Community News and Upcoming Events

[Thursday, April 30, 2009]

New York City––The Star for All Seasons and the esteemed Governor of Batangas Province, Vilma Santos-Recto, is currently in town for the shooting of her latest film "A Mother's Story". Vilma stars for the the first time with her own son, Luis Manzano, and John Lloyd Cruz, both very popular artists of ABS-CBN. The movie, directed by Miss Olivia Lamasan, a seasoned director in the Philippine movie industry, is being shot in many locations in the tri-state area. One of the locations for the shooting was the Liberty Island, where Miss Liberty Statue stands proudly welcoming all visitors to NYC. Mayor Jerramiah Healy, the very amiable Mayor of Jersey City which has jurisdiction over Liberty Island, took some precious time to welcome Miss Vilma Santos, John Lloyd Cruz and Luis Manzano to Jersey City. Mayor Healy was accompanied by two active Filipino American community leaders in the region, Ms. Ludi Hughes, Chairwoman of the Asian American Heritage Council of New Jersey as well as an officer of the Filipino American Political Action Group and Ms. Mila Mendez, Executive Vice President of Special Edition Press, Inc., producer of Philippine Fiesta In America.

It was a happy reunion for Mayor Healy and Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto, who were introduced to each other for the first time during the 2005 Philippine Fiesta Gala at the Sheraton Hotel in Newark, NJ. Then-Mayor Vilma Santos-Recto of Lipa, Batangas and husband, Philippine Senator Ralph Recto were special guests at the Philippine Fiesta. Mayor Healy was invited to deliver a special message that night and gave the seasoned and multi-awarded movie actress the key to Jersey City, NJ.

In the photo from left to right: Asian American Heritage Council Chairwoman Ludi Hughes, John Lloyd Cruz, Luis Manzano, the Honorable Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto, the Honorable Mayor Jerramiah Healy, Mila Mendez and Movie Director Olivia Lamasan.