The Philippine American Press Club (http://www.papcusa.org/), established in 1988, was founded by former members of the National Press Club of the Philippines who had immigrated to the San Francisco Bay Area and saw the need for a US-based Filipino American media group. All fierce advocates for truth, fairness, and excellence in journalism, they realized the vital role of media education and advocacy for the fast-growing Filipino population.
PAPC, in its fifth year of collaboration with PG&E, invites Filipino American communities in Northern California to a Wildfire Safety and Prevention webinar on August 20, 2024, Tuesday, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Use the webinar link in the event announcement below.
Here are some tips I have gathered through my few years living in high wildfire-prone regions in Northern California. Whether you live full-time or part-time in these zones, go on camping trips, or experience a very dry summer, where the grass and trees seem to be more brown than green — this is for us!
· Know your location: Always have your exact longitude and latitude ready for emergency responders.
· Prepare a “Go Bag”: Include essentials like non-perishable food, water, a first-aid kit, medications, and important documents. More at https://readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/emergency-supply-kit/.
· Connect with neighbors: Establish a phone tree or other alert system to share wildfire warnings quickly. One neighbor could oversee three other neighbors for wildfire alerts. In my neighborhood, whenever we hear four car honks in succession, it means there is a wildfire close to us.
Let’s share this important webinar to save lives and property in our community and inspire them to attend the webinar. With climate change, we never know how safe we are from wildfires.
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AUGUST 18, 2024 AND SEPTEMBER 29, 2024
EVENT TITLE: Mah Jongg Madness
TYPE OF EVENT: in-person
ORGANIZER(S): Manilatown Heritage Foundation
WHAT: Mah Jongg Classes. Don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the fascinating world of Mah Jongg. Join us at the Manilatown Heritage Foundation and become part of a vibrant community of enthusiasts.
DESCRIPTION: Join us for Mah Jongg Madness! If you’re eager to learn and eventually organize your own quorum, the Manilatown Heritage Foundation offers a series of classes for beginners at the I-Hotel Manilatown Center. The Mah Jongg craze in the Philippines is a phenomenon. Played in the high-heeled mansions of the wealthy and in barangays and squatter areas of every major city, Mah Jongg unites people from all walks of life. Next to jai-alai and basketball, it’s a game where people place their money where their mouth is, showcasing skill and challenge. Filipino immigrants brought Mah Jongg to the United States, carrying sets as precious belongings. Establishing quorums of four players, they kept the tradition alive and thriving.
WHEN: First class begins on Sunday, August 18, 2024; Second class begins on Sunday, September 29, 2024
WHERE: International Hotel Manilatown Center
868 Kearny Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
WHAT TIME: 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
HOW MUCH: Each class has four lessons, at $23.18 for the class (four consecutive lessons). Students are required to attend all four classes.
Lesson/Week 1: Learn the symbolism of the tiles, how to scrabble them after each game, and how to build a tile wall. Discover the proper Mah Jongg etiquette and the delightful sideline food that accompanies the game.
Lesson/Week 2: Master different Mah Jongg combinations, both ‘Simple’ and ‘Ambitious.’ Understand the role of non-numbered tiles like the Winds, Red and Green Dragon, and Flower tiles.
Lesson/Week 3: Review what we’ve learned and play an actual game!
Lesson/Week 4: Enjoy a potluck, play Mah Jongg, and prepare for a Mah Jongg tournament!
RSVP BY: ASAP! Each class is limited to 20 participants.
RSVP LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mahjonggclasses
WEBSITE: https://www.manilatown.org/
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AUGUST 20, 2024
EVENT TITLE: Wildfire Safety and Prevention Webinar
TYPE OF EVENT: online via Zoom
ORGANIZER(S): Philippine American Press Club and PG&E
WHAT: A Taglish (Tagalog and English) webinar for Filipino American communities in Northern California
DESCRIPTION: With climate change increasing wildfire risks, this webinar offers crucial information on staying safe.
WHEN: Tuesday, August 20, 2024
WHERE: bit.ly/KaligtasanSaWildfirePGE
Meeting ID: 844 9707 2353
Passcode: Mabuhay
WHAT TIME: 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., PDT
HOW MUCH: Free.
NO NEED TO RSVP.
WEBSITE: http://www.papcusa.org/
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This Filipino community events announcement column is a community service project spearheaded by me.
DISCLAIMER: This is my content curation of events, aka my choices, which are organized by community-based organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area and community events that benefit our diverse communities. If you have questions about an event, click on the RSVP link or find the contact person or organizers mentioned in the announcement. There are some events included in this column that I help promote or organize.
