Megan Young - Fil

fil-am who’s who
FIRST ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
JANUARY 2014
Megan Young
Beauty with a Purpose
PIDCI
Bringing Filipinos Together
2013 REWIND
FAWW Turns One
In This Issue. . .
Organizations We Love
A Word from
The Editor
4
Cover Story: Megan Young, Miss World
Oliver Oliveros
8
Two Anniversary Celebrations In A Row
Besides the new beginnings that the new year brings, January
2014 also marks major milestones for two media outlets near
and dear to my heart: BroadwayWorld.com, the largest online
theater news site, where I serve as regional editor for nearly five
years, is celebrating its 10th anniversary; and Fil-Am Who’s Who
(FAWW), a monthly magazine that features inspiring life stories
of Filipino Americans in the New York Tri-State area, where I
serve as Editor-in-Chief for six months, is celebrating its first
anniversary!
11
Kay Habana
2013 Rewind
12
Just so you know, both are celebrating in style.
Photo by Rolan Gutierrez
BroadwayWorld.com is staging a special, sold-out 10th
anniversary concert titled “BroadwayWorld.com Visits Oz” at
Joe’s Pub in the East Village, starring Broadway superstars
Sierra Boggess (“The Phantom of the Opera”), who sings
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from the movie musical “The
Wizard of Oz,” and Norm Lewis (“Les Miserables”), who sings
“Home” from the movie musical “The Wiz,” together with Mandy
Gonzalez (“Wicked”), Kathy Najimi (“Sister Act”), and Jon
Tartaglia (“Avenue Q”), among others. The show is directed
by Richard Jay-Alexander, executive producer of the original
Broadway productions of “Les Miserables” and “Miss Saigon.”
Megan Young, 2013 Miss World
FAWW, on the other hand, has Megan Lynne Young, the first
ever Filipino American who bagged the coveted blue crown
at the 2013 “Miss World” beauty—with a purpose—pageant,
who graces the first anniversary cover of the magazine. Ms.
Young, 23, has successfully ratcheted up her celebrity status in
the Philippines and around the world: From being a well-known
soap actress and television host in the Philippines to an effective
humanitarian, who globetrotted London, New York, Los Angeles,
Hong Kong, and Jakarta in less than two weeks to raise funds
for the victims of super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in central
Philippines, whom she personally visited in November 2013.
To FAWW’s avid readers and supporters, thank you very
much for “keeping us company” on our first year. The tireless
team behind the magazine—Dr. Prospero Lim, Ollie David,
Rolan Gutierrez, Myrna Gutierrez, Maricar CP Hampton, April
Lombardi, and yours truly—will continue churning out stories that
are inspiring and relevant to Filipino Americans today.
We invite our readers to contribute articles, letters,
comments, or pictures. Please email submissions to
[email protected].
We use information sources that we believe to be reliable, but do not warrant the accuracy of those sources.
Reasonable care is taken to ensure that Fil-Am Who’s Who articles and other information on the website are
up-to-date and accurate as possible, as of the publication date.
fil-am
who’s who
2 FIL-AM WHO’S WHO
jANUARY 2014
STAFF Editor-in-Chief Oliver Oliveros • Managing Editor Myrna Gutierrez • Layout Artist & Photo
Editor Rolan Gutierrez • Marketing/Sales Director & Columnist Ollie David • Marketing/ Sales
Executive & Columnist Prospero A. Lim, MD • Contributing Writer Maricar CP Hampton • Publisher
Fil-Am Who’s Who, Inc.
Copyright © 2013 Fil-Am Who’s Who, Incorporated. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without
permission is prohibited. Fil-Am Who’s Who invites you to contribute articles, letters, comments, or pictures to the
editor. Please email submissions to [email protected]. For advertising inquiries, please email
[email protected] or call (732) 499-7995, (917) 502-9887, or (917) 502-9891.
Unsurprisingly, numerous Filipino American events easily filled
up my calendar last month. Below, I have listed some of the
most memorable ones:
Ollie’s Grapevine
Ollie David
Happiness is a choice that you make; it does
not depend on your circumstances.
However, in most cases, people ask happiness on condition; but
happiness can only be felt when you do not set any conditions.
