Pampangos in Southern California gathered together last Sunday, December 14, at San Gabriel Hilton to celebrate the birthday of the province of Pampanga and to honor Kapampangan outstanding achievers. The celebration was organized by the Pampanga Day Celebratiion Commission USA, led by Mike Cucueco, Executive and Finance Officer; Josephine Borja-Phillips, Administrative Commissioner; Rodel Lumanog, Way & Means Commissioner; Larry Pelayo, Press Commissioner, Chuck Phillips, Logistics Commissioner; Ruben Panopio, Technical Director & Commissioner; and Ruby Beth Paguinto, Publicity Commissioner.
The Commission also accorded Outstanding Achievers honors to the following kapampangans: Fr. Rodel Balagtas, Dr. Ruben Guinto, Chef Cecilia de Castro, Rita Gopez Najoan, Dr. Carlos Uyan, Jess Espanola and Jimmy Trapp. Businessman and civic leader Mike Cucueco also received a Star Award.
The dinner consisted of a five-course Chinese banquet that featured appetizers, beef with broccoli, fried chicken, fried rice, abalone and shiitake mushrooms, and more. Following are the highlights of the celebration in pictures. At the alcove, vendors with Kapampangan heritage sold pastries, desserts, and jewelry. The evening was capped with the coronation of the various beauty queens by Nimia Cucueco, assisted by Shirley Lumanog and Jimmy Trapp.
Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon, who was the guest of honor, congratulated the PDC commisioners for honoring the province of Pampanga and for starting a tradition. She also inducted the PDC commissiioners into office.
The ballroom dancers among the guests hit the dancefloor as soon as the awards and beauty queen coronation was over. Everyone had an enjoyable evening, and the organizers already their sights on next year's Pampanga Day Celebration.
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