Radiant View » Press Releases

Day 1 with New America Media: National Ethnic Media Expo & Awards

lorna — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 08:23:55 +0000

It is 4:20 am on June 5, 2009. I am determined to prove a point: that ethnic media journalists and publicists can use simple “techie” tools to make mini-documentaries and video press releases. I used the Flip Video Ultra Series. For my internet connection, I used my Blackberry (Sprint’s World Edition) as my modem. Good night — and I hope you enjoy this video.

SUPPORT NEW AMERICA MEDIA!

wikiPilipinas.org: The Wiki for Filipinos and Filipinas Worldwide

lorna — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:44:08 +0000

This is a revised version of the press release for media outlets outside the Philippines that I had sent out on February 29, 2008.

Calling all Filipina bloggers worldwide! Join FilipinaImages.com’s collaborative project with wikiPilipinas.org, the “Filipina Stories” Writing Contest, to celebrate Women’s History Month.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TITLE: IF YOU CAN E-MAIL, YOU CAN WIKI

SUB-TITLE: About wikiPilipinas.org, a human-edited encyclopedia about Filipinos worldwide

PRESS CONTACT:
Lorna Dietz
Co-Founder, FilipinaImages.com
lornadietz@gmail.com
Skype phone: 415 508-5326 or lornadietz
For ID purposes only: Member, “Shape the Filipina Image Campaign” Committee of Filipina Women’s Network (FFWN.org)

TEXT FOR PRESS RELEASE (FOR MEDIA OUTLETS OUTSIDE THE PHILIPPINES):

Gus Vibal of Vibal Publishing House, a respected name in the Philippines’ educational book business industry, is tenacious and unstoppable in his efforts to get the word out about “the joys of the wiki” for Filipinos and about Filipinos. Vibal’s substantial investment in wikiPilipinas.org, the hip ‘n free Philippine Encyclopedia, is accomplishing major milestones by attracting partnering organizations to collaborate with writing projects. Wiki writers can now take advantage of the opportunities to promote literacy and history in the following languages: English, Filipino, Cebuano, Waray, Ilokano, Bicol, and Kapampangan. Those who are familiar with Wikipedia’s platform will find wikiPilipinas’s format familiar territory.

A month-long program of activities has been organized to celebrate March as Women’s History Month in the Philippines. According to WikiPilipinas.org, a special portal called the “Encyclopedia of Philippine Women” will be launched during March 2008, compiling and detailing the achievements and triumphs of Filipinas everywhere. Vibal announced that “Filipiniana.net will also host a Philippine Women Microsite containing selected scholarly texts, research documents and abstracts, as well as selected literary works from Filipina writers.”

Philippine-based bloggers are also providing an online community presence for the March activities through FilipinaImages.com, an advocacy portal and news site that promotes an empowering “Reshaping the Filipina Image Online” campaign. Co-founders Noemi Lardizabal Dado, Dine Racoma, and Lorna Lardizabal Dietz collaborated with wikiPilipinas.org in launching a writing contest, “Filipina Stories,” for bloggers. Details about the writing contest are found at the main page of wikiPilipinas.org or FilipinaImages.com. The deadline for entries is March 15, 2008.

For bloggers and non-bloggers alike, a wiki project can be the next best thing to publishing and showcasing the stories of Filipinos worldwide without burdening financial resources. Media organizations, researchers, industry leaders and experts, community activists, and people from all walks of life are given an equal opportunity to interactively collaborate in writing and editing an ongoing documentation and history about the Filipinos’ evolution and progress worldwide — as it happens.

For more information about how to get involved in a wiki project for your organization, contact any of the following: Noemi Dado (AboutMyRecovery.com) at NoemiDado@gmail.com, Dine Racoma (DineRacoma.com.ph) at bracoma@gmail.com, or Lorna Dietz (RadiantView.com) at lornadietz@gmail.com.

wikiPilipinas.org’s schedule for Women’s History Month is subject to changes without any notice. Please check the website for updates and revisions.

