Philippine American Writers and Artists, Inc.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 25, 2008
Contact:
Edwin Lozada
President, PAWA, Inc.
Phone: 415-336-9971
pawa@pawainc.com
PO Box 31928
San Francisco, CA 94131
http://www.pawainc.com
PAWA FUNDRAISER & BOOK LAUNCH OF
Field of Mirrors: An Anthology of Philippine American Writers,
edited by Edwin A. Lozada and published by PAWA, Inc.
San Francisco, CA – Philippine American Writers and Artists, Inc. will hold a fundraiser dinner event on February 16, 2008 at the Bayanihan Community Center, located in San Francisco, 1010 Mission Street, between 6th and 7th Streets. The event, beginning at 6pm, will also launch Field of Mirrors. PAWA’s third and newest anthology, edited by PAWA president Edwin A. Lozada, features 71 Philippine American writers from all over the US. Following the dinner, guitarist Florante Aguilar and singer Lori Abucayan will entertain. In addition, there will be readings by some authors from the anthology.
Oscar Peñaranda, author and President of the San Francisco East Bay Chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society, says about the newest of the anhtologies of Philippine American writers: For a burst of versatile and fresh spirits encompassed within the variety of topics, ages of authors, eras and settings covered, genres explored, it’s hard to beat this anthology extracted from the wide spectrum of human experience. The following is a list of the 71 writers included.
Ceres S.C. Alabado, Patricia Isabel Amoroto, Jennifer Almiron, Rick Barot, James M. Constantino Bautista, Evangeline Canonizado Buell, Luis Cabalquinto, Nick Carbó, JP Catenza, Maria Teresa Mendiola Crescini, Janice De Jesus, Rey E. de la Cruz, Shirley B. Dimapilis, Helen Dizon, Ernesto V. Epistola, Rey Escobar, Robert Francis Flor, Penélope V. Flores, Luis H. Francia, Allen Gaborro, Eric Gamalinda, Sarah Gambito, Victor P. Gendrano, Almira Astudillo Gilles, Bienvenido C. Gonzalez, Remé A. Grefalda, Michele Gutierrez, Luisa A. Igloria, Jaime Jacinto, Paolo Javier, Antonio K. Joaquin, Korina M. Jocson, Vanessa Verdadero Kenyon, Susan T. Layug, Lewanda Lim, Karen Llagas, Edwin A. Lozada, Jennifer Mangantulao Macagba, Enriqueta Cartagena Mayuga, Melanie Medalle, Lora Mendoza, Cora Monce, J. Mark Muñoz, Alex G. Paman, Oscar Peñaranda, Rhodora V. Peñaranda, H. Francisco V. Peñones, Benjamin Pimentel, Jon Pineda, Elmer Omar Pizo, Edgar Poma, Cristina Querrer, Charity Ramilo, Barbara Jane Reyes, Maureen Roble, Al Robles, Tony Robles, Gayle Romasanta, Marie I. Romero, Patrick Rosal, Anthem Salgado, Juliana Seneriches, Janet C. Mendoza Stickmon, Luis Malay Syquia, Leny Mendoza Strobel, Eileen R. Tabios, Annabelle A. Udo, Alberto Vajrabukka, Elsa Valmidiano, Jean Vengua, Marianne Villanueva.
The Philippine American Writers and Artists Inc. is a non-pofit nation-wide organization of writers and artists established in 1998. Its primary mission is to disseminate the works of outstanding Filipino writers who include Philippine/Philippine American culture in their works. PAWA helps to support Philippine American writers and artists through the organization and sponsorship or co-sponsorship of events that promote Filipino American writers and artists, its publications, and through its website (www.pawainc.com). In addition, this year PAWA will begin a scholarship award for college-bound Filipino American high-school graduates.
For more information about the February 16, 2008 event, please visit www.pawainc.com/events.html or contact Edwin Lozada at 415-336-9971, pawa@pawainc.com.
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THE FOLLOWING IS A PRIZE-WINNING PIECE DELIVERED AT THE INTERNATIONAL SPEECH CONTEST LAST SPRING 2000, SPONSORED BY THE TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL. SAID EVENT WAS HELD AT THE RON HUBBARD AUDITORIUM IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. To contact the author, you may send your e-mail at testifyingpower@aol.com.
