Tuluyang Pinoy

UP Singing Ambassadors in Zurich

Now that summer is almost here, TP has a truly HOT event planned for you. It's the UPSA Concert in Zurich. Tickets are on sale at Tuluyang Pinoy, phone 01 401 10 37. We'd hate for you to miss out on this, so get your tickets today!

what's hot: The University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors in Zurich

when: Saturday, June 18, 2005, at 7:00 pm

where: Paulus Akademie Zürich, Carl Spitteler-Strasse 38, 8053 Zürich

how to get there: From Zurich HB take tram 3 direction Klusplatz and get off at Klusplatz. Then take Bus 34 and get off at Carl Spittelerstrasse. Follow the signs to Paulus Akademie.

The UPSA, the University of the Philippines' official Performing Group for Choreographed Choral Music performs all types of music, from classicals, international songs, spirituals, gospel and inspirational songs, kundiman and ethnic - to Broadway, English, and Filipino pop and even rock music. Cultural dances from the ethnic North and South form part of its international repertoire. They have performed internationally in Europe, Asia, Africa and the USA, reaping honors for the country by winning top prizes in some of the world's most prestigious choral competitions and festivals.

In 2001, UPSA's very successful 3rd International European Tour and Competitions left a stamp in its 21-year history with memorable performances, including the very emotional Ecumenical Service at the American Church in Paris as covered by the French national TV and CNN, in memory of the September 11 tragedy in New York and the Laureate's Concert (as the Grand Prize Winner at the "Grand Prix Slovakia 2001") at the historic 500-year old St. Martin's Cathedral in Bratislava, Slovakia, where Hungarian and Austrian kings were crowned. In the same year, the U.P. Singing Ambassadors became the only Filipino choir to win the GRAND PRIZE in the Concorso Polifonico "Guido d'Arezzo", considered the "Olympics" in choral competitions.

ED MANGUIAT, the founder and conductor of the UPSA, won in Germany, the Conductor's Prize during the 2nd Johannes Brahms International Choir Competition in July 2001. Ed, a graduate of BS Hotel and Restaurant Administration from the State University, is also a product of the UP College of Music. He is a member of the International Federation of Choral Music (IFCM).

Microfinance and self-help projects as tools of Empowerment

Come and join us at our final roundtable discussion...

featuring: Rose Rivera, Microcredit Expert, and Vivian Kiefer-Vargas,
member, Federal Commission for Foreigners (FCF / EKA) and member, Forum for
Integration and Migration, Baselland

moderator: Lina Gschwend, TP social worker

when: April 29, 2005, Friday at 18:30 p.m.

where: Tuluyang Pinoy

how to get there: Tram 2 or 3 until Albisriederplatz or Bus 33 or 72 or Tram
8 until Hardplatz

Our last topic fits right in with our goal of helping our kababayans help
themselves. It just so happens that this is the UN Decade for the
Eradication of Poverty. And 2005 is the International Year of Microcredit.

Microcredit is the provision of small loans to targeted poor households,
especially women. Many developing economies in the last two decades adapted
it as an anti-poverty strategy. Between 5 billion to 6 billion Pesos of
loans have been disbursed to borrowers by some 21 NGO- microfinance
institutions and 121 Rural Banks in the Philippines. These microfinance
institutions have seen the potential profitability in microfinance. A number
of serious and long-standing MFIs showed sustainability in their operations,
proving that microfinance clients are able to repay loans, manage household
incomes, build assets and enterprises and contribute to the economy.

Rose Rivera, with 10 years' experience in microfinance in the Philippines,
will explain how microfinance can help create livelihood opportunities for
the poor and how Filipinos abroad can take advantage of some of the
opportunities.

We have also invited Ms. Vivian Kiefer-Vargas of Maharlika Switzerland
Basel, a Filipino community organization that received the Banaag
Presidential Award in 2002, to share with us her experiences in organizing
and raising funds for her organization's projects in Switzerland and in the
Philippines.

We hope you will join us in this discussion. Your input will be most
welcome!

Snacks and drinks will be served before the discussion. This project is
supported by the Eidg. Kommission für Ausländerfragen (EKA) and the
Kantonale Beauftragte für Integrationsfragen - Zürich. Participation is free
of charge but any donation will be gladly accepted.

Easter Mass, Salu Salo and 2005 Schedule

Spring is here and so is our Community Easter Mass and Salu-Salo!

when: Sunday, March 27, 2005 at 11:30 a.m. (Summer time starts on this day! Clocks go forward an hour.)

where: at the Krypta of Guthirt Church, Guthirtstrasse 3, 8037 Zürich

A potluck salu-salo will follow after the Mass. Everyone is encouraged to bring something to share. The Mass celebrant is Fr. Joe Quilong-quilong.