WikiPilipinas.org and Filipiniana.net Events for Women’s History Month

March 3 (Monday) 9:30 am – 11:30 am
Venue: Manila Hotel
Event: Helena Benitez Global Forum on Women, Power and Sustainable Development
(Sponsored by Ugnayan ng Kababaihan sa Pilipinas & AWNGAD)
Attendees: Local women leaders from different local government units nationwide

Tentative Program
9:30–9:40 am: Introduction; Viewing of wikiPilipinas.org and Filipiniana.org videos
9:40-10:10 am: Women, Leadership and the Internet – Tin Mandigma (Read or Die Philippines)
10:10-10:25 am: Using Technology in Uplifting the Image of the Filipina – FilipinaImages.com
10:25 – 11:00 am: Ceremonial Unveiling of Two Women Portals; An overview of WikiPilipinas.org & Filipiniana.net
11:00-11:30 am: Question & Answer session; hands-on session

March 8 (Saturday) 8:30am – 12:00nn
Venue: UP Theater
Event: National Women’s Day Celebration (headed by NCRFW)
20 minutes presentation: An overview of wikiPilipinas.org & Filipiniana.net; A Call for more entries to the Filipina Writing Contest
Attendees: 2000 students, NGOs

March 11 (Tuesday)
Event: UP Centennial Lecture of Dr. Carol Sobritchea
An overview of wikiPilipinas.org & Filipiniana.net; A Call for more entries to the Filipina Writing Contest

March 13 (Thursday)
Venue: Batangas Provincial Capitol, Batangas City
Event: A short message from Vibal Foundation announcing its Women Portal Projects and the partnership with NCRFW to local women leaders and government officials

March 24 – March 26 (Monday to Wednesday)
Venue: Miriam College
Event: Women’s Studies International Conference
An overview of wikiPilipinas.org & Filipiniana.net; Filipiniana.net will sponsor one lecture for its (Filipiniana.net Lecture Series) featuring Dr. Carol Sobritchea, the director of the UP Center for Women’s Studies; Announcement of Filipina Writing Stories winners

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Notes for media outlets: Please e-mail Noemi Dado at noemidado@gmail.com if you need a jpeg image of the wikiPilipinas.org Filipina Stories’ logo and some photos. Thank you.

Sample Press Release: LEARN, SERVE, ACHIEVE: HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS PREPARE

lorna — Fri, 27 Aug 2004 13:24:13 +0000

SACRAMENTO, March 30, 2003 — On March 31, 2003, hundreds of young persons in schools and after-school programs throughout the state of California are participating in varied activities to honor the life and values of Cesar Chavez, a civil rights activist and a labor organizer of Mexican-American ancestry who had fought for the equity and recognition of farm workers in the United States. California’s historic legislation established Cesar’s birthday, March 31st, as the annual “Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning.” Along with their parents, teachers, business and community members, K-12 students will commemorate Chavez by engaging in a day of activities that features the proven track record of Service-Learning, a hands-on teaching approach that combines community service with academic study.

In Southern California, the Orange County Cesar Chavez Initiative will have over 120 fourth graders from Palidades Elementary School in San Clemente gleaning a field at the Incredible Edible Park (Irvine Center Drive & Harvard) in Irvine from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on March 31. The Second Harvest Food Bank will provide the gleaning field and the Cesar Chavez High School in Santa Ana will provide on-site reflectors. The Volunteer Center Orange County will train teachers on how to utilize the teacher/resource guide (toolkit) to ensure that quality Service-Learning takes place. Among the participants will be Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Cesar’s granddaughter and Community Programs Officer of the Cesar Chavez Foundation, one of the event’s partners. CalState Fullerton, who is having their own Service-Learning event, will be working with elementary students from the Placentia/Yorba Linda School District. Last March 29, Volunteer San Diego had successfully held their “Culture & Cranes for Peace” event at the Malcolm X Library in downtown San Diego.