The Christmas season, supposedly the happiest, most wonderful
time of the year, has come to an end. As always it was a magical
time: A time for new dreams and wishes, a time of peace and joy,
where everyone tries to be a little nicer to one another. It was
also a season to buy more new things: More gifts, decorations,
food, which called for more bins and baskets to store whatever
you have just bought!
Despite what the Christmas season has come to mean different
things in the world, the holiday season has been unable to shake
off completely what was the real reason for the celebration:
Christmas is all about God sending His one and only Son into the
world not to condemn humanity but to save us all. The birth of
Jesus Christ has always been the most magnificent gift ever; a
gift that will never cease to move people closer to the Lord.
Ollie’s Attendance Sheet
The Panunuluyan sa Konsulado, which was subtitled “Sharing
the Light of Faith, Journey of the Holy Family, A Re-enactment
and Reflection,” held December 4 to 12, was well attended.
Consul General Mario De Leon, Mrs. Eleanor De Leon, and
members and officers of various organizations were there.
Refreshments followed after the main event.
Strictly tuxedo and red bow ties for the gentlemen and red gowns
for the ladies, the Sixth Annual Poinsettia Grand Ball held at
World Astoria Manor was well attended, too.
Fe Martinez, president of the Philippine Independence Day
Council Inc. (PIDCI); yours truly, chair of the 2014 grand marshal
search committee; PIDCI officers and board of directors;
Francisco Escobar, 2013 Mr. World; Consul General De Leon;
and officers of various organizations were in attendance at
the consul general’s residence to welcome Drs. Emilio and
Felicisima David Quines, PIDCI’s 2014 grand marshals. All the
guests participated in singing Christmas carols, which made the
evening even more memorable.
Lastly, the 29th anniversary of the Pangasinan Association USA
Inc. and the sixth anniversary of Our Lady of Manaoag Society
of America were also held at World Astoria Manor, where Tessie
Seguritan and her lovely daughter Christine led the parade of
beauty queens and princesses.
To Fil-Am Who’s Who’s wonderful readers and supporters, I wish
you good health, peace, love, happiness, wealth, and the best of
everything in 2014!
Photos by Ollie David
Pangasinan Association & Our Lady of Manaoag anniversaries
At PIDCI new grand marshals’ residence
Panunuluyan
Poinsettia Ball
jANUARY 2014
FIL-AM WHO’S WHO 3
Organizations We Love
Photos by Rolan Gutierrez
Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc.
T
he Philippine Independence Day Council Inc. (PIDCI), formerly Philippine Independence Day
Committee (PIDC), was formed in the fall of 1989, and incorporated on February 14, 2002. PIDCI
is primarily devoted to promoting the rich historical and cultural heritage of Filipinos through the annual
celebration of the Philippine Independence Day. The nonprofit organization is best known for the biggest
Philippine Independence Day parade outside of the Philippines, which is held first Sunday of June (June
1 this year) along Madison Avenue, accompanied by an all-day street fair and cultural festival. These
events are attended by about 100,000 Filipinos from the New York Tri-State area and Pennsylvania,
visitors from neighboring states and California, and Canada.
PIDCI President Fe Martinez, together with PIDCI board members and this year’s Parade Grand
Marshals Drs. Emilio and Felicisima Quines, invites members of the Filipino American community to join
PIDCI’s pre-Independence Day celebrations namely: Presentation of Candidates for Diwa ng Kalayaan
and Mrs. Kalayaan (February 15), Grand Marshal Gala (March 15), Mrs. Kalayaan Pageant (April 12),
and Diwa ng Kalayaan Pageant (May 3), and its post-parade event, the Independence Ball (June 7).
For more information, visit pidci.org.
4 FIL-AM WHO’S WHO
jANUARY 2014
Bringing Filipinos Together
Photos by Michi Productions, AJ Images, and Rolan Gutierrez
jANUARY 2014
FIL-AM WHO’S WHO 5
Celebrating Culture & Diversity
6 FIL-AM WHO’S WHO
jANUARY 2014
Photos by Michi Productions, AJ Images, and Photo Buddies
Kapamilya, Kapuso, Kapatid
It’s fun to be Pinoy!
