Pinakbet – Filipino American News Across America

Filipina American Amber Joy Vinson is the second nurse from Dallas Presbyterian Hospital to be infected with Ebola.  At this writing, she is in stable condition from the dreaded disease.……Mona Lisa Yuchengco, publisher of the internet publication Positively Filipino was honored for her philanthropic work at the Distinguished Citizen Awards by San Francisco’s WestBay Pilipino Multi-Service Center on October 25……..Minerva Tantoco, New York City’s first Chief of the Office of Technology and Innovation, was appointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio to expand high tech tools to help city government……..Several years ago, Justin Lynch of Vallejo and of Filipina and African American ancestry broke Michael Phelps’ swimming record for 16 year olds in the 100 meter butterfly.  Now at 6’1” tall and 18 years of age, he is even better.  As the only ethnic minority swimmer on UC Berkeley’s swimming team, Justin is a strong bet to compete at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil…….Another athletic prodigy Kobe Paras, 6’6” basketball guard from LA’s Cathedral High School, recently committed to attend UCLA.  Last year, he reportedly dunked on NBA megastar LaBron James……As the Founding Vice President of the Filipino American National Historical Society, it has been personally rewarding to learn of the many events celebrating Filipino American History Month across the country.

Bridge Generation News

While this section is usually comprised of happier events, this edition exclusively deals with Bridge Generation members who have recently passed away or are in poor health.  Perhaps it is fitting and timely — the rapidly declining Bridge Generation is the oldest Filipino generation in America; and, October is Filipino American History Month.  May the following celebrate their lives with deep respect:

Fran Alayu Womack, 83, passed away peacefully on September 7, 2014 in her hometown of Chicago. A lifelong resident of the Windy City, she lived in the same Hyde Park neighborhood in which Barack Obama resided before he was elected President.  Hyde Park was a neighborhood that even then was racially and ethnically diverse in an otherwise segregated Chicago.  Fran soon was immersed in civil rights and became active in the political campaign and subsequent administration of Mayor Harold Washington, the first African American Mayor of Chicago.  Her activism led to her appointment as Executive Director of the National Association of Minority Contractors in Washington, D.C.  Ironically, although she married an African American man, he was not supportive of her involvement in the civil rights movement; Fran explained her husband’s position, “He subscribed to a pull yourself up by your bootstraps philosophy.”  Together with her late sisters Ethel and Terry, Fran was a longtime member of the Filipino American National Historical Society, serving a number of years on the Board of Trustees and as FANHS immediate past national treasurer.  Beginning with the second FANHS national conference in New Orleans, she has the distinction of attending every national conference since, including the July 31-August 2, 2014 event in San Diego

Patricia May Andam, 73, of Livingston CA went into “rest” on September 14, 2014.  Patsy was a second generation member of one of an intrepid group of Manong Generation pioneer families that first settled in Livingston during the 1930s.  She was first known for her outstanding play in the Filipino American Youth Club volleyball circuit as a teenager.  In so doing, she followed in the athletic footsteps of her older brothers, Sonny and Fred Pomicpic, who starred with the Livingston Dragons championship basketball teams of the 50’s as well as for the local high school.  As an adult Patsy loved to cook and was especially proud of having one her recipes published in a Filipino American cookbook.  Prior to her retirement in 2008, she worked at Foster Farms for 44 years as a USDA inspector

Sumi Haru (nee Mildred Sevilla), Hollywood actress and labor leader died on October 15, 2014 in Los Angeles, presumably from the effects of chronic emphysema.  Born in 1939 in New Jersey, she was raised in Colorado but spent most of her life in Los Angeles where she appeared in movies and television.  Her acting credits include Krakatoa: East of Java, MASH*, Hill Street Blues, and Beverly Hillbillies.  However, her activities as a labor leader who fought for civil rights for minorities and women were perhaps her greatest achievements.  She was interim President of the Screen Actors Guild in 1995 (for whom former President Ronald Reagan once served as president) and was also the union’s recording secretary for many years.  Additionally, Sumi was a long time board member of the American Federation of Television and Recording Artists.  I first met her during the heady days of the 1970s when we worked together in the short-lived Asian American West Coast movement.  She also was a mentor and role model for countless young Filipino Americans in Southern California

Eladio (Lod) Burila, a longtime resident of Stockton passed away on October 10, 2014 after a long illness.  He was born on November 24, 1936 in Sacramento but spent the greatest amount of time in the predominantly Filipino residential area of South Stockton.  He was active in Stockton area youth clubs as a teenager and later was among the top keglers in the city

Your thoughts and prayers are requested for:   Moreno Balantac of Rancho Cordova CA who recently regained consciousness after several weeks in a coma after suffering a heart attack; Hank Curaza of Santa Maria who continues to be his usual upbeat self after suffering a stroke; and Art Villaruz of Merced CA, scheduled for surgery for a heart condition.