We have received positive feed­backs from various organizations all over North Amercia egging us to launch more programs and activities that will bring together all the descendants of Datu Puti and Raja Suliman now residing in Canada in one colorful event such as the Philippine Summer Festival.

Some of these organizations and low-profile individuals who have made good after years of hard work and dedication are also full square behind us as we en­deavor to propagate goodwill and camaraderie in the community.

This is one way to strengthen our bandwagon and solidify our identity as active community and trailblazer in economic and cul­tural progress.
In fact, the “Festival @ the Oval” launch is now in full swing, and the excitement begins to build up from way down Kamloops and Kelowna to up north Pemberton and Whistler, within the ferries from Nanaimo and Victoria, from all of Greater Van­couver to across the border in Seattle, Washington. Filipino communities from all over beauti­ful British Columbia brace them­selves for this very first mega-event of the third largest ethnic community in the province. And there’s no stopping them now! “Hataw Pinoy!” promises to rock the magnificent Richmond Olym­pic Oval grounds on August 28- 29, 2010 with a caravan of 10,000 to 15,000 Tagalogs, Ilocanos, Ka­pampangans, Bicolanos,Biyasas, Cebuanos, Ilonggos, etc., all all marching under the ban­ner of Filipino Canadians, fill­ing the breeze with an aroma of sumptuous adobo, bagnet, sini­gang, dinakdakan, pakbet, atbp. The Filipino Canadian Cultural Heritage (FCCH) of BC spear­heads this fiesta event, along with a long list of sponsors, stallhold­ers, patrons and donors, all want­ing to catch a piece of the action as it unfolds into a gargantuan celebration, with a “Hataw Sayaw” competition and a “Sing-galing” event, reminiscent of the famed “Tawag ng Tanghalan”. Direk Robert J. Tongko, a well-respect­ed name in the entertainment arena, provides the blueprint for a 2-day program of unparalleled performances and delights. A line-up of talents now undergo careful scrutiny, all wanting to take center stage, as if belting out an Elvis’ tune “it’s now or never!” No less than 50 food concessions and merchandise booths will line­up the entire stretch of the Oval backyard to literally “feed the need”, be they foods or moods of old and young alike. And be that as it may, stallholders just scram­ble to get a slot or two, lest they miss the 2-day blow-out opportu­nity for their products and services leads. Forms have been out both online or faxed, and vendors of the just concluded independence day celebrations provide the lead scouts on booth occupancy. I am reiterating the invitation here to please come and join us... and, at least for a couple of days, experience once again how it is to celebrate in an atmosphere of great fun, good food, and grateful fellowship, like only a full-blooded Pinoy can! See you there!

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The recent meeting between the effervescent and vivacious promoter Don King and the eva­sive Floyd Mayweather Jr. in South Florida most recently has fueled speculations that the dream Man­ny Pacquiao-Mayweather setto is heading to the doldrums.
After failing to beat the dead­line set by Top Rank chief Bob Arum for him to sign the dotted lines in the rich Pacquiao deal, Mayweather was seen in a serious huddle with the controversial Don King, sparking another fear that the two may have agreed to ink a deal after ditching with finality what would have been the richest fisticuff ever in ring history.

I can’t imagine how will fans all over the world react if Mayweath­er, touted to be the No. 1 nino bonito of the Golden Boy promotion, cavort with Don King who is trying to resurrect his tattered im­age after a series of nightmarish court bouts with prominent per­sonalities in fight business who claimed they were conned and taken for a ride by the macabre-looking King. It’s like Dr. Jekyll renewing his infamous ties with Mr. Hyde once again.

For sure, serious fight fans have already dismissed Mayweather as a dimwit and good-for-noth­ing and if his titanic match with Pacquiao will be scrapped with finality, he does not deserve to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame but in the Hall of Shame.

To add insult to injury, he needs to tandem with King to complete the sham and demagoguery.