Photos by Michi Productions, AJ Images, and Photo Buddies
jANUARY 2014
FIL-AM WHO’S WHO 7
Megan
Young
Beauty with a Purpose
By Oliver Oliveros
Photos by Rolan Gutierrez
F
ilipino Americans in the New York Tri-State area and Los
Angeles, alongside some of the biggest media companies
ABC—via the morning talk show “Good Morning America”—
and the Associated Press, and countless donors in Hong Kong and
Indonesia, have generously supported 2013 Miss World Megan
Young, 23, first Filipino American who won the coveted blue crown,
when she called for help to raise funds for nearly four million people
displaced by super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), one of the strongest
storms ever to make a landfall in history, which slammed central
Philippines on November 8, 2013.
“I see the Philippines as a beautiful place. Bad things happen once
in a while, but that doesn’t mean we can’t rise up from that…I think
that’s where our strength as a nation comes from: We’re able to
unite and work together as one to bring that beauty back. And that
will happen in the next couple of years,” Young told reporters who
covered Miss World Organisation (MWO)-Philippine Independence
Day Council Inc.’s (PIDCI) well-received dinner fundraiser in
Newark, New Jersey November 20.
Steve Douglas, MWO event director, also said, “Miss World is
more than just a beauty pageant. It’s a platform for young women
to make a difference. Megan will travel to 40 countries and she will
make a huge difference in the world. She will be making that real
difference.”
On November 28 to 29, Young, assisted by Philippine Red Cross,
visited the evacuation centers in Leyte, Samar, and Iloilo, areas
mostly affected by the super typhoon, to personally hand over the
money raised.
Young will return to New York City to join the Philippine
Independence Day parade along Madison Avenue on June 1, 2014.
8 FIL-AM WHO’S WHO
jANUARY 2014
jANUARY 2014
FIL-AM WHO’S WHO 9
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In New York, Kay sings with
the San Lorenzo Choir and the
Ugnayan Choir, and has performed
at the prestigious Carnegie Hall and
Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center.
Like a test of faith, Kay developed chronic bronchitis
several years ago. During such an ordeal, she thought she
permanently lost her voice. “Singing has been a big part of my
life. I’ve been singing since I was a child. I didn’t know how
else to live life apart from it. So when the coughing wouldn’t
stop, I was only able to open my mouth when I had to eat. The
persistent coughing even impaired my vocal cords; my asthma
compounded the problem,” she recalled. “It was a really scary
experience. It took me nearly two years to regain my voice to
such point that I could comfortably say that I could sing again.”
Kay Habana
New York Feels Like Home
By Ria Serrano
Photo by Edwin Ochoa
A
s a teen that grew up in Montreal, Canada, singer Kay
Habana frequently visited New York in the summer and
winter. However, her last visit to N.Y., more than seven
years ago, had enticed her to stay longer that would change
her life. “I came to N.Y. to visit my Aunt June, who was battling
ovarian cancer at the time,” she said. “We were very close,
and I wanted to look after her. That’s how important family is
to me.” However, Kay’s aunt passed away. After things have
settled down, she decided to stay in N.Y. instead of joining her
family in California. She felt that the city wanted her to stay
behind in ways she could not quite explain.
For the past seven years, Kay found herself drawn to singing,
a talent she knew she had but never paid much attention
to. In the city that never sleeps, her calendar was filled up
quickly with invitations to sing at corporate events, weddings,
birthdays, and mini-concerts. And despite her busy schedule,
she has successfully managed being a full-time mom and a
professional caterer — yes, she cooks well, too! At events,
people would persistently ask her to audition for Broadway and
opera shows, which she dismisses. “I knew I didn’t have the
proper training. It just doesn’t feel right,” she quipped. Despite
her lack of formal music education, one can never dub Kay
as a singer who can only carry a tune; she can sing arias with
precision and clear diction.
