and wrapping gifts for her family and I did there.” Louise hadn’t celebrated she enjoys seeing the smiles on peo- “Family, Joyful, and Magical.” This friends during this time. “I prefer giv- Christmas with so many of her rela- ple’s faces after they open their gift is what Katrina Tolentino describes ing presents rather than receiving be- tives before and seeing everyone so from her. “I also don’t like to ask for her Christmas experience every year. cause knowing that I made someone grateful and happy, even by the small- much because I’m grateful for what I One of her favorite Christmas memo- happy already satisfies me and I est things, made her realize what already have,” she said. ries is going to Las Vegas last Christ- wouldn’t have asked for more,” she Christmas really means. Christmas is Katrina uses the three words: fes- mas and ice-skating for the first time. said. What Louise enjoys the most really hyped in the Philippines and she tive, heartwarming, and joyful to de- She was very inexperienced and was about Christmas is the joyful spirit it remembers attending church around scribes Christmas. She celebrates scared of falling. “I held on to the wall gives out, not only to herself but also see SEASON p.4 From the Officers, Directors and Members of the BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jorge Tirona Leo Agcolicol PRESIDENT Aris Banaag Melen Agcolicol VICE PRESIDENT Kauanoe Batangan Elsa Agdinaoay-Segal Clayton Fuchigami SECRETARY Lawrence Pascua Dulce Butay J.R. Regalado TREASURER Dominic Suguitan Sharon Zalsos Richard Minatoya IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT LEGAL COUNSEL Lilia Zalsos-Ross Officers and Board Members were sworn in by San Juan Metro-Manila Mayor Guia Guanzon Gomez Become A Member! Visit... www.mauifilipinochamber.com/join 2 | Fil-Am Voice | December 2018 | Vol 2 • No 12 Myrna stands with other wor- thy competitors PHOTO COURTESY MYRNA BAGGAO BREEN Myrna Baggao Breen won the International Multi Sport Expo: Natural Body Building competition in 2014. PHOTO COURTESY MYRNA BAGGAO BREEN that time, I was fifteen pounds heavier Start Strong… than what I wanted to be and less en- ergetic for sure. I was only thirty-four from p. 1 years old, so I knew I didn’t have any of healthy foods. My liquid intake is excuse to be so sluggish. Dee gave me half of my body weight,” she added. “I simple steps to follow and follow those stand by my passion to pay it forward simple steps I did! Chris Dee (right) motivated me by telling and also inspire others. Should anyone 1. Make a decision in your mind to in the community be interested in me that she doesn’t make a change and off you go. It “work with lazy and making a life change and live healthi- means now. Not tomorrow morn- unmotivated people.” er, I am happy to help and make my- ing when you wake up; not after PHOTO COURTESY self available to coach them as well. New Year when all the good eat- SHARON ZALSOS BANAAG Message me on Facebook.” ings are done; make a decision… Another example is Myrna Baggao NOW! Breen, who four years ago won the In- 2. Wake up in the morning and drink ternational Multi Sport Expo: Natural a protein shake.