Filipino American Asso. of Casa Grande Valley

Another era has past for FAACGV.  Willie-Meanne dela Cruz and family has ventured on their new journey.  It is sad that they left.  They are one of the founding families that created this association.  We will always remember and they will always be welcome back with open arms...

On our last meeting, Meanne resigned her position as vice-president.  The officers have elected and voted that Jane Torres, PRO, will now hold Meanne's position till the next election this coming Oct, 2010.  Please welcome Jane as our Vice-President.  Thank you, Jane!  You will be a great help for us!  Salamat.

Our next activity will be a great luau party at the pool.  Details will follow.  We will open this to all Filipinos in Casa Grande and surrounding areas.  So please invite people!!!  We will also hold a query as to whether our association will be continued for next year or if we will dissolve it this year.  IF YOU ARE WILLING TO HELP IN KEEPING THIS ASSOCIATION ALIVE, PLEASE TALK TO ME...

Thank you,

Arlyn Mason

Brethren,

Our journey doesn't stop here in Casa Grande, AZ...it continues to West Lafayette,IN.

We don't know what is ahead of us....but one thing we believe...God knows what He is doing

He Reigns.... He is in Control.

Aug. 13,2009. Willy went home late that night. When he told me he was laid off from work

"Sweetheart, God has a plan different from ours" With all my heart I believed Willy when

he said that...although at the back of my mind I don't quite understand yet ...but deep inside

me....there is peace that I cannot explain....trusting Jesus and having that faith to see beyond

what I cant see. I just know God is Faithful. He is in Control.

Willy started looking for job right away. Every single day, he would apply on line every single day

and it goes on and on.For the past 9 mos. God has prepared us...because all of Willy's interviews

are all out of state.For seven mos.Willy was unemployed. God sustained us abundantly.

Alcoa offered job to Willy as a Senior Metalurgist.God's plan for us...is to move to Lafayette, IN.

A confirmation of God's plan when our house was sold in one day.

For all of you who prayed with us and bless us... we felt it. There is joy and peace that constantly

sustaining us through our days...one day at a time we have experience God's faithfulness.

Family and friends shares....friends offering financial help.Its amazing how you have touched our

hearts with love.Words cannot express our gratitude...thank you is not enough to

express how much we appreciate all your concern,love and prayers.

Our pastor in the Philippines...Pastor Ed (we call him Kuya Ed) thank you for blessing us with

all favor empowerment,enabling and anointing us to finish the race.

Our pastor in Seattle, WA... Pastor Moises Cuaresma...thank you for praying for us

consistently.

Our pastor in Casa Grande, AZ.. Pastor David Landry...thank you for praying, comforting

and trusting us in the ministry.It's been a joy and blessing being a part of the church.

To all our family... my mom, Nini, Len, Eileen, Natalie, M. Esther...salamat (thank you)

Our friends in the Philippines....A. Leah, A. Elsie, A. Ellen, A. Nonnette, A. Lerma.

Czarina, Anna, Ms. Vey, Malou T, atbp ....for your prayers and support....maraming salamat.

Viring, Marivie, Rommel, Ric,Lita, Liza... and a lot more..for praying for us....salamat.

Our church....Tot,Tracy,Robin,Sarah, Carol, Jenifer, and a lot more...thank you...

Alma, Jane, Rose, Nancy, Minda, Malou, Ate Grace.Nida, Arlyn, Manang Sally.....I will surely miss

all of you.

There are a lot more friends who prayed with us...that I didnt mention...but I know and you know

you've been a part of our journey... thank you for all your prayers, love and concern.

For all of you whom I have the priveledge to serve because of Him .My Jesus who have given

me the gift of service. Its been a joy,a pleasure and a blessing being a part of your lives.

Thank you so much for giving me the priveledge to help and serve you all.

We left Seattle WA in 1997...it wasn't that bad at all...

Now 2010...leaving Casa Grande...is not that easy especially for our kids....because so many people

have touched our lives....surely miss you all.

