Fil-Am Actor Wins 2022 Chicago BroadwayWorld Awards

Filipino American actor Van Ferro won the 2022 Chicago BroadwayWorld Award for Best Supporting Performer in a Play for his critically-acclaimed performance as John N. Fail in Chicago-based Oil Lamp Theater’s “Failure: A Love Story.”

“I really appreciate everyone who cast a vote and everyone who asked their friends and family to vote for me,” says Ferro. “I hope that this encourages more people of color to participate in Chi- cago theatre, especially Filipinos.”

The play follows the three Fail sisters as they explore love, death and the transient nature of life. Rick McCain of Let’s Play Theatrical Reviews wrote that “Van Ferro is comical as the short-wit John N.”

Ferro is considered one of the busiest actors in Chicago theatre for appearing in multiple productions such as “Murder in the Court of Xanadu,”

“The Octopus,” “Same Time, Next Year,” “The Christians,” and “In Memoriam.”

Moreover, Ferro has also been cast in multiple commercials for brands such as Sam’s Club, Kohls and Calypso Lemonade.

As a proud Filipino, Ferro has accepted membership in the Artist’s Board of the Chicago Artists’ Guide to help diversify theater hiring and casting in Chicago’s theater scene.

“I am honored to serve with talented and driven theater professionals to help in opening the door wider for BIPOC people in Chicago theater,” he said.

DOH Announces First Pediatric Influenza Death of the Season

On Feb. 10, the Hawaii Department of Health announced that a state resident under the age of 18 has died of influenza. The child was hospitalized at the time of death and was the first death of a child from influenza during Hawaii’s flu season.

“We are especially saddened to announce the death of a child in our community. Our thoughts and condolences are with the family at this difficult time,” said Health Director Dr. Kenneth Fink.

“If you or your loved ones have not received the flu vaccine this season, I hope family in the province continue to farm the land, which has provided them financial support and self-sufficiency and they’re able to use the money to pay for college for the younger generation.”

She said, “My grandfather’s story of humbleness, hard work and saving money you will consider doing so,” he added.

The child’s death serves as a sober reminder that flu is circulating widely in Hawaii. Everyone six months of age and older should get their flu shots to be protected from influenza. Flu vaccines are widely available statewide transcends through how I live my life and the values I pass on to my children.”

Ramiscal, 62, said her uncle from Narvacan, Ilocus Sur, came to Hawaii in the 1950s to work on the sugar plantation and was able to later petition her father to come to Hawaii in the 1970s. Before my uncle, at pharmacies, clinics and healthcare facilities. my grandfather’s brother came to Hawaii decades earlier as one of the pioneering generations of Filipino plantation workers.

For more information about flu vaccination locations, visit www.vaccines. gov. For information about influenza and other respiratory diseases, visit www.health.hawaii.gov/docd/disease-types/ respiratory-viruses.

“This family connection to farming and plantation work is another reason why I feel strongly about supporting our farmers today. It’s tradition for our community. And there are many farmers in the state who are Filipinos. We can be proud of this because they have an important role in feeding the people of our state,” Ramiscal said.

Owning land to farm

Both Senator Aquino and Julian-Freitas bring up the point that many farmers make: that farmers need land and access to capital to start their farm. Many Hawaii farmers do not own the climate change—it is very real and has insidious impact on our daily lives. But working with nature has its blessings. land they do their farming.

You experience the joy of literally harvesting the fruits of your labor—of holding that golden heart-shaped mango once it ripens, and tasting its sweetness.

But simply put, this is a baby-boomer’s reflections on life as she navigates the last quarter of her lifespan. In a way, this is also the story of Zambales, and perhaps the nation.

Despite the many natural calamities and man-made catastrophes, life goes on. Despite the setbacks, there are the triumphs. It is a matter of observing life through the right lenses—one with gratitude, of acceptance, and with unshakable faith that the future is filled with promise.

One rare opportunity is being provided by real estate developer Peter Savio who has a new agricultural project, Orchard Plantation, in which he is offering affordable land to small farms on Oahu’s North Shore.

Savio told The Business Journals, “One of the big problems here in Hawaii is we all talk about [agriculture], and we talk about helping local people get into [agriculture], but we don’t have a single program to help them finance, so they cannot finance their operations. I sell everything at cost.”

The Orchard Plantation’s website says it has 15, 1 acre lots, with a minimum acqui-

For those who have visited Rosa Farms, remember those hours spent under the millennial mango trees, when you picked the vegetables for your lunch and ate with your hands kamayan style using woven plates lined with banana leaves.

Or when you enjoyed the cool breeze that wafted through as you napped after your meal, dreaming of the next merienda of kakanin and mango pizza. Bring those memories back. Read the book. sition of 2 acres per parcel at $130,000 per acre, with existing and new roads and plans for a possible Plantation Camp. Orchard Plantation is a Fee simple agricultural project that will be made available to give local farmers the opportunity to own the land they farm.

ROSE CRUZ CHURMA established Kalamansi Books & Things three decades ago. It has evolved from a mail-order bookstore into an on-line advocacy with the intent of helping global Pinoys discover their heritage by promoting books of value from the Philippines and those written by Filipinos in the Diaspora. We can be reached at kalamansibooks@gmail.com.

Local farmers can sign up to be on the Orchard Plantation’s mailing list (visit: orchardplantation.com) for updated information.

Senator Aquino said, “I’ve long respected the importance of farming and providing food for our communities. Collectively, as a state, we need to raise a much broader awareness of the need for farmers and food providers for the near and distant future.”