I was so glad to read about the May 08 Hawaii Filipino Fiesta featured in our website. But I didn’t see any photos about the Santacruzan so I decided to share some in here. That was me as Reyna Esther! I won the event among 33 beauties paraded as queens. I became the first Miss Santacruzan and got awarded with a trophy and $300 cash. It was the first ever Santacruzan contest here.

The writer below is the daughter of the late journalist Maximo Soliven, the publisher of the Philippine Star before his death two years ago. Manong Max was born and raised in our neighboring town of Santo Domingo. His late father Benito Soliven was our Congressman in the first district of Ilocos Sur during the outbreak of the World War Two. He was the youngest ''diputado'' at that time.....he was called to active duty during the war and served in Bataan under the USAFE...he was a prisoner of war (POW) during the Bataan death march, died with malaria in Capas, Tarlac concentration camp before the Japanese released him. He is a great Ilocano leader, statesman, a soldier and a hero who gave his life to his beloved country. Apo Benito has a big monument in the town plaza of Santo Domingo...taldiapan yo no lumabas kayo.

Most of us once we left our country of birth for another country, we always find ourselves thinking of going back. To some of you, you probably left the Philippines for some other reasons and never even thinking of going back anymore. But the majority of us always want to go back home again because we are either homesick of our culture, miss the old way of life we were used to or miss our families and friends we left behind.

I’d like to share a Cinderella story to all my fellow Filipino most especially my fellow Magsingalenos. After reading such a remarkable story, it truly makes me a proud Filipino and truly illustrates how artistic and talented Filipinos are. Let this be an inspiration to everyone- DON’T GIVE UP… DON’T STOP BELIEVING!!

Just as we start talking about some lofty aspirations for the town and whatever else we can potentially do as a community that is out of what we are used to seeing, I could almost see many of us flashing that smirk of cynicism, starting to doubt people’s real motives, and maybe even quietly calling people names while reading some of the posts on the site about the proposed project. And to me that’s acceptable for as long as we keep it at a healthy level of scepticism. Of course we all have the right to be sceptical. We’ve grown up with it.

When Vic asked me to write for MagsingalPlaza.com, I felt very honoured by the opportunity but at the same time hard-pressed for a topic to write about. I realised though, as I set out to introduce myself in writing and how I came to know Vic, that it's been eight years since I moved to Australia with my wife Imelda.

One significant noticeable contribution to the Philippines from Spain, whose colonization of our Motherland the Philippines for almost 400 years, is our names. Not necessarily our surnames but our first names.

We went to Taronga Zoo some weeks ago and this is probably one of the zoos in the world with the most spectacular views. It is nestled on the ridge in one of Sydney’s peninsula-suburbs. For those of you who have not been to Sydney yet, it is touted as one of the most picturesque harbours in the world. What makes Sydney a pretty harbour city is...

This volcano is the most active volcano in the world. It has been steaming and erupting since the 1980’s. In fact, the lava that this volcano spills into the Pacific Ocean is so spectacular that people around the world camp near it to see nature at its best. The lava flow into the sea/ocean makes this island bigger everyday. Maybe millions of years from now the...

To all the readers out there, I would like to share my story as a young mother, with the hope that it will help other kids to make their lives better.

When I was at my very young age, I dreamt...

After months and months of preparation and fund raisings, March 28,2008 finally arrived in Magsingal for the Officers and Members of Magsingal Association of Northern California (MANC) who traveled from various parts of the Unites States led by Nestor Viloria. It was their first Medical and Dental Mission in Magsingal, and surely will not be their last.

March 28th was a warm and humid day and at 8:00 a.m....

MARCH 21, 2008 / 0600 HRS
AUCKLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
NEW ZEALAND

Arrived at the Auckland International Airport in the early morning of March 21, going straight to the immigration counter to present my passport for formalities. The staff are very courteous and nice as usual...after stamping my passport she greeted me, “Happy Easter” and “Welcome to New Zealand”, with a smile and I greeted her back, “Happy Easter too, nice to be here...

I still remember as a young kid, gallera was the place where rich, prominent people in politics, professionals, businessmen and regular people spent their time and money especially during town fiesta, Holy Week and Christmas time. They came from different towns and sometimes, even from neighboring provinces.

A VERY NOISY PLACE, before and after each game. Anyone can enter the place and you don’t need a license...