Helping Hands
October 16, 2005
Thank you so much!
We would like to acknowledge the $65.00 donation from our very dear friends in Miami, to complement our Hurricane Katrina fund-raiser. They were not able to come and join us at Cuillo Centre for the Arts because of a conflict with an event they had scheduled on the same week-end, but they have pitched-in, all the same.
If you are a Miami or Fort Lauderdale resident, and if you wish a Santo Niño visitation at your home, feel free to contact them. If you wish to join them in celebrating the upcoming Sinulog festivities early next year, do not hesitate to call or email.
Click HERE to get the essential information.
Thanks again!
Gawad Kalinga International Partnership Director Visits Florida
October 9, 2005
Self made British millionare, David Wilks, ( who was previously featured in our web site) came to our very own Emmanuel Catholic Church in Delray Beach , Fl last August 17, 2005, and spoke about how the Lord had touched his life in an amazing way. Born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, at the age of 20 , after suddenly finding himself unemployed, he had started his own mail order business selling computer games and successfully turned it into a multi -million business in four years. His company Gameplay.com became Britain’s largest mail order computer supplier. Yet, despite the vast amount of wealth he had and living the fast life, ” I still found my life empty”, according to David. By fate, he befriended a Filipina who told him about Gawad Kalinga in Phils, little did he know that was the turning point of his life.
Today, David Wilk is not only the International Director for Partnerships of GK, but he is also considered a GK hero.He gave up his fast life in Britain and has now settled in Manila,( happily married to a filipina,) and is a very active GK mover and spearheads several GK projects around the Philippines , most especially in the disaster-ravaged and poor communities of the country.
David Wilks has been touring the United States to speak about the true heros, the Filipinos, and the true spirit of bayanihan., and to gather support for the projects of Gawad Kalinga itself. According to him, GK has now reached other countries like Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and India because the system works.
The night was attended by FOSNI staff, Couples of Christ, Emmanuel Parishioners , the filipino community of palm beach, YFC, and was presented by Gawad Kalinga and ANCOP-USA. Please click on the pictures.
For more information about GK and how you can help, please click on our web link or write to :
Gawad Kalinga
349 Ortigas Avenue
Greenhills East, Mandaluyong City, 1554, Phils.
Cuillo Gig
September 27, 2005
Cuillo Theater, by Clematis Avenue, Downtown Palm Beach, Florida.
The September 25, 2005 repeat performance of our broadway production benefitting the victims and heroes of Katrina was a rousing success. Shown above is the theater marquee starkly inviting the public to watch “Our Favorite Things” on the heels of “Respect”, a musical celebrating womanhood. Cuillo Centre of the Arts is right smack in Downtown West Palm Beach, Florida. Tickets were not sold, but donations from the spectators thronging the venue reached a substantial plateau.
Support staff ably and wonderfully complemented performers to spell success. The smiles above (taken after the show) are testimony to the significance of this collaborative achievement. Shown standing, from left to right: FOSNI stalwarts William Manubag, Imelda Kirk, Bella Simbajon (almost hidden), and Marivic Penserga. On Marivic’s left is Benjie Sanson, Gawad Kalinga mainstay in Palm Beach County. Seated, from left: Carol Schwab and Rose Bouchard.
So remarkable what plans different people can actualize, just from working together. In harmony.
Watch for more pictures in the gallery in the next few days.
Hurricane Katrina
September 12, 2005
We seek to do our share. Because we must.
The following is the transcript of flyers and press releases we have been distributing for days now:
An all-girls’ choir, a men’s trio, a few volunteer soloists, join Emmanuel Church parishioners, the Filipino Community of the Palm Beaches, and other concerned families and organizations including the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach County, in a fundraising effort at 7:00 PM of September 24, 2005, and at 6:00 PM of the 25th of September, for the hurt and homeless drifting in the wake of the last hurricane.
Join us for a couple of benefit shows, in true Bayanihan spirit, in a collective effort to assist in the ongoing hurricane-relief effort.
On Saturday the 24th, the first repeat-performance of “Our Favorite Things” will be held at 7:00 PM in Emmanuel Parish Church, 15700 S. Military Trail, Delray Beach. The second performance will be at 6:00 PM on Sunday the 25th, at the Cuillo Center for the Arts, 201 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach.
Stella Maris, the all-girls’ choir, and The Delray Trio, which includes Father Ding Zamora of Emmanuel Church, are among the ensemble of volunteers determined to donate time and effort in this project. Joycee Dujale, an RN at JFK Hospital, directs.
We think of ourselves as a part of one of God’s equations. Complete it by joining us. Come and be counted !
Donation tickets are available and are being disseminated. For performance and donation information, please refer to the following:
Emmanuel Parish Office at (561)496-2480
Bella Simbajon at 561-496-7702 or 561-843-2580
William Manubag at 561-386-6550 or 561-963-0724.
Broadway Tribute
September 4, 2005
A week before the August 27, 2005 dinner show, the usual jitters and boils cropped up; caused by the worries of what little details might have been missed, watered by fears of lines that might be forgotten. This was evidenced by short tempers carefully ignored, surreptitiously swept under individual rugs.
The Day, thus, was consequently turned into an anticlimax, of sorts. As we have learned in past shows, frayed nerves were nursed for naught, for the show, like all we had produced since the FOSNI inception, was a surprising success.
