4TH Annual PTE-Hope, Inc. Multicultural Festival

BY MARISSA ACIERTO l SCCPRESS.COM

SAN DIEGO – On May 23^rd, 2015 the 4^th Annual Pagasa-Tumainisha-Esperanza-Hope, Inc. (PTE-HOPE, Inc.) Multicultural Festival was held at the Bonita – Sunnyside Branch, San Diego County Library, 4375 Bonita Road.

The organization was sponsored by the County of San Diego Board of Supervisor; Supervisor Greg Cox; Supervisor Dave Roberts; San Diego County Library and Friends of Bonita – Sunnyside Library.

The Three Wise Men one of the hottest DJ on Wednesday at the Gaslamp District in Downtown performed.  The DJ’s are Alvin Guarin “Sleepy”; Randy Jingo “J-Mauve”; Mark  Mon “Sikbeatz” and
Jayar Semano “J-Eazy”.

The emcee was Cheryl Daen – White, one of the top 5 finalist for Miss California to Miss America.  She was former Miss San Diego, Miss Orange County, founder of EDUCATE and entrepreneur for Cherie & Co.

The opening remarks were given from the following official attendees were
Donna Ohr, Deputy Director, San Diego County Library; Dr. Maxine Sherard, Vice President of PTE-HOPE, Inc.; Marisa Lowe, Branch Manager, Bonita-Sunnyside Library and co-host chair of the PTE-HOPE, Inc. Multicultural Festival; Pledge of Allegiance given by Darlene Montgomery, Treasurer, Friends of Bonita-Sunnyside Library; Invocation given by Emmanuel “Manny” Cabildo, Co-founder Concerned Filipino American Club (CFAC) & former President/Secretary, Filipino American Veterans Association San Diego & President, Fleets Reserve Association, Branch 84;  U.S. National Anthem “The Star Spangled Banner” sung by Melanie Jimenez, Winner of “San Diego Got Talent” and Finalist of a Hollywood Talent competition. CBS TV Announcer broadcasted her LIVE on TV as the Next Jessica Sanchez from San Diego.

The “Opening Act” was sung by Melanie Jimenez while she played the guitar instrument.  The other class act performances were Lei Oleander performing the Hawaiian and Tahitian dances by Alex Honoré and Kayla Pimentel.  Than the San Ysidro High School students called the Grupo Ballet Folklorico performed under the guidance of choreographer Lalo Hirsch, a teacher from San Ysidro High School.  The Folklorico dancers are Jame Broadway; Alejandro A. Delgado; Alejandro Gomez and Alexa Rodriguez.  The Martin Luther King Choir “MLK Choir” performed. Than BibliaFashion Show by choreographer, Belen Sanchez, West Coast Beauty Advisor Counter Manager for CHANEL and Fashion Designer for BibliaFashion.
Than an hour long of the live Radical Reptiles; proceeded after was Boss Up Line Dance by Kelly Williams and Patricia Murray which included several line dance Instructors of San Diego performed too.  Orange County Musical Performers, Endriga Family Music with Sabrina Endriga, winner of the Las Vegas Talent Competition anf first runner-up for National City Talent Competition sang and performed the ukulele.  Christian Endriga performed the ukulele too.  Max Endriga ended the grand finale with a hip-hop dance performance.

After the complimentary raffle prize giveaways ended the day with donors from the following: )  Walmart Gift Card ($25) By CFAC “Concerned Filipino American Club”; Usana Gift By Maria Labastida; Target Gift Card ($25) By San Diego Black Writers Collective; Gift Item and a Gift Basket By Gifts for You ($75 value) ~ Cruz & Acierto l SCCPress.com; Gift Certificate for a 1 Year Identity Theft Protection Services  ($99 Value) By Veronica Hewitt | Financial Education Services/United Credit Education Services; 3 Phone Cases “1 per winner” By Malou Saria, T-Mobile Wireless Champs in National City; Gift Certificate ($25) By Friends of Bonita-Sunnyside, Inc.; Gift Item By Greenwood Memorial Park in Imperial Avenue By Gloria James; 2 Japanese Prints By Rae Correira, Member of Friends of Bonita – Sunnyside Library; Gift Item By Southern California Caregiver; Several Gift Item By San Diego International Airport, “Duty Free”; Gift Item and Make-Up Class By Belen Sanchez, West Coast Manager for CoCo Chanel; Handcrafted Gift Pillows By Rene Cardona Designs;
BibliaFashion Gift By Belen Sanchez, Biblia Designer; 10 Bracelet Flash Drive “1 per each Winner” By Regina/Antonio Garcia; a collectible T-Shirt By Karen Huff, Black Historical Society; Beauty Gift Items & 2 hour complimentary gear practice By Cherie & Co. and Poway Weapons & Gears.

We want to thank the Friends of PTE-HOPE for the generous donations of $1000 or less on behalf of PTE-HOPE, Inc. members:  William “Bill” & Alice Flores; Charito Grace and Max Tan.  The funds was utilized for decorations and light refreshments of turkey and cheese wraps, individually packed chips, individually packed assorted cookies, more bottled water for all attendees.  Friends of PTE-HOPE, Inc. also had in-kind donations of 72 water bottles from Albertson in Lemon Grove and Orange flavored juice mix, courtesy cups and  borrowed jug from McDonald’s Restaurant in Bonita.