COME FLY WITH ME
By Granville Ampong
Since my subject is about motivation, I declare, toastmasters and guests, that this year is the era of motivation.
Motivation is a sweeping generalization. But, its cutting edge impact penetrates our better selves: our souls, our goals, aspirations and deepest yearnings.
We reached the moon, through our first American astronauts. Indeed, the mind of man - - -our minds - - -its incredible imagination, evidenced by the advances of technology , is awesome - - -buoyed by motivation. That makes the impossible, possible!
Just an illustration: the eaglet. This creative fell to the from the protective wings of the most powerful bird, the most feared predator of the horizon, the mother eagle.
The eaglet learned to survive scratching the ground with a flock of chicks from the mother hen. Alas, one bright day, the mother eagle was visibly seen high in the horizon. Lo and behold, after several fly-by maneuvers, the eaglet saw its mother. By the masterstroke of derring-do, I call it conventional wisdom, its wings opened wide, it eyes popped up; it buoyed itself and up, up and away, left the earth and soared the limitless skies.
Yes, for an eaglet to learn how to fly is an instinct, but to reach the highest of the sky is motivation.
That, to me, was pure, unadulterated motivation.
We, from all the peoples of the earth, came to this land. We were motivated and lured by the invitation of the blindfolded lady of the Ellis Island, New York, with this simple plea: “Give me your tired, your poor…,” an open door policy to all. Biblically, immigrants come to this promised land of milk and honey - America!
In my case, I left my country to find a better life here. I was uprooted from the culture, from the nurturings of my father and mother, from the company of my loved ones and all.
But, it is not at all a bed of roses. As Sharespeare said, my struggles here could be aptly described as the result of, and I quote, “the slings of outrageous fortune.”
Please listen carefully. On June 17, 1994, my former district manager closeted me in his office: “Granville, your promotion will be effective on Monday.” Elated and upbeat, I hurriedly and gracefully replied, “Thank you, Sir.” “Here is a final check for you.” “A final check? Why?” “…because we have confirmed reports that you are an illegal alien: UNDOCUMENTED!”
That moment of infamy devastated me. It was a bolt of lightning that rendered me a wretched soul.
In my conscience, the “still small voice” got the better of me. I had to wrestle with a collision course of unforeseen circumstances. I rationalized: “Maybe my termination was based on the system of America on law and justice.”
Still I followed my options. It was perhaps the easiest path for me to relieve my pain physically and mentally. I sought the aid of psychics, the assistance of quack-doctors and false prophets. I took refuge in bottles, alone in the corner of the bar. Finally, I realized I reached the so called “dead hit” in my life. All my hopes and lofty aims to succeed in this country were relegated to the back burner. I was ready to give up.
“Giving up? Heck! Was that all there is?”
I lost my resources. No one dared to accept me for a job. I lost my self-esteem.
One big solitary night. Loneliness enveloped my entire being. I imagined the mouth of the abyss awaiting for an easy entrapment: MY DOOMSDAY!
At the nick of time, somebody up there came and pulled me back. God pulled me back.
I felt that somebody really cared for me. I just knew the balm of forgiveness because of my relationship with God.
I saw hope. I knew there was hope for me. Oh, folks, I just broke down and wept like a baby. Something was working into my sensibilities: the mighty hand of my creator--- invisible, yet INVINCIBLE. I gave him glory. He gave me victory. I stood six feet tall.
If you ask me now about my conviction as to motivation, I declare based on the facts that I stood by my faith ’til my last gasp of a flickering and forlorn hope.
Let us be strong, with faith in our beliefs.
This is a wake-up call to all toastmasters and every person living in the United States of America.
Let us look back at that eaglet which fell to the ground a number of times, but each fall made its wings stronger because that eaglet never give up.
Ladies and gentlemen, we, too, can realize our visions, dreams so long as like that eaglet, in the spirit of American freedom, we keep trying and never gave up.
Yes, fellow eagle toastmasters, let us get away from our bootstraps, to the limitless opportunities, unto the sky. Come fly with me.
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