Please pray with us again...on May 29th Sat...we will drive to Indiana. Pray for traveling mercies.

In Him,

Meanne (MaryAnne) delaCruz

Willy delaCruz

And the judges thought our float was not good enough to win anything, but how would you explain it ending up on the frontpage of Casa Grande Dispatch Newspaper. The image of our float was chosen by the newspaper editor to represent the beauty of Casa Grande's annual Christmas Light Parade. They could have chosen any of the winners to be on the frontpage but instead they  ended up a few pages away as small black and white pictures.

Nov. 2, 2009

Hello! It’s been quite awhile since my last update. We’ve had so much fun that time passes by so quickly that sometimes its hard to sit and write everything down. Well, for start, I’d like to thank everyone who came last weekend for our annual fall party. We had at least 32 families who attended!!! We had lots of food and time to chitchat. I also would like to personally thank all of you who helped celebrate Darrell Lee’s 8th birthday!!! He was so happy and excited! Thanks for all the gifts!!!

Now for the excitement of our December Christmas float and Christmas party…. Hopefully, you get your invitations early and please turn them in early so we know the number for the food committee. If you haven’t receive it, don’t hesitate to call, we’ll send it to you. This year we will concentrate on FUN, FUN, FUN… we will forgo with Speakers and Induction activities and will have a small show regarding Filipino folklore/dances. If you want to volunteer, please call—we need more special dance/singing numbers in the program. We’ll also have more time for DANCING!! So come on your casual attire and dancing shoes. This will be a different take on our previous formal events.

As for our float, we have now commenced work!!! It will be another one that will “blow the minds” of the judges this year, this is my biased opinion!! I will have the dates and time for the float posted here. It is being made in my backyard. I will not post my address due to security reasons, but if you want to come and help, just call and I’ll give you the address. If you cannot physically help with the making of the float, we do not mind donations of food, drinks, etc… for the ones that are working on it. This will take everyone’s weekends for this month to make sure it will be done for the Dec 5 Light Parade. Please, please, please…we need your help!!! We all join in the glory and pride of the Filipinos whenever we see our float in the parade, much more when we win!!!

Schedule for the making of the float as follows:

November 8 Sunday 3:00 - 6:00 pm

November 13 Friday 6:30 - 9:30 pm

November 14 Saturday 4:30 - 8:30 pm

November 20 Friday 6:30 - 9:30 pm

November 21 Saturday 4:30 - 8:30 pm

November 28 Saturday 4:30 - 8:30 pm

November 29 Sunday 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Please call Arlyn at 836-0934 for address. Thanks.

So, lets all join and help each other in this two big events to get us all together again and have fun while doing it!!!

Arlyn Mason

Dear FAACGV Members and Friends,

You are cordially invited to join us for an evening of fun as we celebrate our 6th annual Christmas Party.

Friday, December 18, 2009 @ 6:00 P.M.

Holiday Inn

777 N. Pinal Ave, Casa Grande

Dinner cost $29.50/person and $14.50/child ages 6-12 yrs. Childres ages 1-5 yrs are free.

RSVP on or before December 4, 2009.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call Nancy Navoa (520)836-1527, Minda Baxter (520)836-9177 or Meanne DelaCruz (520)876-9768.

Theme : Scary Halloween

Venue : Villago Park, Ramada C

               3368 N. Pinal Ave. Casa Grande, AZ 85122

Date/ Time: Oct. 25, 2009, 3:00 PM, Sunday

Please bring a dish and 2 bottles of soda/juice to share

Cake and ice cream will be provided to celebrate Darrell Lee Mason's 8th Birthday!!!

Please wear your favorite scary costume to win prize!!!

Bring lawn chairs.

There will be live music and lots of fun games for everyone!!!

