PAMANA Spring Fling
Challenges and hope for better days
Challenges and hope for better days
By Heidi M. Pascual
The Philippine American Association of Madison and
Neighboring Areas (PAMANA) held their annual spring
picnic on May 17 at Elver Park, primarily to get together
and strengthen the bonds of Filipino families in this part
of the state of Wisconsin. Families brought delicious
native Filipino dishes to share that filled long tables and
kept people coming back for more. Adults enjoyed
updating each other on their lives while children
screamed happily as they played.
PAMANA is also preparing for the upcoming July 19
celebration of Philippine Independence Day (celebrated
July 4 in the Philippines) at Monona Terrace, with a
Dinner Dance. The event will also highlight the turnover
of PAMANA’s current leadership to a new board to be led
by Cora Holloway.
Outgoing Pres. Ed Escall
“I’m glad that my term will soon be over,” current
PAMANA President Ed Escall said. “I am glad too that we
were able to: continue PAMANA’s existence; provide the
regular needs and expectations of members; promote
PAMANA to other Filipino organizations outside Madison;
establish rapport and communication between
Milwaukee and Madison Filipino organizations; and
restore some members’ confidence and enthusiasm
towards PAMANA, resulting in some former members
coming back.”
While Escall highlighted the year’s achievements, he
also equally emphasized the challenges that he faced
in terms of cooperation, fund raising, and divisions. “I
had difficulty finding members willing to serve PAMANA,”
Escall lamented. “Only a few end up doing most of the
work, perhaps due to time constraints. It was hard to
raise funds, so sometimes you end up using your own
money. Factions among members can be destructive,
and it seems impossible to unite opposing members.”
Despite these mixed experience, Escall still felt
good about “giving back” to his kababayans
(countrymen). “Despite the displeasure probably of
some with how we conducted our activities this year, I
know that somehow we are giving something to our
community because we serve as volunteers,” Escall
said. “Filipinos here are full of talents, and if we can
only pull ourselves together and understand one
another, setting aside personal differences, there’s no
doubt we can become a great respectable
community.”
The Philippine American Association of Madison and
Neighboring Areas (PAMANA) held their annual spring
picnic on May 17 at Elver Park, primarily to get together
and strengthen the bonds of Filipino families in this part
of the state of Wisconsin. Families brought delicious
native Filipino dishes to share that filled long tables and
kept people coming back for more. Adults enjoyed
updating each other on their lives while children
screamed happily as they played.
PAMANA is also preparing for the upcoming July 19
celebration of Philippine Independence Day (celebrated
July 4 in the Philippines) at Monona Terrace, with a
Dinner Dance. The event will also highlight the turnover
of PAMANA’s current leadership to a new board to be led
by Cora Holloway.
Outgoing Pres. Ed Escall
“I’m glad that my term will soon be over,” current
PAMANA President Ed Escall said. “I am glad too that we
were able to: continue PAMANA’s existence; provide the
regular needs and expectations of members; promote
PAMANA to other Filipino organizations outside Madison;
establish rapport and communication between
Milwaukee and Madison Filipino organizations; and
restore some members’ confidence and enthusiasm
towards PAMANA, resulting in some former members
coming back.”
While Escall highlighted the year’s achievements, he
also equally emphasized the challenges that he faced
in terms of cooperation, fund raising, and divisions. “I
had difficulty finding members willing to serve PAMANA,”
Escall lamented. “Only a few end up doing most of the
work, perhaps due to time constraints. It was hard to
raise funds, so sometimes you end up using your own
money. Factions among members can be destructive,
and it seems impossible to unite opposing members.”
Despite these mixed experience, Escall still felt
good about “giving back” to his kababayans
(countrymen). “Despite the displeasure probably of
some with how we conducted our activities this year, I
know that somehow we are giving something to our
community because we serve as volunteers,” Escall
said. “Filipinos here are full of talents, and if we can
only pull ourselves together and understand one
another, setting aside personal differences, there’s no
doubt we can become a great respectable
community.”
What would life be after PAMANA? Ed and wife Nieva will remain active in the Filipino
community until their retirement, which they might spend in Australia. They plan to travel
throughout the United States. “And when our time to leave comes, this American experience will
be beyond our dreams, which we will cherish forever,” Escall said.
