DAUSA Turns 10, Projects Continue
September 3, 2003
The Danao Association USA, Inc. is barely ten years old, yet has already been known in the Filipino communities all over U.S. as among a handful of very active, if not the number one hometown association that consistently help its people back home.
Formally organized in September 1993 by a small group of Danawanons, DAUSA has gone a long way from just holding a pot-luck during the feast of the town’s patron saint, to conducting an annual medical- surgical mission, free dental clinic, adopt-a-student, adopt-a-school programs and forming Little Leagues.
Gemma Montegrande, DAUSA President
Crosine Roble was elected first president in 1993; next was. Dr. Plutarco Almendras in 1995. Ramon Barriga was president in 1997 and served the allowed maximum two terms until 2001. Crosine Roble.
ANOTHER APPEAL TO KIND-HEARTED DANAWANONS
June 3, 2003
DAUSA President Gemma Montegrande recently received two emailed messages from Dungguan Elementary School Principal Lilia Ramos-Ybanez (apo ni kanhi Panfilo “Pamping Pulis” Ramos. Ed).
In both communications Ms. Ybanez attached a letter signed by Dr. Michael M. Cono, Danao City School Superintendent.
(Dungguan Elementary School is beneficiary of DAUSA Adopt-a-School Program initiated by Mr. Jose Campo of Freeport, TX and who personally donated lots of hard bound books to the school library and some 13 computer desktops and monitors.)
The first letter is an appeal to kind-hearted DAUSA members and other Danawanons living abroad to sponsor deserving high school students.
Danao Parish Church Through the Years
March 22, 2003
Researched and Compiled by Narciso ‘Sisoy’ Almerez
• In 1755 the parish church was constructed by the Venerable Padre Fray Manuel de Santa Barbara, the Vicario Prior of Danao in its present site.
• The San Alipio bell was cast in 1845 which now hung in the bell tower (45 kilos).
• The crucero (right and left wing of the church and the beautiful stone fence that surrounded the church were constructed by Padre Manuel Fernandez de la Virgen del Rosario, parish priest in 1843 to 1867.
GUGMA, UHAW….
February 28, 2003
GUGMA, UHAW
ni: Romulo C. Mangubat
Matag adlaw ikaw gihanduraw
Sa bintana ako nagalantaw
Nag-inusara mamalandong ug nag-tuaw
Sa niining dughan gugmang tim-os nga nagtukaw
Sa akong pag-inusara ako sa halayo naglantaw
Walay lain gihandom ning galamhan kon dili ikaw
Makita ug mabatyad ang dinagaang sa imong kamingaw
Gugma- uhaw sa akong kiliran ikaw nahanaw
Unsaon nalang ang tanan
Mga saad unta may katumanan
Nga bisan kamatayon dili maoy kinutuban
Kay ang gugma uhaw magpabilin niining dughan
Kanimo Gugmang katingalahan
Mga nagkahigugmaay-familya inampingan
Damgo ug Plano di makawang ang tanan
Gugma Uhaw dili matukib ug talagsaon
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Candy Canga’s Letter to her Mom
January 16, 2003
This is a personal note from a doting daughter to her mom, but I asked permission to share to our readers Candy Canga’s email to her mom, Rose Canga, Dean of Student Affairs of Cebu State College, Danao City campus.
Candy is a professional registered nurse and currently is Surgical Department Manager of Sutter Memorial Hospital, Modesto, California,
Candy spearheads the DAUSA’s Adopt-a-Student Program since its inception three years ago. She is a sponsor herself to some five scholars.
Likewise, Candy’s mom contacts the barrio high school principals of Danao to send deserving indigent students to apply for scholarship.
Mrs. Canga screens and recommends students who get 4-year free college tuition. At present there are 30 DAUSA scholars enrolled at the Cebu State College, two will be graduating this March and another 20 next year. (Click “read more” to continue)
Read more
‘PASKO SA DANAO’ – WHAT DO YOU MISS?
December 14, 2002
[Note: Originally posted on Kaming Danawanon, Vol V, No. 5 Nov-Dec 199.]
As signs of the holiday season, from radio music, to mall decors, to the cool weather get into our systems, older U.S. Pinoys start to get nostalgic and feel an irresistitble urge to visit their hometown and reconnect with old friends and relatives for Christmas.
