To be content with what we possess is the greatest and most secure of riches.

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1 Till We Meet Again. At the party honoring Deputy Consul General Millie Sta. Maria-Thomeczek (5th from left) are some guests. From left, Monsignor Oscar Aquino, Lita Pena, Nelia Ferrette, Cora Reyes, Consul General to New York Mario Lopez de Leon, Jr., April Talangbayan, Eleanor de Leon and Mila Mendez. (Photo by Dr. Francis Talangbayan) To be content with what we possess is the greatest and most secure of riches. Marcus Tullius Cicero 1 / 11

2 *** THE Filipino-American Community hosted a Till We Meet Again party on April 16 in honor of Deputy Consul General to New York Millie Sta. Maria-Thomeczek who is leaving her post after seven-and-a-half years at the end of July. The well-liked and esteemed DCG will report to the home office in Manila and will hold a top position there until her next posting abroad. She holds the rank of Ambassador just like the current Consul General Mario Lopez de Leon, Jr. who attended the party with wife Eleanor. Venue was at Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel in Flushing, N.Y. and, despite the inclement weather, some 250 guests attended. They came from not only New York but from New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and elsewhere. That s how they show their devotion and admiration to Millie whom I usually refer to as having no mean bone in her body. A deeply religious person, she is the embodiment of all things good in a person. How we wish we have her kind of virtue. 2 / 11

3 DCG was so touched by the outpouring of affection when she gave a brief speech. This was after the wonderful palabas, harana, kanta, sayaw for Millie. I m writing this in haste as I m leaving for PH, and I have a million and one things to do, it s nerve-wracking. Anyway, the movers of Fil-Am Community perhaps will write about the event, and do a pictorial for posterity. At the Till We Meet Again party for Deputy Consul General Millie Sta. Maria-Thomeczek. From left, Joe Ramos, Dr. Francis V. Talangbayan, Cristina E. Talangbayan, Dr. Linda R. Pelayo, April Talangbayan and J.T.S. Mallonga, Esq. (Photo by Raul Estrellado) 3 / 11

4 *** Lest we forget! Excerpts of an article written by non-catholic Sam Miller a prominent Cleveland Jewish businessman: Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that we have today in the United States, namely the Catholic Church? Do you know the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday at the cost to that Church of $10 billion, and a savings on the other hand to the American taxpayer of $18 billion. The graduates go on to graduate studies at the rate of 92%. The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment of 700,000 students. The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people not just Catholics in the United States today. But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the Catholic Church in this country. They have blamed the disease of pedophilia on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the institution of marriage. 4 / 11

5 Let me give you some figures that Catholics should know and remember. For example, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse with a parishioner; 38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual contact in a study by the United Methodist Church; 41.8% of clergy women reported unwanted sexual behavior; 17% of laywomen have been sexually harassed. Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of pedophilia. 10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia. This is not a Catholic problem. A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR the Church has been receiving. The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. The agony that Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of the Church. You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have probably been totally weeded out by now. Walk with your shoulders high and your head higher. 5 / 11

6 Be a proud member of the most important non-governmental agency in the United States... Then remember what Jeremiah said: Stand by the roads, and look and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence, and learn what your Church does for all other religions. Be proud that you re a Catholic. Please pass this on to every Catholic on your list. Thanks Angie Cruz for forwarding this important info. The core group of the San Lorenzo Ruiz Chapel recently paid a courtesy call on new Consul General to New York Mario Lopez de Leon, Jr. Seated, l.-r.: Vicky Baxa, Nilda 6 / 11

7 Jaynal, Father Joseph G. Marabe, JCD, Mr. de Leon and Zonny Lerum. Standing, l.-r.: Aida Gamolo, Amy Lerum, Angie Cruz, Rene Ballenas, Jon Lontok and Ferdinand Suba, Esq. PHHOSO and PAFCOM BEAUTIES: From left, Adora Penn, PAFCOM Grand Lady; Cristi Ras, Mrs. Philippines America 2011; Margie Wisotsky, Mrs. PAFCOM 2011; Marian Ortiz, PAFCOM Grand Lady; Grace Labaguis, PAFCOM Grand Lady; Lea Segard, PAFCOM Grand Lady; and Rose Rosales, Mrs. Philippines GreenBassador (Photo by Troi Santos) *** Subject: Bran muffins, sent in by Joe Ramos. The couple were 85 years old and had been married for 60 years. 7 / 11

8 Though they were far from rich, they managed to get by because they watched their pennies. Though not young, they were both in very good health, largely due to the wife s insistence on healthy foods and exercise for the last decade. One day, their good health didn t help when they went on a rare vacation and their plane crashed, sending them off to Heaven. They reached the pearly gates, and St. Peter escorted them inside. He took them to a beautiful mansion, furnished in gold fine silks, with a fully stocked kitchen and a waterfall in the master bedroom. A maid could be seen hanging their favorite clothes in the closet. They gasped in astonishment when he said, Welcome to Heaven. This will be your home now. The old man asked Peter how much all this is going to cost. Why nothing, Peter replied, remember this is your reward in Heaven. The old man looked out the window and right there he sat on a championship golf course, finer and more beautiful than any ever built on Earth. What are the greens fees? grumbled the old man. 8 / 11

9 This is Heaven, St. Peter replied. You can play for free, everyday. Next they went to the clubhouse and saw the lavish buffet lunch, with every imaginable cuisine laid out before them, from seafood to steaks to exotic desserts, free flowing beverages. Don t even ask, said St. Peter to the man. This is Heaven, it is all free for you to enjoy. The old man looked around and glanced nervously at his wife. Well, where are the low fat and low cholesterol foods, and the decaffeinated tea? he asked. That s the best part, St. Peter replied. You can eat and drink as much as you like of whatever you like, and you will never get fat and sick. This is Heaven! The old man pushed, No gym to work out at? Not unless you want to, was the answer. No testing my sugar or blood pressure or... 9 / 11

10 Never again. All you do here is enjoy yourself. The old man glared at his wife and said, You and your muffins. We could have been here 10 years ago. *** Subject: The Obedient Wife. There was a man who had worked all his life, had saved all of his money, and was a real miser when it came to his money. Just before he died, he said to his wife, When I die, I want you to take all my money and put it in the casket with me. I want to take my money to the afterlife with me. And so he got his wife to promise him, with all of her heart, that when he died, she would put all of the money into the casket with him. Well, he died. He was stretched out in the casket, his wife was sitting there dressed in black, and her friend was sitting next to her. When they finished the ceremony, and just before the undertakers got ready to close the casket, the wife said, Wait just a moment! 10 / 11

11 She had a small metal box with her; she came over with the box and out it in the casket. Then the undertakers locked the casket down and they rolled it away. So her friend said, Girl, I know you were not foolish enough to put all that money in there with your husband. The loyal wife replied, Listen, I m a Christian; I cannot go back on my word. I promised him that I was going to put that money into the casket with him. You mean to tell me you put that money in the casket with him? I sure did, said the wife. I got it all together, put it into my account, and wrote him a check...if he can cash it, then he can spend it. Send this to every clever female you know, and to every man who thinks they are smarter than women! Hahaha! Thanks Minnie Azarcon! 11 / 11