Pinoy pride – Page 2 – Kit Zulueta Productions LLC

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

Filipinos in Hawaii – by province

Special thanks to Melissa Gibson for sending me these slides!

My mum, and her family, though she doesn’t speak it all the time, IS ilokano. My Ninang is hardcore ilokano. Lola Pinky of my dad’s side CAN speak ilokano (she’s actually multi-lingual and spoke many Filipino dialects which is pretty awesome).

Anyway, what I’m trying to say is – I wish I took learning Ilokano more seriously and picked up more phrases and words other than ‘diak maawatan’ and ‘mabisin nako’ and ‘awan.’ Because my vocabulary is really ‘basit.’

I have to admit, sometimes it feels awkward when you’re part of the minority in a room of ilokano speakers. Well, refer to graph. Doesn’t matter, they all understand Tagalog so I’m ok. haha

But this is probably an acceptable answer for those who have asked me ‘How come you speak very good english (as a Filipino)?’ Don’t get mad now, it’s really not their fault. It’s always better to educate. In a correspondence with new Manila Tourism executive Carlos Celdran, he told me he tells them the same thing – ‘OMG, Yours is excellent too. How did that happen?’

# # #

August 29, 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

# # #

August 29, 2013 Add Comment

Feeling like a Top Chef myself at Honu fundraiser with Chef Sheldon Simeon

That’s right, I was fortunate to have devoured an exclusive set course prepared by Top Chef Sheldon Simeon (@chefwonder) and Chef Mark Ellman, owner and executive chef of Honu and Mala Restaurants in Lahaina.

The fundraiser was a benefit for Punana Leo O Maui, a Hawaiian immersion preschool dedicated to family-based programming where the entire ohana, makua and keiki, are immersed in the Hawaiian language and culture; and

for the Lahaina skate park – a project that Chef Mark Ellman is very passionate about.

Well, it appeared that the restaurant was non-stop busy tonight so I’d like to extend my Congratulations to the chefs!!!

So moving on, let’s talk about the food.

The menu was signed by Chef Sheldon – and if I didn’t catch on quickly, it just looked like someone was checking whether a sharpie still had ink!

Cocktails – we had drinks. I mean, we had drinks. It was awesome.

The whole course was Filipino-inspired so the starting with the drinks, we had

Palawan Press – Muddled thai basil, orange and lime juice with agave nectar and Absolut Hibiscus vodka
Manila Smash – watermelon muddled with lime sour and agave nectar, St. Germaine and Sauza Tequila Blanco
Pacquiao’s Punch – Ten cane rum, lemon, guava and pineapple juice with soda H2o, housemade ginger syrup
Lime in the Coconut – (I didn’t get to try this), The real Daiquiri, Old lahaina run, Fresh lime, agave nectar and coconut H2o.

And going over the course really fast –

Starters: rice cracker (kamaboko, soubise, chive), Brie cheese Inari, RADISH. yes, RADISH with toasted rice, shrimp paste – I’ve NEVER had anything like it.

Tasting Menu includes: Kauai prawns, hurricane popcorn, kampachi and roasted-awesome- pork belly. Of course it’s not just what it seems – there were ingredients like kochujang and veloute. Umm… yeah, sumtn’ li’dat.

Our dessert was coconut mousse with calamansi curd with malasada and mango lemon verbena sauce.

Now, if you know me, I eat anything and everything and most of the time don’t really care about the process of food-making, but I give a damn about the presentation. And taste of course, yeah, that would be the whole point – taste.

Honu and Mala Ocean Tavern have world-class food and it’s always a good time dining out that area with the sunset. All the best, Chef Ellman!

August 28, 2013 Add Comment

Getting There: FilAm Courier April 2013 Issue

Nelda Zulueta: This is her signature cartoon series that comes with every article she writes for the Fil-Am courier. Take note of her upside-down-cat logo from her Kit Zulueta Productions. There. Stage Mom.

This is me in the cartoon, in my woman-cave of an organized chaos. Consider this as your sneak-peak into my most personal space – my room in the heart of the sleepy town of Wailuku. But don’t be fooled by the outdated branding, Maui is nowhere near sleepy at all. There are back-to-back community events, budget session is underway for the County, and international sporting events and conferences keep our hotel rooms occupied. Everyone in Maui seems to be multi-tasking, and this is really made possible by the convenience of knowing how much time it takes to travel from point A to point B, making planning so much easier. Isn’t that right, neighbor island friends?

Continue reading here: FilAm Courier April 2013 issue

# # #

April 15, 2013 Add Comment