In Northern California, the City of East Palo Alto, Ravenswood City School District, El Concilio, the Girls’ Club of the Mid-Peninsula, IKEA, and Youth Community Service are gathering students and teachers from Ravenswood City School District for receptions, presentations, and displays of Service-Learning projects at the Cesar Chavez Auditorium (2450 Ralmar Avenue) at 11:30 a.m. and displays at the Girls’ Club of the Mid-Peninsula (2400 Ralmar Avenue). The keynote speakers will be Gloria Flores-Garcia, Associate Director of El Concilio and Alejandro Chavez, grandson of Cesar Chavez. Meanwhile, the Marin Conservation Corps in San Rafael also has youth service activities set up at Picklewood Park from 10-12 Noon, followed by a rally and a march (1:30-3 p.m.), and a film at night (7-9 p.m.).

The partnering organizations for the Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning are: (a) Regional Service Learning Leads, a framework of 24 groups of educators and advocates who “build” capacity for Service-Learning through its fundraising and relationship-building activities with policy makers, schools, districts and other interested parties; (b) YSCal After-School Alternative or CASSL, a provider of grants to eight after-school partnerships who have developed successful models of Service-Learning created for after-school settings; and (c) the State Farm Companies Foundation who sponsors the National Service-Learning Partnership, the National Youth Leadership Council, and Youth Service America.

For more information about Service-Learning and Cesar Chavez Day activities, contact YSCal at (510) 302 – 0550 or visit their website at www.yscal.org.

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Sample Press Release: Canyon Woods

lorna — Fri, 27 Aug 2004 13:21:57 +0000

A Boost to the Philippine Economy: Residential Resort Living in the Philippines Attracts the U.S. Market

August 5, 2003, San Francisco, CA — During the past few years, Bay Area Filipino Americans and residents have met Philippine real estate developers marketing their properties to interested buyers and investors. There were companies that studied the U.S. market within the past 10 years by doing roadshow presentations to iron out the difficulties in buying real estate in the Philippines. Some local real estate brokers worked with these developers to make the buying process a “one-stop shop in the U.S.A.”

The collaborative efforts of established Philippine real estate developers and its U.S. partners, who are real estate brokers with Certified International Property Specialist designations by the National Association of Realtors and Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association (CREBA) affiliations in the Philippines, can now be seen in renewed efforts to attract buyers in boosting the Philippine economy through its new offerings of properties with enhanced benefits.

These prime real estate developments had to be market-ready for U.S. clients who wanted the conveniences of the American consumer’s lifestyle, temperate weather conditions, the availability of property management expertise, world-class facilities and amenities that included health care and assisted living, a relaxed country club atmosphere, and affordable financing arrangements.

As customers’ tastes became more sophisticated, demanding more perks for their consumer dollars, innovative programs mushroomed to accommodate the aging baby boomer market who was thinking about retiring in the Philippines and Filipino Americans who wanted to rediscover their parents’ heritage in the Philippines. The developers borrowed some successful features from the vacation market. Vacation club memberships and time share ownerships, with the ability to trade vacation opportunities in almost 2,000 destinations through Interval International — a company that specializes in vacation exchanges, attracted the world adventurer. The retirees and investors also found the residential resort lifestyle an attractive option.

Selling foreign real estate in the U.S. market is not for everyone. Susan Barlin of Barlin International Group, the international division of Los Angeles-based Barlin & Associates Realty, who is busy preparing for Canyon Woods Residential Resort’s grand entry into the San Francisco Greater Bay Area market on August 16, explains: “This is more than just a business of selling real estate because if my intention is only to sell and make money, I will not even touch this project. It can be tedious, lengthy, and difficult. It could be frustrating due to time, horror stories in the past where people were burnt by buying properties with non-existent facilities, and the bad publicity the Philippines has had. We are selling pre-existing properties such as Canyon Woods. We are a country that has problems. As Filipinos, we know better. We simply are not exceptions to other countries, even the U.S. This real estate market is for those who are willing to help their “kababayan,” those who are ready to “give back” to their Filipino heritage, or those who want a second home in the Philippines. This is a clean cause. We are here to remind people that the Philippines is not heaven but it is close to paradise.”

