Doing the #ALSIceBucketChallenge in Hawaii?

Donate local.

I had the pleasure of working with dedicated and passionate caregivers of the ALS Ohana of Hawaii, and the ice bucket challenge is great – raised millions for the cause, BUT, if there’s one thing I learned from them – it’s that help is needed NOW and your help matters NOW.

The national ALS organization use monies to find a cure for the disease. Meanwhile in Hawaii, caregivers need your help to build a network of support for those affected by the ALS. Please check them out and help.

Please visit their website noW: www.alsohana.org

Here is a poster board for one of the organization’s community outreach events –

My client, Ms. Debs sent me this photo later on –

So happy to be a part of ALS Ohana of Hawaii!

August 25, 2014 Add Comment

October is Filipino Ameican Heritage Month: Maui FilAm Fest on Oct. 12

I will be at the Maui FilAm Heritage Festival on Saturday, Oct. 13 from 10am – 3pm. The Kit Zulueta Productions booth will have some parol kits and other toys for sale. There were some shirts from last year that I still have too, so I plan to just clean out my storage space at home.

Chef Jake Belmonte of Maui Culinary Academy, spearheading Master P-noy Chef cook-off wearing one of my shirts last year: U can adobo anything for ‘Battle Adobo’

It will be another exciting event! The committee, led by Atty. Fred Evangelista, is working so hard getting all the details together. Many thanks to Phil Sabado of Sabado Studios for always allowing the group to get together at his space.

Maui Fil-Am Heritage Festival Committee meeting

I’m happy how the poster turned out this year – great thing our photographer Janno Gonzales of Litratto captured Ms. Becca Godfrey’s beautiful smile – currently the title holder for Miss Filipino Fashionista! Here’s the latest poster project:

The celebration kick-off tomorrow (Oct.1) is at a Philippine flag-raising event by the County building front lawn. I had the honor to emcee last year’s one and it was a great moment – singing Lupang Hinirang and really meaning every word: … aming ligaya ng pag may nang-aapi, ang mamatay ng dahil sa ‘yo. Deep man, deep.

The Timpuyog Cultural Group behind me with Filipino-Americans in uniform who helped raise the Philippine flag. Mahalo to Ryan Piros for the photo. I’m rarely in the pictures, so I treasure every one that I’m in.

Anyway, there will be free filipino food! If that’s not enough reason, I don’t know what else is.

There will be a series of events in October – some already set, some still in the works. I’ll be sure to post updates and any additional information here. In the meantime, I invite you to follow Maui Filipino Chamber on Facebook and check out the website for more Maui Fil-Am Heritage Festival updates.

Mabuhay and Aloha!

September 30, 2013 Add Comment

The cleaning lady procastinator

So Mashable published this list of ‘procastinators’ – a comic illustration by Angela Liao of 20px.com. You can find it here: http://mashable.com/2013/09/13/procrastinators-comic/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-main-photo

As you can see, here I am typing this ridiculous post instead of writing something like press releases for upcoming events I’ve committed to do. Darn it. Well, part of me is trying to convince myself that starting to write would flip that switch that I need. Another part of me really would like Taro flavored Snow factory ice deliciousness with some azuki beans.

Today, I’ve cleaned house. i.e – THE CLEANER. I did two loads of laundry, washed the leftover dishes, vacuumed the whole apartment, reorganized my whole office. I don’t know what it is, but I’m in love with these clear plastic shoe-box like containers I got from Costco.

I’ve accumulated soooo much junk but I’m oh so successful in reorganizing em’. Here’s a no-shame photo of my office-wall-of-stuff.

Some realizations:

1. Those Mini-dvs and blank DVDs are done. They’re going in the cabinet together with all the other extinct items, but still worth keeping.

2. I have sooo many pens, but I’m always looking for one when I need one. Why is that?!

3. I don’t know why I have post-its of all sizes. I just know I need to get some every time I them in Office Depot. Just just just can’t get enough of them.

4. The last major clean-up I had, I realized I have LESS PAPER this time! Yaaaay! I did get another 2T external harddrive for my birthday so I’ll make super good use of that.

5. Clorox wet wipes and Swiffer dusters get the job done. That’s all you’re gna need.

6. You encounter stuff like this and get that warm feeling inside –

The crazy bunch at MSI are pure raw creative talents. Very honored to have worked with them. =)

So, I’ll get on with some real work now. (Or continue cleaning the other room….)

September 14, 2013 Add Comment

Secret to photo restoration: Clone Stamp tool

This is one of my favorite things to do with photoshop. I like restoring old photos.
It’s fun to alter images – remove this person, make shirt color different, add longer hair, etc. etc. – BUT it’s more challenging to preserve the original image.

This was a request from a good friend – ‘Can you please remove the cracks?’

Original image

Well, my secret:

And then… ta-dah!

restored photo

August 30, 2013 Add Comment

Miss Teen Maui Filipina

The first time I worked with pageant guru Michelle Santos was on an emcee gig for the Ilocos Surian Association’s installation event. Then I hosted 2012’s Miss Maui Filipina pageant at the Hyatt where 2012 title holder Shelby Bantillan won.

This Sunday, Binhi at Ani Community Center will have 5 young pinays compete for this year’s title. It starts 6pm and tickets are $20.

A few weeks ago, I met these ladies and we took some pictures at the Bahay Kubo at Kepaniwai Park in Iao Valley. I’ve submitted my tally sheets and Miss Photogenic is…. stay tuned!

Ria

Paris

Kaegil

Sheina

Cassidy

August 30, 2013 Add Comment

3rd quarterly meeting with BBB CEO and Hawaii Health Connector

Maui FIlipino Chamber of Commerce 3rd Quarter Membership meeting

This is the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce’s 2nd event that’s going to be held at Tante’s Restaurant at the Seaside Hotel. As far as I know, the last one with State Tax Director Fred Pablo was very sucessful, so I’m looking forward to this one, too!

Flying all the way from Oahu, Mr. Greg Dunn, President and CEO of Better Business Bureau, has agreed to talk story with us on trends, tips and best practices in business. He was just appointed last June. In an effort to cyber-know him before the actual event, I learned that he was affiliated with the Hawaii Nature Center – whose current Executive Director Dyanna Okazaki was a karate mom in JKA Hawaii.

In addition, our 2013 JKA Hawaii Fall Tournament will have an overnight potluck/bonfire/fellowship event at Maui’s Hawaii Nature Center at Iao Valley. I used to work for a non-profit and we do anything to hit targets for fund-raising, so will help as much as possible.

The second speaker is Ms. Rowena Nikki Baysa, Program Specialist of Maui’s Hawaii Health Connector. Ms. Baysa actually spoke at the Maui County Business Resource Center yesterday to educate about health insurance and business so she may be anticipating the same questions from us. I personally don’t have much concerns about health insurance – which is pretty lame and sad – a chunk of my salary is dedicated for it, I know that.

So I continue to receive notifications from Kaiser – “Hey, Maria! Come and see us!” – wow, they are so friendly. And I continue to ignore. I promised myself I will go for at least a physical this YEAR.

Joe Moore of KITV News once said “People on the quest for wealth and disregards health, end up losing both.” So true.

Join us on Wednesday. The $20 is so worth it – just Tante’s hospitality alone. You don’t have to be a member to join us. In fact, bring your friends with you, THEN you can all join the Chamber afterwards.

RSVP: Brianmoto.moto@gmail.com or Call Alvin Santander at 808-856-2605

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August 29, 2013 Add Comment