Without a doubt, Kay is bound to sing again and be
recognized for her talent. She soon became a much sought
after coloratura soprano among Filipino Americans. In N.Y.,
she sings with the San Lorenzo Choir and the Ugnayan Choir,
and has performed at the prestigious Carnegie Hall and Alice
Tully Hall in Lincoln Center. Back home in Montreal, she has
performed at the exquisite Les Places des Arts. Last year,
Kay even accepted the award for Excellence in Performing
Arts from the Pan American Concerned Citizens Action
League-New Jersey, and the title Miss Performing Arts 2013
from the Performing Arts Philippines Inc.-New Jersey.
Last month, Kay held her first solo concert titled “Christmas
Klassic with Kay Habana” at the Kalayaan Hall of the
Philippine Consulate General of N.Y. , produced by her good
friend and manager, Ria Serrano. The sold-out concert
proved Kay to be a versatile vocalist by performing songs
from various music genres. “I’m very comfortable singing
classical and Kundiman pieces so I thought of challenging
myself, hence the Broadway and pop repertoire,” she said. In
the concert, the singer also launched her CD sampler titled
“Songs from My Heart…To Yours,” which features some of her
personal favorite songs and two Christmas tunes. A mother
herself, Kay considers children very dear to her. Thus part of
the proceeds from the album sales will go to OnBoardForKids.
org, an altruistic team that devotes its time and money to feed
hungry children in the Philippines. “To whom much is given,
much is required,” Kay quoted from the Bible. No wonder Kay
generously received a standing ovation at the end of her show.
Not only she amazed her audience with a great performance
but she also captured them by the heart with her humble way.
Beauty, talent, character, and wisdom are rolled into one in
Kay. Although she sings for the love of singing and not for
fame, one can only see an even brighter future ahead of this
petite rising star.
Buy Kay’s album at kayhabana.com.
jANUARY 2014
FIL-AM WHO’S WHO 11
2013
REWIND
fil-am who’s who
August 2013
fil-am who’s who
September/October 2013
fil-am who’s who
November 2013
Drs. Donaire
Servant Leaders
Katbaloganon USA
Jona Jane Tajonera
Pays It Forward
AFTA Selfless Teachers
Godspeed
WHO’S WHO 1
DCG Tess Dizon DeFIL-AMVega
August 2013
Organizations We Love
Nilda Jaynal
How to Live a Good Life
Fiestahan People’s Ball
August Rewind
Interesting Random Facts
Ollie’s Grapevine
Fe
Martinez
PIDCI Three-Term President
Dennis Sy
Stronger Than Before
Margie Wisotsky
40th Birthday Bash
FIL-AM WHO’S WHO Celebrating One Year of Inspiring Life Stories for Filipino Americans
Fil-Am Who’s Who magazine, which primarily features Filipino Americans from the New York Tri-State area, started
publication, which resembles a broadsheet, in January 2013—a far cry from what the monthly magazine looks like today:
16 glossy pages of striking photographs placed against a crisp, clean layout design, and printed on 100-pound paper stock.
Its printed version reaches more than 4,000 Filipino Americans who are based in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and
Maryland; its digital version, found on filamwhoswho.com, reaches tens of thousands of Filipinos around the world.
The magazine remains free, and we are thankful to our sponsors and advertisers whose business donations have helped us
survive and proliferate while striving to tell the Filipino American’s most inspiring life stories.
12 FIL-AM WHO’S WHO
jANUARY 2014
Community Calendar
Feb 8
Valentine’s Ball and Coronation of 2014 Little Miss Valentine
PH-USA
Filipino Social Club of New York will hold a Valentine’s Ball and Coronation
of 2014 Little Miss Valentine PH-USA at the Gold Cotillon Room, Astoria
World Manor (25-22 Astoria Blvd., Astoria NY) from 7:30 PM to 12:30 AM
For tickets ($75), call Joann Carman at 347-303-5755.
Feb 15
RISE PHILIPPINES: A Benefit Concert for Typhoon Haiyan
Victims
Project Overflow and The Vine’s Church of New Jersey, in cooperation with
LightCast Church International NY, will hold a fundraising concert, featuring
homegrown talents Giselle Sera Josef, Pauline Del Mundo, Gabrielle Do,
Justina Soto, L.E.X. Dance Crew, and Ruth Tarectecan, among others, at
City Blessing Church (38-02 61st St., Woodside NY) at 6 PM. For
tickets ($20), visit projectoverflow.org.