For Questions please call

Jane @ 233-0340

Rose @ 426-1473

Dear Fellow Kababayans,

In appreciation for being dedicated members of our association, we'd like to invite you and your family to a "MEMBERS-ONLY" LUAU PARTY @ Carr McNatt Park on July 26, 2009. The association will cover all the fees including our foods & drinks for the day. Please RSVP before July 22, 2009 to ensure that we have enough foods & drinks for everybody.

Again, thank you for your support in the Filipino-American Association of Casa Grande Valley.

Bring your own bathing suits and enjoy!

Sincerely,

Arlyn Mason

President, 2009-2011

For more details visit the Calendar or Upcoming Events links.

 St. Anthony of Padua parish, thru its parish priest, Father Kevin Clinch, is inviting the Filipino community to join the celebration of Our Mother of Perpetual Help on Saturday, June 27th, 2009, at 3:30 p. m.    

                 Part of the occasion is a vigil mass which will be officiated at 5:00 p. m.

After the mass, we will have  the opportunity to talk with Father Kevin and meet with our new Filipino Seminarian from Iloilo,  Philippines , Brother Ramonito.  As in our usual gatherings, we shall bring foods,` drinks, side dishes and desserts to share with everyone present for dinner.

                        I was asked to coordinate with Evelyn Casuga in inviting the whole Filipino community on Saturday.  As  the intention of this affair is not wholly religious but likewise family Filipino community affair, everyone,  Catholic or non Catholic, is welcome to celebrate with us.  I already received several calls from people  who were not yet informed and have no idea about this occasion.  But to reach out to the greatest number  of our community, please help me make a call to or email your friends and relatives to relay the message to them that they are cordially invited.  Please let me know what you plan to bring so other can plan their menu as well.  You can call me at (520) 421-1782 or Brother Ramonito Celestial at (520) 836-0601.

                        Thank you for your usual cooperation and see you there.

 Your sister in Christ,

 Marilu Jamias-Errazo

June 8, 2009

Hello, mga kababayan!!!
What a fun-filled weekend!!! Except for some minor mishaps, I think the 2009 camping went well.  Before everything else, I'd like to thank everyone who showed up and helped with the activities, food, cleaning as well as watching over our children.  I'd like to extend a very special thanks to our beloved cooks, who forgo much of the fun just so they could provide the tastiest and best meals we've had!  I know most of us worked a lot but I'd like to mention Natalie, MInda and Noemi --- you guys are the best!!!  Masisipag na at magagaling pang magluto!!! To Ate Aimee and Steve, thanks for donating the lechon and to the all the BOYS--they slaughtered, cleaned and roasted the yummy pig!!! Thank you much!!!  And to all our officers and members, thank you for all the support, this would not have happened without your determination, contribution and involvement.  Salamat po sa lahat!!!

Now, back to reality, we have to do something about the privacy of our members, I have discussed with Allen about making this website protected from everyone on the internet.  We will only post past events for the public and for future events like location, time, date etc. will be available to members only.  Once Allen has everything set up, members will be able to register and make their own password to access future activities.  I hope everyone understand that this is for security reasons, we don't want to be online prey to those whose intentions are not desirable.
OK, back to fun.  For our next meeting, we will be discussing our next event for this summer, the luau party.  This will be members-only invitation.  We will distribute the information in a short while.  If you are a member, please do not invite non-members to this event.  This is to encourage those who are paying members that there is a benefit to paying membership dues.  This is not to segregate other pinoys from our group.  They are welcome to join anytime and they can easily become members.  All they have to do is call any officers or leave a contact number in this website and one of the officers will call them back.  If you have any problems or questions, don't hesitate to call any officers and we will gladly answer or help.
Also, Steve volunteered to find the next camp for us next year.  I know Roper Park was good but it did not provide all of the requirements for a "pinoy" camping!!! (privacy, electricity and we had to "quiet down" after 10pm, not fun for the "lasingeros and lasingeras" he he he).  Once he finds a better park, we'll scout it out and plan for the next year's camping.  Goodluck, Steve!!!
Ok this is it for now, thank you!

Arlyn