“Canyon Woods Residential Resort,” Barlin continues, “is reminiscent of San Francisco Bay Area weather. Since the property is focused on the importance of nature and health, its log cabins and country-style homes blend perfectly with the pine trees and foliage of a rustic setting.” The 193-hectare master-planned development that is laid out on a gently rolling terrain, classified as tourism-residential, is one of the most prestigious residential addresses in the Philippines today. An additional 100 hectares has also been slated for future expansion. Its outstanding resort club facilities include a 5-story 9,000 square meters’ Main Clubhouse, customary hotel-standard lodgings, a Campsite Pavilion with a lagoon, and a 9-hole par 34 Executive Golf Course.

The developers had also maximized the selling features of its residential lots by preserving the land’s natural contours without compromising the panoramic views of mountains and ridges, Taal Lake, Taal Volcano, Balayan Bay, and Batangas Valley. George Go, the president and CEO of Canyon Woods, who is also in San Francisco for the property’s introduction in the U.S. market, points out that the residential blocks had been configured to reduce the need for “cut and fill” and to take advantage of the environment’s characteristic formations. He adds, “Most of the property’s lots face east so that you can wake up to the warmth of the morning sun.”

Susan Barlin’s group believes that there is an expanding market for real estate that caters to Filipinos who are planning to retire in the Philippines, whether half-time of full-time. She says, “We have done our job when we help our clients celebrate the retirement years of their lives by offering them the beginnings of an exciting lifestyle.”

Barlin International Group is extending an invitation to interested parties to attend its exclusive launching of Canyon Woods Residential Resort, luxury membership, retirement, and timeshare at a gala party on Saturday, August 16, 2003 from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the San Francisco Airport Marriott. An RSVP is required to attend the event. Contact Ora Seyler at (650) 921-2171 or Monet or Alex at (310) 328-5968.

Contributed by: Lorna L. Dietz

Sample Press Release: Northside Community Center

lorna — Fri, 27 Aug 2004 13:19:02 +0000

NORTHSIDE COMMUNITY CENTER’S FIRST-EVER FIESTA FILIPINAS
AT SAN JOSE FLEA MARKET: A COMPOSITE OF CULTURE, PATRIOTISM, ENTERTAINMENT, AND SHOPPING

San Jose, CA, October 20, 2003 — Whenever San Jose/San Francisco/Oakland Greater Bay Area consumers think about shopping for the best deals in town, a special trip to the San Jose Berryessa Flea Market generally means a one-day expedition or adventure. The attention focuses on the Filipino American communities in the Bay Area when the United States’ largest flea market, spanning 50,000 to 70,000 visitors each day during most weekends, gives San Jose’s Northside Community Center a hearty pre-Grand Opening celebration at one of its central venues, The Pavilion, at 1590 Berryessa Road, on Saturday and Sunday, November 1 and 2, 2003 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The festivities aim to bring the multi-ethnic and intercultural communities of Santa Clara County and their neighbors together that weekend for a first-ever Filipino community festival in the marketplace. Each day, the fiesta starts with a cacophony of colors as costumed revelers parade around the perimeter of The Pavilion, alerting shoppers to a special event taking place.

Since Northside Community Center was constructed with funding from The City of San Jose, during the Fiesta Filipinas 2003’s Opening Day on November 1, 2003, the City of San Jose’s political, community, and business leaders are expected to officially open the festival. A special recognition and award will be given to the Philippine government by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) in the Silicon Valley. The Philippines is the first country to sign the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, a requirement set by the World Health Organization to regulate the packaging, use, distribution, and advertisement of tobacco products. The Senate President of the Philippines, Franklin M. Drilon, according to Philippine Consul General Delia Menez Rosal, has been invited to accept the award on behalf of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and the Philippine government.

Booth vendors selling food and novelty items, giving information on businesses and services targeted to the event’s diverse audiences, and non-profit organizations are participating in this marketplace’s festival. Among the corporate sponsors, Wells Fargo will bring the nation’s first mobile community technology center, the e-Bus, to the San Jose Flea Market for children to experience the applications and innovations of multi-media computers and the Internet.