Incoming Pres. Cora Holloway
The excitement on Cora Holloway’s face was infectious. She’s about ready to tackle the
challenging job soon to be vacated by Ed Escall. Her plans are ambitious, but they are doable.
“It only takes a lot of determination and hard work,” Holloway said. “My goal is for PAMANA to
have a Philippine Center. I think we can purchase a three-room house, and each room will
represent our main islands in the Philippines: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. We can display
representative items in each room. I think it is not difficult to unite Filipinos here toward that
goal. We must contribute in order to achieve that.”
Holloway also plans to continue the teaching of Filipino culture to children, especially those
who were born in the United States. “(Former PAMANA President and Madison teacher) Beth
Reyes used to do cultural workshops to teach children,” Holloway noted, “and she agreed to do
this again.”
Fully aware of the factions in the membership, she stressed, “It is important to make
people realize that PAMANA is for all of us Filipino Americans here in Madison area. Our
association is not for the glory of any particular persons.”
She added that she will convince members that now is the time to be one by sharing her goal of
establishing a Philippine Center.
July 19 Dinner Dance
“If all goes well, the July 19 party promises to be a little extravagant,” Escal observed.
“There will be a video about the Philippines playing while we dine; songs from Liberty Manabat
of Chicago; and three cultural dance presentations representing the three islands: Dinagyan
(Visayas), Singkil (Mindanao), and Tinikling (Luzon). The rest of the night will be dancing with
the music from a renown Filipino DJ from Chicago.”
Holloway added that Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz accepted her invitation to attend and be
the guest speaker. If the planned program will be followed, Mayor Dave will also administer the
swearing in of the incoming officers. “We have to make our presence known to him and other
leaders in Madison.”
community until their retirement, which they might spend in Australia. They plan to travel
throughout the United States. “And when our time to leave comes, this American experience will
be beyond our dreams, which we will cherish forever,” Escall said.
Incoming Pres. Cora Holloway
The excitement on Cora Holloway’s face was infectious. She’s about ready to tackle the
challenging job soon to be vacated by Ed Escall. Her plans are ambitious, but they are doable.
“It only takes a lot of determination and hard work,” Holloway said. “My goal is for PAMANA to
have a Philippine Center. I think we can purchase a three-room house, and each room will
represent our main islands in the Philippines: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. We can display
representative items in each room. I think it is not difficult to unite Filipinos here toward that
goal. We must contribute in order to achieve that.”
Holloway also plans to continue the teaching of Filipino culture to children, especially those
who were born in the United States. “(Former PAMANA President and Madison teacher) Beth
Reyes used to do cultural workshops to teach children,” Holloway noted, “and she agreed to do
this again.”
Fully aware of the factions in the membership, she stressed, “It is important to make
people realize that PAMANA is for all of us Filipino Americans here in Madison area. Our
association is not for the glory of any particular persons.”
She added that she will convince members that now is the time to be one by sharing her goal of
establishing a Philippine Center.
July 19 Dinner Dance
“If all goes well, the July 19 party promises to be a little extravagant,” Escal observed.
“There will be a video about the Philippines playing while we dine; songs from Liberty Manabat
of Chicago; and three cultural dance presentations representing the three islands: Dinagyan
(Visayas), Singkil (Mindanao), and Tinikling (Luzon). The rest of the night will be dancing with
the music from a renown Filipino DJ from Chicago.”
Holloway added that Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz accepted her invitation to attend and be
the guest speaker. If the planned program will be followed, Mayor Dave will also administer the
swearing in of the incoming officers. “We have to make our presence known to him and other
leaders in Madison.”
Outgoing PAMANA President Ed Escall
(l) and Incoming President Cora
Holloway
(l) and Incoming President Cora
Holloway
Charlotte Deleste (l) and Nieva Escall
Gilbert Jose (l) and Eunice Abraham (r)
came with a friend
came with a friend
| Agnes Cammer (l), Charles Warner and mom Donna |
(Other photos on this page) Simply fun,
entertainment, lots of food and games
for the whole family at the recent
PAMANA Spring Fling held in Elver Park.
entertainment, lots of food and games
for the whole family at the recent
PAMANA Spring Fling held in Elver Park.