For your information, here is the schedule of Masses in 2005 (in German):

Philippinische Gottesdienste

Die Philippinischen Gottesdienste finden jeden letzten Sonntag im Monat statt, ausgenommen Juli. 2005 Sonntag, 27. März 2005 Sonntag, 24. April 2005 Sonntag, 29. Mai 2005 Sonntag, 26. Juni 2005 Sonntag, 28.August 2005 Sonntag, 25. September 2005 Sonntag, 30. Oktober 2005 Sonntag, 27. November 2005 Sonntag, 11. Dezember 2005 Jeweils um 11.30 Uhr in der Krypta

How to make the most of your retirement

Come and join us at our fifth roundtable discussion...

featuring: Julie Forster, retired school teacher, bank employee, Spitex volunteer moderator: Lina Gschwend, TP social worker

when: 28. February 2005, Monday at 18:30 p.m.

where: Terassenkuche, Zentrum Karl der Groesse, Kirchgasse 14, 8001 Zürich

how to get there: Tram 4 or 15, get off at Helmhaus, walk in the direction of Grossmuensterplatz

In the first two discussion rounds on the theme "Looking Forward to Retirement" we took up the social, psychological and financial aspects of retirement. In this last round of the series, we shall talk about how we can most sensibly and meaningfully use the free time which comes with retirement.

We often hear that many people, especially men, have difficulties in adjusting to life in retirement. Many feel lost and disoriented without the daily physical discipline and mental challenges posed by a job. Instead of enjoying life without routines and job-oriented anxieties, many are unable to adjust to their new situation and quite a few even go into depression. We therefore find it appropriate to end this series with a discussion on how to make our retirement years as happy and fruitful as possible. We shall look at the possibilities of enjoying free time as well-deserved leisure, as well as how to find mental, social and spiritual challenges which will keep us alert and vital.

We have invited some retirees who have kindly agreed to share their views and experiences with us, as well as Ms. Julie Forster to speak about volunteer social or civic work. Julie is well versed on this topic as she attended a seminar on volunteer work and since her retirement she has been engaged in doing volunteer work for Spitex. She will also inform us about the possibilities of doing volunteer work in many other areas as well as other challenging occupations in retirement.

We hope you will join us in this discussion, so that we can share insights and ideas with one another. Your input will be most welcome!

Snacks and drinks will be served before the discussion. This project is supported by the Eidg. Kommission für Ausländerfragen (EKA) and the Kantonale Beauftragte für Integrationsfragen - Zürich. Participation is free of charge but any donation will be gladly accepted.

Invitation to a Book Launching Apero

for Edgar Bacong's new poetry collection: Habagat at Niyebe: Mga Tulang Nalikom Mula sa Pakikihamok sa Loob at Labas ng Aking Bayan

when:
Saturday, March 12 @ 1:30 pm

where:
Friedenskirche Zurich
Hirschengraben 52
8001 Zurich

how to get there:
From Zurich HB take Tram 3 direction Klusplatz and get off at Neumarkt. Cross the street towards Theater Stok and turn left. The street is parallel to Seilergraben.

Entrance is free but registration is required. Please register by March 5. To register or for more information, contact TP by e-mail or call 01 401 1037.

The book launching will form part of TP's anniversary celebrations. The following is an excerpt from the Introduction by Don Pagusara, Palanca Awardee:

Sa katunayan, ang bighani ng mga tula ni Ega ay nasa katapatan ng damdami't kaisipang sinusunong nito. Walang pagkukunwari. Dalisay na pag-ibig ang nagtulak sa kanya na dumayo at makisama sa kanyang sinisinta sa hirap man o ginhawa. Ngunit hindi niya ikinaila ang maraming "kirot ng gunita" na dinaranas niya sa gitna ng pook na diumanao'y "pinag-aagusan ng gatas at dinadaluyan ng pulut". Pakinggan ito:

Wala, walang naitutulong

ang magarang siyudad ng mga Suwiso

sa tuwing dinadalaw ako ng lungkot at pangungulila

sa lungsod na aking kinalakhan,

sa pamilyang aking minahal,

at sa mga kasamaha't kaibigang

pinagkakautangan ko ng maraming bagay.

Hindi, hindi nahahabol ng mabilis na tren

ang mga panaho't sandaling

nais kong tumakas at bumalik sa lungsod

kung saan mayroon akong nakakausap,

nakakahalakhak, nakakapiling,

nakakatrabaho't nakakatunggali.

Ang ganitong uri ng katapatang namamayani sa kalooban ng makata ang tiyak na nagtitimpla nang makulay na pamamaraan sa realidad ng kanyang sining. Mapasaan man ang lupang nadadampian ng kanyang mga talampakan, pinipinta niya ang kanyang saloobin sa pinakamakulay o "picturesque" na mga taludtod.

Don Pagusara

Palanca Awardee &

Literary Professor at the

Ateneo de Davao University

January Misang Sambayanan

Please note that our January Mass will be organized by El Shaddai and will be held on Sunday, January 30 at the Kirchgemeinde St. Theresia (not the usual place at Guthirt), Borrweg 80, 8055 Zürich which is at the foot of Uetliberg. The Mass will begin at 10:00 am (earlier than usual!) and will be followed by a salu-salo.