On-stage entertainment features Filipino American musical talent ranging from song and dance artists to the Fil-Am Veterans Rondalla Ensemble. Northside Community’s Intergeneration Performing Troupe, directed by Ben Menor and Fredez Limos, takes center stage as the dancers, ages 6 to 87, display their prowess of Filipino cultural dances as they perform with parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. A special tribute to Filipino American Veterans is also highlighted with patriotic displays of ceremony and colors to honor them.

Northside Community Center is the pride of the Filipino community and the City of San Jose because it is the first of its kind to be designed as the template for the “community center of the future” complimented by affordable housing. The center has a 16,500 square-foot building with senior housing, the Mabuhay Court. The newest component of Northside Community Center’s services is its event management and catering services. The Grand Opening festivities, which will be held at its 488 North Sixth Street address on November 7 to 11, 2003, will have events and activities for the center’s participants, supporters, and contributors.

For more information about Fiesta Filipinas 2003, contact Nita Geda, the event’s coordinator, at Northside Community Center, (408) 977-4005 or e-mail her at ngeda2003@yahoo.com.

Sample Press Release: NaFFAA

lorna — Fri, 27 Aug 2004 13:19:01 +0000

NaFFAA Northern CA Regional Conference Builds Bridges and Dreams at the “new” Northside Community Center on Oct. 25-26, 2003

SAN JOSE, CA, October 13, 2003 — On October 25 and October 26, 2003, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations, Northern California, Region 8 (NaFFAA R8) will hold its regional conference at the soon-to-opened Northside Community Center in downtown San Jose, 488 North Sixth Street, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The value-packed conference’s theme of “Building Bridges & Dreams” will focus on capacity-building for Filipino non-profit and community organizations. Topics range from building community centers, building media relationships, building economic development projects, building empowerment to impact public policy and bridging the digital divide, best practice in fundraising, bridging Philippine projects to the US, and issues of consumer abuse.

Ben Menor, President & CEO of FilAmCDC/Northside Community Center and NaFFAA’s Director for Programs and Development explained that Filipino non-profit organizations will expect to benefit from the intensive weekend of panel discussions, workshops, and networking activities. “Capacity-building,” according to Ben Menor, “means maximizing everything you have within your organization so you can accomplish your mission.”

Although the “new” 16,500 square-foot Northside Community Center does not officially open its doors to the public until its November 8 and 9, 2003 Grand Opening festivities, the conference attendees will be among the first clients of the volunteer-managed community event coordinators from the center’s event management and catering services group.

The conference is open to NaFFAA members and non-members. The 2-day conference fee includes continental breakfast and lunch: $50 for members and non-members alike and $25 for students and seniors. Discounted hotel rates in the San Jose area are also available through Cheryl Platon, NaFFAA Region 8’s Youth Representative at (408) 977-4005.

For more information, please contact the following: Rodel Rodis, NaFFAA Region 8 Chair at (415) 334-7800 or rodel50 @ aol.com, Marivic Bamba, NaFFAA Region 8 Vice-Chair at (415) 239-7292 or bambavi @ yahoo.com, and Cheryl Platon, Northside Community Center’s Youth Coordinator at (408) 977-4005 or cherylplaton @ filamnorthside.org.

NaFFAA is a private, non-profit, non-partisan tax-exempt organization that was established in 1997 to promote the welfare and well-being of all Filipinos and Filipino Americans throughout the United States. It is also recognized by Washington policy makers, private industry, and other advocacy groups as a strong voice for Filipinos and Filipino Americans.

The Filipino American Community Development Council, Inc./Northside Community Center is a community development organization that provides opportunities and comprehensive services for its intergenerational and intercultural clients, especially seniors, youth, and families of the immigrant community and underserved groups in Santa Clara County. The center serves as a model for future community centers that plan to include senior housing as one of its collaborative efforts.