SorsogonWeb | Province of Sorsogon | Philippines

NEW YORK: At an initial glance, it appears that another Filipino-American beauty queen will be crowned in a glittering pageant.

She will not only enchant the crowds but will be a living testimony to the generosity and cause-oriented Sorsoganons, working hard to give something back to their homeland.

But the charms of Filipinas have more substance: Mrs. Balik Sorsogon will be chosen based on the number of Sorsoganons she would bring back to her province for a three-day festivity this Oct. 28 to 30 as the part of "Kasanggayahan," the two-week celebration of the Sorsogon province's foundation from October 17 to 30, 2003.

Members of Balik Sorsogon USA committee gathered for a dinner-meeting in a Manhattan building overlooking the Central Park to organize the three-day festivity. Among them were Mila Manalac, Fr. Kiko Magnaye Jr., Tess Cabrera, Grace Figueroa, Ligaya Francisco and Mency Gardose.

What is more worthy in this project is that part of the proceeds will fund a historical museum in Sorsogon City in Bicol region and will finance investments in the province, said businesswoman Loida Nicolas-Lewis, chair of Balik Sorsogon USA.Lewis said the candidate who could recruit more compatriots to join the festivity would be the perfect choice to win the title of Mrs. Balik Sorsogon.

Mrs. Balik Sorsogon criteria are simple: She should be born in Sorsogon or had lived in Sorsogon before coming to America.

Minda Salandanan and Lily Salandanan Villegas is the coordinator for Mrs. Sorsogon.

For 16 years now, Carmen Oliver, 58, has not set foot on her beloved home in Sorsogon. She's busy managing a thriving thrift shop, which she owns in Elizabeth, N.J. As a member of Balik Sorsogon Committee, she's so happy to go back to her homeland on October this year to contribute for the economic upliftment of her province.

"I'm so excited to be there. I can't wait to try again our native Pantomina folk dance," she said.

Lewis said the event would be the right time for Sorsoganons to come together for a reunion and rekindle their nationalistic spirits.

She said a local economic summit will be held. Local government officials will give an update on the state of the province to enlighten prospective investors condition of the city.

She expects that 50 to 75 former residents of Sorsogon will participate in the festivities.

Part of the Kasanggayahan festival, the Balik Sorsogon will showcase cultural presentations, civic parade, guided tour of the scenic spots in the city and province, local cooking demonstration, fitting of Kimona and camisa attire for the Pantomina sa Tinanpo (folk dancing in the streets), Pantomina dance workshop, ballroom dancing and coronation of Mrs. Balik Sorsogon on the second night.

The third and final night would be a costume party, an American custom the Balik Sorsoganons would like to introduce to Sorsogon, complete with prices for Most Unique Costume, Most Authentic Costume, Most Outrageaous Costume.

Centerpiece of every fiesta is the festive table, laden with native, succulent food like ginataan, Bikol Express and the golden brown lechon.

Participant is expected to pay $150 to attend the investment and cultural lectures, all the festivities, the parade, the city and provincial tour including all the meals during the three days. Deadline would be September 25th.

Lewis said 10 to 20% of the funds will be used to build a Sorsogon museum.

Sorsogon is best known for its white-sand and blue waters called Rizal beach. Serene and unpolluted, the province is also famous for whale-watching and swimming with the whales called Butanding in Donsol and refreshing verdant Bulusan Lake, among other tourist spots.

Squeezed with weak farm production, Bicol region is the second poorest region in the Philippines. Because of this, the desire of Filipino Americans to uplift their province is greater, saying it's a noble mission.

Also present at the meeting was Vicky Garchitorena, president of Ayala Foundation-USA. She said AF USA hoped to bring together the talent and resources of Filipino Americans to improve the lives of impoverished countrymen.

With seven million Filipino overseas, Ayala Foundation wants to connect Filipinos to their homeland, to help in projects and keep the economy afloat. The foundation has partnered with the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) to fund mostly education and health projects in the Philippines.

Its "Business to the Barrio" program, a microfinance projects patterned after Grameen Bank of Bangladesh is creating an enterprising spirit and generating employment in remote areas.

"We have to tap Filipino Americans to give back to their homeland and to work into the concerns of the community," Garchitorena said. Small business being supported by NaFFAA are sprouting in Sorsogon province to create jobs in the localities.

Filipino Americans have a high median annual income of $60,000 in the U.S. Because of this, they are a potent force whose energy and resources could help cause-oriented projects in the Philippines.

Established three years ago in the U.S., the Ayala Foundation USA offers tax deductible benefits to donors. It encourages Filipino doctors and nurses to adopt hospitals in the Philippine by donating medical equipment and treating poor patients when they visit their homeland.

Garchitorena said that those who would donate or participate in Balik-Sorsogon will enjoy tax deductible benefit.

For inquiries, please call 212-756-8958 or 609 499 2966 or email tlcbeatrice@aol.com

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