Gen Outland

My deepest gratitude comes from the bottom of my heart to my crew, my family in every sense of the word. Thank you for showing up with open hearts, for seeing what needed to be done before I ever had to ask, and for giving so selflessly of your time, energy, and love. I am endlessly grateful to Josie and Perry Wolf; Paul Genho; Rodilla Nichols and Ron; Chers Leatherland; Jocelyn Trusan, Julie and Matthew Burke; Cheryle and Lee Vincent; Liza Kim; Rona and Mike Patane; Lyn Dahl; Sharon and Tom Pasiona; Rosemarie Adajar, & PJ. Marivi Hardy for the beautiful dance entertainment; and Janet Aguilar for traveling all the way from Albuquerque, NM, to share her food, her culture, and her heart with our community.

Each of you represents the very soul of our Filipino community. Through your generosity, talents, and unwavering commitment, you created a space where traditions were honored, memories were made, and everyone felt a sense of home and belonging. As we all know, it truly takes a village to bring something of this magnitude to life, and welcoming 250 attendees was no small feat. This celebration was not just an event, it was a reflection of who we are when we come together. Because of you, the night was filled with joy, pride, and love, and I will carry that gratitude with me always.

THANK YOU to all of those who dressed up and attended, to those who participated and helped with our Got Talent competition & judging, purchased parols, and brought food to our potluck celebration. Your enthusiasm, generosity, and willingness to share your time, talents, and treats made the event truly special. Each of you played an important role in creating a festive, joyful atmosphere and helping our community come together to celebrate our Filipino traditions. We are deeply grateful for your support, energy, and spirit. It is because of you, that our celebration was such a memorable and heartwarming success.

I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Ruby and the entire staff at The Liberty for their unwavering support in ensuring the venue was ready to welcome our guests, even with last-minute adjustments. My sincerest thanks to Xanthia Wright and staff at Southwest Printers for the beautiful printing of our sponsor list and event schedule added a thoughtful touch—they even delivered the prints on a Saturday when I had completely forgotten to pick them up, going out of their way to help make everything seamless. I am especially thankful to Candlewood Suites for making our out-of-town guests feel so welcome, providing a stay that was warm, inviting, and memorable from the moment they arrived. Finally, I am grateful to Joey, our DJ, for providing the music that brought so much joy and energy to the celebration.