But it seems this doesn’t hold true among Danawanons in the U.S. Rather, the city fiesta in September actually beckons more Dananawons than does Christmas.
Someone said maybe we’re just very kuripot (stingy) scared of our many friends and relatives asking for pinaskohan so we don’t go home on Christmas.
Since my high school in 1967 I have never spent a hometown Christmas and I have almost forgotten what I was missing.
I guess there was nothing much happening at Christmas in Danao that would draw Danawanon back home at this time of year.
In many Filipino literatures, travel brochures, magazines, in Christmas jingles, so much we read or heard about this unique Filipino tradition of Pasko, such as “Misa de Gallo’, musikeros, aguinaldos, ‘mano po ninong, mano po ninang”, etc.
STARBUCKS NOW IN DANAO CITY
November 15, 2002
This is indeed a welcome news, especially to some snooty Balikbayans who come to town every year with the Balik Danao group, but are gone after a few a days “because we cannot normally function unless we drink our favorite brew.” (Years back, in old Danao, they had 5¢-a-pack Dragon coffee or home-made “corn-fee” (pinaig-bugas) in the morning.)
With STARBUCKS in town, Balikbayans may now have their fill anytime, anywhere (even home service) and be drinking all day to their hearts’ delight. (click read more to see photo of Starbucks)
Letter from a DAUSA Scholar – NOBEYA COLON
August 23, 2002
To all my kind-hearted sponsors,
It’s me again, Nobeya, I was very happy to receive a letter from you. I want to ask an apology that I haven’t responded immediately. I have been very busy in school and in other activities outside school during the past weeks. Some of these activities include catechism (teaching children the basic prayers, religious songs and teaching them how to go to confession.) I was involved in this activity because I am a member PYCC (Pastoral Youth Coordinating Council) in our parish. Other things that kept me busy is the Clean and Green Program in which I am one of the organizer.
I don’t know how to use the internet that’s why I am writing you, but don’t worry I will try my best to learn how to email. I also want to thank you for all the help that you had given to us all. You know if only we’re near, I want to thank you everyday, but since we are far apart and making phone calls overseas is costly, I’ll just send a letter every month. You know I always pray to the Lord our God that He will keep you and your family safe and guide you in whatever you do.
I always remember you, even if I can’t recognize your face one by one. Sir, I am very inspired by your letter. Thank you very much for the inspiration. I will let my English teacher read that. I am very much excited to see you again this coming September. By the way my parents also wanted to say “thank you” for helping me, together with my fellow scholars. I also am sending you my picture, taken during our trip in Bogo, Cebu. I will stop only until here ‘coz it’s already 12:30 a.m. and I feel sleepy na . . . Once again, thank you and God Bless . . . I LOVE YOU.
Yours truly,
Nobeya
TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR BALIK DANAO TRAVELERS
August 21, 2002
One positive result of the 9/11 tragedy is that people now takes travel precaution more seriously. Since then private and government offices are issuing travel advisory to their employees who travel outside U.S.
Only recently for U.S. federal employees traveling to countries classified “high risk” including the Philippines, either on official or unofficial trip, attendance in a terrorism seminar is mandatory, also for accompanying spouses. They are provided safety tips on how to avoid becoming victims of terrorist attacks.
Concerned as we are on the well-being and safety of our fellow Danawnaons, we have issued our own travel advisory appropriate for the Balik Danao travelers leaving this September to attend the City Fiesta celebration.
Although, Danao remains the most peaceful city in the country, if not in the world, still we find it necessary to warn Danawanons of possible situations that can be life-threatening.
THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE OF ‘BARRIO KALUBI-AN’
August 14, 2002
Way back in the Old Danao the residents of Baryo Kalubi-an had been stereotyped by most people back home as ‘mga siga, tigas or hawak sa merkado”.
If you were from Suba, you were crazy to walk around Baryo Kalubi-an after dark or you could be hanging and shouting ‘tabang’ up in the electric post or perhaps end up in the ihawan or slaughterhouse and made into a kasahos.
Barrio Kalubi-an is a very small area of town (barely two blocks), bounded in the west by Rizal St., on the east, the slaughterhouse, on the north, the public market and in the south is a creek, but is notoriously known as little Tondo.