I need your advice and suggestions, pleaseeeeeee?

[Susie Barbieri]

Voila, my eldest daughter has been asked to be one of the candidates of Miss Urdaneta City for this upcoming City Fiesta in December. This is a popularity contest and one of the proceeds of this is to help the out of school youths (OSYs) in our city.
This is my first time that me and my family get involved in this and I know it is such a big responsiblity knowing that I will not be around during the solicitation period. I wil rely mostly to my friends, relatives and acquaintances.

I gave-in to this request of the Mayor because it's for a good cause and I am involved in providing grants-in-aid to poor but deserving children.

My daughter gave in with the idea as well because she knows that it really counts to me and she wants to help as well. She is aware of my dealings and although it is so much of sacrifice to her like being absent in class and it's in the height of her exams.

Anyway, what can you give me as suggestions or advise so this will turn out to be a success and that it's going to be a good experience for my daughter being exposed in a real Pinoy culture. Thank you and I hope that this discussion will be productive and worth sharing.

Susie

[Bobby Tanchoco]

First, let me congratulate you and Cynthia for participating in this contest for a good cause. It will do well for us to have the young serve as a bridge between and among cutures. The real meaning of cosmopolitan comes from "kosmos" meaning universal, global. And your family, specifically Cynthia, Maryann and Pierre certainly belong to this class of citizenship.

Second, why not create a blog specifically for this so that people may access and know Cynthia more.

Third, good luck... i will help in whatever way i can...

Bobby

[Susie Barbieri]

Thanks Bob, I know, I can always count on you. This is such overwhelming. A big challenge knowing that we won't be having support from France as we will be new in the area. And this kind of activity is absolutely alien to them. But this is a way to introduce them the culture...the Filipino way! ha!ha!

[Alex Kho]

Susie,

My suggestion is for you to tap more of the OFs and OFWs from Pagasinan. Perhaps th mayor can be more specific on the what Urdaneta intends to do with its out-of-school youth (OSY).

You may want to open a dollar and/or a peso account in urdaneta where we can channel our contributions. As your PPP/WFA friend, I commit to a $100 contribution to make Voila Miss Urdaneta. Let me know your dollar account here.

WIth best wishes from Alabang.

Alex Kho

[Susie Barbieri]

Hi Alex,

[Susie Barbieri]

Hi Alex,

Thanks to your valuable offer. I will give you my account number in the Philippines. I have to open one exclusively for that.

I know, I will rely on our friends' support on this. If Cynthia wins, then it's good. If not, then it's good too. What's the most important is she participates and it's for a good cause. She knows the importance and the impact that this event would bring and will certainly makes the difference on some out-of-school-youths' life.

Again, thanks.

PS:

I sent money last Monday - 475.00 US $ about 18,500 PhP - to pay for the additional 50 chairs in the annex and 8 tables for teachers in Patikul National High School. I gave the amount in full with extrang pang meryenda at pang-load. I sent directly to the school principal Mrs. Abdullah. As soon as the chairs and tables are done, the toilets wil follow hopefully.

[Frank Galarrita]

Your last name, Barbieri is a common name in France thus it is time to connect your daughter from France to Pangasinan by suggesting them to have Urdaneta as an adopted sister of Paris. What could be a big fame for your daughter then as this plan will become successful and more if she will be the Miss Urdaneta. The sponsors would also be magnified.

[Susie Barbieri]

Hi Frank,

Barbieri is an Italian name. My husband's grandpa is Italian. You can imagine the mixture of "lahi" ng aming angkan. From Milano to Paris to Bordeaux to La Union to Pangasinan! Hilong-hilo na sila. My children still don't understand why all my friends are all their titos and titas and why their lolos and lolas are also mine! They all get mixed up. In France, the family is very limited.

My father in-law is the only child and has never any contact in any of his Italian family in Italy. My husband is the only child too. My mom-in law has a brother whose got three kids and not yet married. So imagine us when we have the family reunion on the French side!
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And imagine when we are in the Philippines. Isang pamilya pa lang, kulang ang isang baka! ha!ha!ha! That's the beauty of it! My children enjoy seeing their cousins, our relatives in Pinas. Ang gulo at masaya. Masakit nga lang sa bulsa!

I am hoping that this event will bring something a positive image of our country to France. That we embrace this culture, we collect money for a good cause and do have some fun too. Oh well, I hope.

Thanks Frank.

Susie