Mar 9 Processing of Passports, Dual Citizenship et al. in Jersey
City
The Philippine Consulate General NY staff will visit St. Mary’s Church Hall
(252 2nd St., Jersey City, NJ) to provide consular services namely:
Processing of passports, dual citizenship, and legalization of documents,
from 10 AM to 3 PM. For more information, email: [email protected].
Disney’s ALADDIN Opens on Broadway, Starring Adam
Jacobs
The stage adaptation of the 1992 Academy Award-winning animated film
Disney’s ‘Aladdin’ will open at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 W 42nd St.,
New York NY), starring Filipino American Broadway star Adam Jacobs as
Aladdin. For tickets, visit aladdinthemusical.com.
Mar 20
Erratum:
Photo caption should have been written as Dr. Alice and Atty. Aris Francisco on page three of last issue.
jANUARY 2014
FIL-AM WHO’S WHO 13
PSYCHOTIC
DISORDERS
The World is
My Oyster
Dr. Prospero A. Lim
Let’s Talk Psychotic Disorders - Part Two
Schizophrenia comes in different types:
1. Disorganized type: Bizarre mannerisms and grimacing
are common; and affect is blunted or inappropriate. They are
frequently incoherent.
2. Catatonic type: May appear immobile and attempts to
move them are resisted; Could be rigid, bizarre posturing.
Could be highly active and excited.
3. Paranoid type: The most stable type; often displays
paranoid thinking that they may or not act on; could be highly
suspicious and may be aggressive.
4. Undifferentiated type: They may have prominent
hallucinations or delusions and could be incoherent.
5. Residual type: In remission from active psychosis; they
could be socially withdrawn with eccentric behavior and
illogical thinking.
Medication is the primary mode of treatment for schizophrenia.
Psychosocial methods could be helpful in the long-term
treatment. Family therapy as well group therapy could be
valuable augmenters to the management of the disease.
Other psychotic disorders:
1. Schizophreniform Disorder: It is very similar to brief
psychotic disorder and schizophrenia except for the duration of
the symptoms, which lasts more than a month but less than six
months. Treatment is similar to that of an acute schizophrenic
episode.
2. Brief Psychotic Disorder: It is a condition in which a patient
experiences an acute psychotic episode lasting longer than a
day but less than a month. It may or may not follow a severe
stressor or a life-changing event.
3. Schizoaffective Disorder: It is a disorder in which a
person has evidence of both schizophrenic and major depressive
symptomatology. Mood is usually depressed. The person can
present both symptoms simultaneously. Treatment is like for
schizophrenia and major depression.
4. Delusional Disorder: People with this disorder do not have the
prominent symptomatology of a major depression or schizophrenia.
People with delusional disorder experience one or more prominent
delusions often of persecutory nature but could have other
delusions, too, though not bizarre in nature. They could have
delusions of infidelity (Partner is having an affair, etc.); grandiosity
(He or she is part of a powerful group or an important personage,
etc); or erotomania (He is a Don Juan or women are falling head
over heels over him). Treatment could be difficult. Psychotherapy
might help.
5. Shared Psychotic Disorder: It is a condition in which a normal
person adopts the delusions of someone else, usually of the more
dominant person. Also known as “folie a deux,” two people share
the same delusion. Treatment is to separate the two. The healthier
one will tend to show improvement.
6. Psychotic Disorder Due to a Medical Condition: Some medical
conditions can cause delusions and/or hallucinations in which the
patient does not have an idea of the connection. A medical workup
with tests to eliminate the specific condition is necessary.
7. Lastly, Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorder: Drugs of abuse,
toxins, and some medications can produce psychotic symptoms
with confusion: Visual, tactile, or olfactory hallucinations. Drugs of
abuse (marijuana, cocaine, PCP [Phencyclidine], LSD [Lysergic
Acid Diethylamide], and even alcohol and sedative-hypnotics) can
cause psychotic symptoms during intoxications or withdrawals.
Treatment requires stopping the use of the drug.
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14 FIL-AM WHO’S WHO
jANUARY 2014
Rolan Gutierrez
rolan gutier-
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