PTE-HOPE, Inc. Vendor Booth participation would not be complete with Cherie & Co. By Cheryl Daen – White and Pure Barre Eastlake By  Michelle Pizarro Vicente, Studio Manager; FES/United Credit Education Services By Veronica Hewitt; Usana By Maria Labastida; Lifewave By Sherry Hunter; BibliaFashion gave men cologne samples By Belen Sanchez, Fashion Designer l CoCo Chanel West Coast Regional Manager; Renee Cardona Design l San Diego South County Chamber of Commerce; Max Tan Insurance; San Diego Cosmopolitan Lions Club By Lydia Duro, R.N. &  Caring Hearts Medical Clinic By Iyabo Daramola, M.D., Medical Director –
Community Health Outreach:  Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screening.  The San Diego Cosmopolitan Lions Club gave away courtesy designer reading eyeglasses; SCCPress.com, Gifts For You By Cruz/Acierto and the 3D Robotics “Street Team 3DR” gave away 3D Swags.  County of San Diego Library l Friends of Bonita-Sunnyside, Inc.  Gave Away Pen Flowers and other school items; Bonita Museum and Cultural Center; Philippine – American Business Improvement District (Phil-Am BID); Concerned Filipino American Club of San Diego (CFAC), 501©[3]; House of Mexico By International Cottages of Balboa Park; PTE-HOPE, Inc., 501©[3] gave away cloth insignia multicultural bags and several t-shirts; San Diego Black Storyteller |
San Diego Black Film Festival l
San Diego Black Historical Society gave away 30 collectible Selma t-shirts; Health & Human Service Agency (HHSA) l Live Well San Diego;
San Diego Sheriff  “Showcase” the Sheriff vehicle By Officer Julio Garcia; Greenwood Memorial Park Imperial Avenue By Gloria James; AGI Financial By Henry Zulueta; San Diego Black Writers Collective By
Joi Jackson, MFA; Southern Women Caregiver By Blanca Aguayo; Author Angela Brown, “7 Deadly Sins That Poison The Soul And How To Conquer Them.”

PTE-HOPE, Inc. Featured Booth Authors had books available to be sold, autographed and a free photo-op for an exclusive one hour.  The following authors are Dr. Dorothy Kegler; Mateo R. Camarillo; Tom Hom; Kent Hinckley; Former WBC & IBF Boxing Champion Manny Melchor.

Dorothy Kegler, Ph.D. is the author of My Journey: Butterfly Wings, which is based on the steps she took to get an education, and is a featured author in two other books.

Mateo Camarillo, first time Author, created a book, a tell all of his experience, “An Immigrants Journey In Search of the American Dream.”  He hopes to spread the message to Hispanics/Latino’s and all communities.  In a recent interview with the local community Latino newspaper, La Prensa, he said, “I have found the American Dream.  It is not in owning restaurants, radio stations, living in exclusive neighborhoods or teaching at two universities. It comes from the warm feeling all over when you help others.”  10% of Sales Proceed will be donated to PTE-HOPE,  Inc.  Another opportunity to purchase the book for an Author Talk and Book Signing on June 16^th, 2015 on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Bonita-Sunnyside Branch, SD County Library.

Author Tom Hom “RABBIT ON A BUMPY ROAD” is a self-memoir and story of courage and endurance in meeting life’s challenges to achieve The American Dream. Tom was born into a Chinese family in the year of the Rabbit in the 1920’s when much of American society was segregated, socially and economically. He entered school in San Diego, like other children who lived in Chinatown, speaking only Chinese. As he grew older, he faced limited job opportunities and discrimination in housing. He never lost faith in the American dream and went on to achieve success for himself, his family, and the greater good of a diverse America, breaking age-old barriers of prejudice and segregation.

Author Kent Hinckley, “Hearts, Minds, and Coffee” is his first novel. He has written short stories, travel pieces, and a play entitled “The Interrogators” that won an honorable mention in the Writers Digest annual contest. Kent loves non-fiction, history, as well as mysteries, thrillers, and especially espionage novels.  Kent’s many experiences from U.S. Army Military Intelligence in Vietnam, living in Taipei and Tokyo, working for Bank of America in international finance have found their way into his stories. He has worked in the real estate industry emphasizing green technologies. He is born and raised in Palo Alto, California; however put himself through Stanford University via many jobs and a basketball scholarship.  He has  lived in San Diego for over twenty-five years. His artist wife, Sharon, and their adult son, Bill, have added to their many blessings. On top of thay, their two German shepherds make sure he exercises daily.

WBC International Minimum Weight Champion (105 pounds) and IBF Minimum Weight Champion, none other than Manny “Cabalay” Melchor. Melchor was one of the great champions of boxing of Filipino descent. Manny retired from boxing in 2003. Other boxers during his championship reign included all time favorites: “Sugar” Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and many others making this period in boxing one of the greatest.  Courtesy Collectible Replica of giveaway Photo.

The event had several ongoing activities such as a Kids Interactive Craft Workshop.  The children and adults were able to make paper mache beads that is frequently being made in different countries such as the Philippines, Mexico, Africa, America, etc.  An unlimited photo booth and a Cake Walk for all that had different ethnic music being played from different countries.

For further info on the upcoming 5^th Annual PTE-HOPE, Inc. Multicultural Festival on May 2016, contact ptehope@gmail.com.  PTE-HOPE website at www.ptehope.ws and check out our Facebook from https://m.facebook.com/PTEHope and PTE- HOPE Multicultural Fair
https://m.facebook.com/PTEHOPE.MulticulturalFair.

PTE-HOPE,  Inc. is a nonprofit organization that is tax deductible and tax exempt.  The mission is about cultural understanding through workshops and festivals.  Through these activities diversity and multicultural is continuing to move forward in San Diego and international communities.

PTE-HOPE, Inc. “Thanks” all the sponsorship, participants, vendors and volunteers from the San Diego County Library, Marisa Lowe, Staff of Bonita-Sunnyside Library who made this cultural event possible.

COURTESY PHOTO BY BOB CRIDER, BELEN SANCHEZ, GLORIA T. ALBARAN, CHERYL DAEN-WHITE l SCCPRESS.COM