Proceeds of this show went to the Emmanuel Catholic Church’s Building Fund.
Expect more write-ups about this particular event. Manzel — BobMac’s other half — will be coming up with a behind-the-scenes piece soon. We figured other start-ups might wish to have some kind of resource, as far as what to expect or what to prepare for, and a piece on how this dinner-show’s overhead was kept to a minimum.
Take the collage above, that Ron has aesthetically rendered, as an indication of success. The venue was packed. Although the AC equipment valiantly tried, the air grew stiflingly hot inside. If nothing else, the heat index provided us an insight into how the show was received — nobody left!
The Lord be praised. Amen? Amen.
This is the Day !
August 27, 2005
From start of practice to the arrival of The Day, the reality that this particular show has proven to be the most difficult to prepare for has slowly sunk in. Translating the production concept, as far as the props were concerned, into actuality has given us doses of headaches, and has stretched our collective patience really thin.
For better of for worse, it has been a privilege to work with everybody involved in this. From Carol Schwab and Rose Bouchard, who donated and prepared a lasagna dinner for 112 guests, to the other volunteers who unstintingly gave of their time and resources; from the young and lovely members of Stella Maris, to Joycee Dujale and her supportive parents. From Msgr. James Fiore, to the Emmanuel Parishioners.
Finally, we are ready. Pray for us!
FAVOURITE THINGS - A Tribute to Broadway
August 27, 2005
AUG. 27, 2005: “FAVOURITE THINGS - A Tribute to Broadway”
GK Partnership Director Visits!
August 20, 2005
Self-made British millionare, Dylan Wilk, came to our very own Emmanuel Catholic Church in Delray Beach, Fl last August 17, 2005, and shared his testimony of how the Lord had touched his life in an amazing way.
Born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, Dylan, at the age of 20 , after suddenly finding himself unemployed, had started his own mail order business, from his mother’s garage, selling computer games and successfully turning it into a multi-million business in four years. His company, Gameplay.com, had quickly generated profits counted in millions of pounds, finally becoming Britain’s largest mail order computer supplier. He, as quickly, became the 9th richest man in the country.
Yet, despite the vast amount of wealth he had and living the fast life, ” I still found my life empty”, according to Dylan. By circumstance, he befriended a Filipina who told him about Gawad Kalinga in the Philippines. Some months later, he decided to make a personal visit there. Little did he think that that was the turning point of his life.
Today, Dylan Wilk is not only the International Director for Partnerships of GK, but he is also considered a GK hero. He gave up his fast life in Britain and has now settled in Manila, (happily married to a filipina) and is a very active GK mover. He has spearheaded several GK projects around the Philippines , most especially in the disaster-ravaged and poor communities of the country.
Lately, Dylan Wilk has been touring the United States to speak about the true heroes, the Filipinos, and the true spirit of Bayanihan, and to gather support for the projects of Gawad Kalinga itself. According to him, GK has now reached other countries like Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and India.
He said, with conviction, “the system actually works”.
Presented by Gawad Kalinga and ANCOP-USA Palm Beach Chapter, the night was attended by FOSNI staff, Couples of Christ, Emmanuel Parishioners , members of the Filipino community of Palm Beach, and Youth for Christ (YFC) members.
Shown on the photo above, from left to right: YFC Director Fe Reyes, FOSNI staffers Rose Marie Baldonado and William Manubag, Dylan Wilk, and yours truly.
For more information about GK and how you can help, please click HERE, or write us at info@fosni.com, or write to :
Gawad Kalinga
349 Oritigas Avenue
Greenhills East, Mandaluyong City, 1554, Phils.
Dylan Wilk
August 18, 2005
Yesterday, a personable speaker dropped in at Emmanuel Church for an inspirational talk. A millionaire at 25, he did something remarkable that few young people at his age would do.
Dylan Wilk of Bradford, West Yorkshire - unemployed after having previously worked for a mail order company selling fish food and pond pumps - first sought help from The Prince’s Trust (Prince of Wales) in 1994. He had been refused backing from the high street banks to start up a computer games mail order business.
Mr Wilk, then aged 20, was provided with £2,500 start-up capital from The Trust, and, in four years, his company, Gameplay.com, became the country’s biggest mail order supplier of computer games, a turnover of more than £15 million, and a staff of 34. He was long in wealth, but well short of ideals to really live for.
The story of this young man’s life is still writing itself. We thought it a great privilige to hear his testimony.
Santacruzan 2005
August 3, 2005
This year, the celebration of this uniquely Filipino religious-cultural event was different. Our home parish in Delray Beach, Florida, had originally voiced interest towards participation in Filipino-organized events. The FOSNI staff, who were in the forefront of this particular celebration, worked towards making this happen.
One significant reason why we constantly seek to keep our Filipino religious festivals alive outside our native country is the intent to introduce the uniqueness of our values to our children, some of whom have never set foot in the Philippines. We hope that whatever qualities which make us uniquely Filipino will, in some inexpressible manner, trickle down, if unconsciously, into our children.
This year, we at Emmanuel Parish claimed a worthwhile justification to bolster our intentions - that of cementing a common ground. There are so many things that separate us from each other; nation to nation, culture to culture, race to race, personality to orientation. And there are still so many reasons why we should seek a working place for spiritual and cultural harmony.
We are happy to say that, this year, we were able to achieve those first steps towards mutual enrichment.