MOKA. Governor Pineda. Mayor Dear, and Executive Commissioner Cucueco join Most Outstanding Kapampangan Awardees that included Paule (leftmost), Elito Santarina (3rd from left), Aguas and Calvin (3rd and 2nd from right).
Photo by Bong Z. Lacson
LOS ANGELES – Celebrations for the 440th anniversary of Pampanga Day started Saturday amid a swirl of socio-cultural and interactive activities at the Hilton-Los Angeles Airport here.
“It is fitting that the official kick-off of all celebrations for the Aldo ning Kapampangan be held here in America, if only to show how far the greatness of our race has gone,” said Gov. Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda in her keynote message, as she paid tribute to the “global Kapampangan.”
Speaking in the native tongue before some 200 professionals, businessmen and civic leaders of the
Kapampangan community, Gov. Pineda said “pride in the Kapampangan heritage and the innate industry, resiliency, spirituality and intellect of our race made our cabalens not only survive but moreso excel in all endeavors anywhere in the world.”
“This is most especially true to you here in the United States, where you have carved out your share of the American dream,” she told her audience that included Consul Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon.
“And for that we are honored, even as we are grateful for the help you unceasingly send to your relatives back home, sharing with them the fruits of the prosperity you are reaping here,” the governor added, getting rounds of applause from the assembly.
Virgen de los Remedios
With the theme “One Culture, One Community,” the celebrations were organized by the Pampanga Day Celebration Commission (PDCC) headed by Mike Cucueco.
The activities started with a Holy Mass in honor of the Virgen de los Remedios, the patroness of Pampanga, with the Mother of Good Counsel Seminary Alumni Association as camaderos.
A trade exhibit preceded the Governor’s Forum where the Pampanga Development Plan was presented.
In the same forum, Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo and MInalin Mayor Arturo “Katoy” Naguit talked on the trade and tourism potentials of their respective towns centered on the fishing industry and aquaculture resources, a river cruise, resort on stilts and festivals like the Ibon-Ebon (in Candaba) and the Aguman Sanduk (in Minalin).
Naguit likewise highlighted the declaration of the Sta. Monica Parish Church in his town as a National Treasure.
Later in the afternoon, the Mutya ning Kapampangan was selected from among local lasses. Proclaimed as Mrs. Pampanga Day 2011-Los Angeles was Lubao Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab, resplendent and, as some matrons in the audience said, “she easily outshone” the younger titlists.
The Gala Night Programme capped the celebrations where over 400 cabalens in the best of their fineries came, the significance in the number of attendees did not escape PDCC Executive Commissioner Cucueco, noting it as “an amazing coincidence or serendipity, perhaps. Nearly a perfect match – one Kapampangan for every year of Pampanga’s existence.”
Traditional Filipino dances like the pandango sa ilaw were presented by Ang Lahi, a local dance troupe, and song numbers were rendered by Louie Reyes and Angeles City-born and –bred Antoinette Taus, as well as Pampanga “imports” Jonas David and April de los Santos.
The highlight of the night was the Most Outstanding Kapampangan Awards presentation with the governor, Cucueco and Carson City Mayor Jim Dear handing out the trophies.
Among the awardees were Cher Calvin for professional excellence, Carmelita Paule for government service, and Vidal Aguas, an alumnus of the Mater Boni Consilii seminary, for religious and civic service.
Star Awards too for those who “worked hard’ to make the celebrations successful were handed out, notably to LA-based columnist Larry “Ang Salarin” Pelayo and Mau Gepte of Infomax-GNN-44 in Pampanga, who also acted as emcee along with Personalan partner Rey Ymang.
Inspiration
Governor Pineda was likewise given a plaque of recognition by the City of Carson in recognition of her “leadership excellence that serves as an inspiration in governance not only in the Philippines but even in California, USA.”
Recipients too of certificates of appreciation from the City of Carson were the Pampanga mayors in the governor’s delegation comprising of Cayabyab, Pelayo, Naguit, Jun Tetangco (Apalit), Venancio Macapagal (San Luis), Romy Pecson (Magalang), Annette Balgan (Macabebe), Teddy Tumang (Mexico), Peter Flores (Masantol), Jomar Hizon (Bacolor), Chito Espino (Arayat), and Josefina Leoncio (Sasmuan).
Board Members who accompanied the governor were Fritzie David-Dizon and Jun Dimson (2nd District), Trina Dizon and Rolly Macalino (3rd District), Ric Yabut and Nestor Tolentino (4th District) and Dein Henson, president of the councilors league.
SP Resolution 2250
The Los Angeles celebration of Pampanga Day 2011 was an initiative of the PDCC grounded on the belief, as Executive Commissioner Cucueco put it, that “having one annual celebration every year will at least bring together Kapampangans for a single cause which may lead to overall unity.”
Unity served as recurring theme throughout the celebrations, in songs like Kapampangan Ku, and Abe-Abe which the governor underscored amid an apparent dissension among certain groups here which was raised in one question at the Governor’s Forum.
“Let us sacrifice ego and misplaced pride, draw on our spirit of fellowship towards a renewal of our sense of close-knit community,” Pineda said.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pampanga passed on June 8, 2011 Resolution No. 2250 “…commending present and past commissioners of the Pampanga Day Celebration Commission, USA for their patriotism; and supporting them in celebrating Aldo Ning Kapampangan, USA every December 11 of the year.
