A thankful heart doesn’t recognize color, race, religion and what have you because in so many ways, there are always more than enough reasons to be in a state of gratitude. The splendor of what eyes can see abound and are reasons enough to compel a sense of gratitude and acknowledge the Creator of all this splendor.
The state of an individual’s thankful demeanor is not bound by any human law and one that naturally springs from a heartfelt acknowledgment of the faithfulness of the source of everything imaginable.
As Filipinos who have considered United States their home and have immersed themselves in its culture and learned to embrace their host’s blessings this Thanksgiving Day has assumed a more meaningful significance. We are blessed in so many ways.
Thanksgiving Day is always met with great anticipation because on its heels follow the celebration of the greatest event although not in a manner that many has been accustomed to.
Families with their relatives and friends will be happy in celebrating the law-mandated holiday except perhaps for the unfortunate turkey which will wind up on the dinner table “as a centerpiece of thankfulness” and the Native Americans of Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts who have observed the day since 1970 to protest distortions in history involving them.
In 1970, the United American Indians of New England (UAINE) organized the first “National Day of Mourning” to counter suppression of the truth and “fight back on such issues as the racism of the Pilgrim mythology perpetuated in Plymouth”.
American Indian Heritage Day is also observed at this time of the year.
HUMANITARIAN PARTNERS: The Guardian Angels of America Foundation (GAAF) has the latest partner in increasing the impact of Filipino-American humanitarian outreach to indigent children at government hospitals in the Philippines in the Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown which supports the nonprofit’s fundraising event “Holiday Magic Spectacular on Dec. 23 at Downey Theater.
Proceeds from the 7:00 p.m.event featuring the Magic of Arnel and Friends will be for the benefit of GAAF’s Toy Drive, Feeding Program, $1 Souvenir Money and the Hydrocephalus Project. New partners include:Atty Roman Mosqueda, Al Yap (guest speaker at the Rotary event), Dr. Orly Campangan, Macky Fortu, Past Pres. Sonny Gancayco, Pres.- Elect Cecile Ramos, GAAF President Loi Herrera, Past Pres. Asst. Gov Cirilo Pinlac, Tres Redy Babasa, Past Pres. John Mina, President Terry Gubatan: bottom row: Charter President Vic Ching, Past President Leo Pandac, guest Klarissa Yap, and Secretary and Past President Ben Aranda. (Photo courtesy of Reby Babasa).
Thanksgiving Day has been an annual holiday in the United States since 1863 and has a deep historical, cultural and religious origins deeply rooted in the English tradition piously marked with prayers of thanksgiving and special ceremonies for the occasion.
Commercially, however, Thanksgiving Day and consumer spending have become intertwined and Americans have to thank the successful lobbying efforts of Ohio-based department store owners who worked hard to have the fourth Thursday of November to be declared Thanksgiving Day by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt who issued a national proclamation that led to the passage of a law in 1941.
As we gather around the dining table to enjoy the sumptuous blessings that have been shared with us, let the celebration be a reminder that in this “land of the plenty, in the other hemisphere is the land of scarcity” where the concept of thanksgiving has somehow been purged from their vocabularies because their basic needs have not been met in a place that offers them scant opportunities or none at all. Happy Thanksgiving Day.
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Asian Business Association of Orange County Marks 23rd Year
The Asian Business Association of Orange County (ABAOC) for over two decades has been at the forefront of “meeting the needs of the growing Asian businesses in Orange County” and has been faithful in the pursuit of a vision to provide Asian Americans access to economic advancement through its various means which include networking, education and community representation.
ABAOC punctuates fruitful years of serving the Asian American business community with the 19th edition of its Annual Recognition and Awards Gala at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach where achievers will have their moment of recognition for their exemplary effort that serve to inspire others.
Through changing and challenging Orange County business milieu, ABAOC has rallied its diversified member into a solid state of community involvement.