All tooled up!
October 17th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
After a series of technical difficulties, I’ve updated my MacBook Pro to OSX Lion, updated Final Cut Pro to version 7, and I got myself a widescreen monitor, and a brand new 1TB external drive. Let’s do this!
All graduating classes of Newark High reunited after 30 years
September 26th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO WATCH THE VIDEO STORY
Music, food, and a whole lot of reminiscing went down at Swiss Park on Mowry Avenue on September 24.
About 200 alumni attended Newark High’s all-class reunion called “A Day to Remember.”
Some of them brought their high school yearbook dating back from 1962, to reconnect and reminisce about the good old times.
Alumni from Newark Memorial High were also invited.
Several rock bands performed on stage including the Newark High Rockers with Manny Lobato, Mike Zimmerman, Karl Tellefsen. The much anticipated Sullivan Brothers also performed and became the highlight of the event.
The party was organized by Newark High’s Class of ’81.
Patch.com Reporter, Richgail Enriquez was at the reunion and has this video link.
Free Fitness Program Sportin the 80s
September 26th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
“It all started with five friends wanting to work out and train together for a Vegas trip,” recalled Milpitas High grad Aaron Ronquillo.
Today, Ronquillo is the one of the co-founders of CANIBE, a nonprofit promoting fitness and wellness in the Bay Area.
Through word of mouth and Facebook, he said, the group grew to about 500 members in three months and later officially established itself as a nonprofit.
Organizers said the program attracts people from all walks of life. The youngest member is 14, and the oldest is 50.
The training is divided into three levels so participants can choose something suitable for their performance and pace.
Ronquillo says the organizers are mostly Milpitas High School graduates, so they were able to gain access to the school’s football field during the summer.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, personal trainers volunteer to train members to get in shape.
Occasionally, CANIBE throws in a dress-up theme, be it ’80s aerobics, crazy socks or sports jerseys.
On Tuesday, the theme of the night was ’80s aerobics. Participants showed up in bright neon outfits, colorful headbands and Afro wigs.
“It’s nice to have these themes unite the whole group and keep it creative, fun, and healthy,” says Chris Petallano, a member of CANIBE.
In two weeks, the summer workouts will end for the season. But the fitness program is just one of CANIBE’s projects. The group plans a walk-a-thon to raise funds and awareness against childhood obesity.
Visit canibe.org to find out more about the fitness program or other CANIBE activities.
Relay for Life Teams Walk, Run Around the Clock to Fight Cancer
July 11th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Original Post: NewarkPatch.com
More than 100 people walked or ran the track at Newark Junior High School July 9 and 10 — for a cause.
The 24-hour, nonstop relay culminated months of planning for Relay for Life, a national fundraiser sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Similar relays took place in communities across the country.
“I don’t know anyone in my immediate family who has been afflicted with cancer,” said Mili Parik, 16, a coordinator for the local event. “but it doesn’t have to be that way for me to help fight cancer.”
Teams of volunteers, some of the them centered around a family member or friend affected by the disease, have been raising money for cancer research for several months. The weekend relay was the climax of their efforts.
The teams set up tents so they could camp out overnight, then took turns on the track for 24 hours straight. Performers were on hand to entertain them as they jogged and slogged their way through the marathon effort.
Local cancer survivors also walked the track, sporting gold medals that symbolized their triumph over the disease.
Production Note:
If you haven’t noticed yet, though I am sure you have, the video was shot with two cameras. Unfortunately, the battery for my prosumer camera died and I had to be resourceful to cover the story.
Although I was hesitant, I resorted to my Android phone videocam. Good thing the story was not for TV but for the web, or else the story would not pass! Anyway, I wasn’t too crazy about the image quality but at least I got something important up there including the interviews of a cancer survivor and a youth who helped organized the event.
Lesson learned: Make sure you have a back up battery and both are fully charged before going out to the field.
34-year-old Union City Resident Gone Too Soon
June 26th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Keith Hadnot’s mother says what’s more tragic than her son’s sudden death is that the people who may have more information about it are not speaking up.
“Everyone needs to be concerned about the random violence we have going on in our society today. Even good people can get in the line of fire,” his mother, Angela Flunoy-Armon, said.
Hadnot, 34, was shot and killed on June 14 on the 4100 block of Venus Place in Union City, where he’d lived for four years. Police say they haven’t identified the motive nor the suspect yet.
On June 25, Hadnot’s family and friends gathered at the Fremont Memorial Chapel to remember his life and to reminsce about childhood memories.
One of the loved ones who spoke was his brother, Jonathan, who left his military duties in Afghanistan to attend the funeral. Jonathan Hadnot said he had been in many military trips where he was shot at, bombed and tormented, and he had fully thought he would go before his brother.
“We were a tripod–me, my dad and my brother. When my dad passed away … we still were able to stand up because we had each other,” Jonathan said. “Now that I’ve lost my brother, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
Other people who gave eulogies include his mother, siblings and his wife, Irlanda.
Hadnot leaves behind three children, including a 3-year-old son and 1-year-old twins. His family has established the Memorial Trust Fund for the Children of Keith Hadnot II for those interested in contributing.
Anyone who has information about Hadnot’s death may call Detective Trent Collins of the Union City Police Department at 510-675-5266 or the anonymous tip line at 510-675-5207. Tips can also be e-mailed to tips@unioncity.org.
Shakiness and jump cuts
June 23rd, 2011 § Leave a Comment
I like both the content and the technical aspect of this video. So simple yet personal and insightful. The video has alot of shakiness and jump cuts yet they feel natural. I think finding that seamless effect as you edit pieces together is challenging, but this filmmaker did a good job. Kudos to you, noMSG!
Erykah Badu: Love Story from noMSG on Vimeo.
(Great Great) Grandpa still kicking butt at 106
June 15th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Original article: http://patch.com/A-jt22
Antonio Zendejas has been alive for more than a century. His secrets? Hard work, family and eating lots of chili.
Zendejas, a Union City resident for the last 66 years, turned 106 years old on June 13, 2011. It’s safe to say he is one of the oldest current residents in the city.
On Sunday, June 12, Zendejas celebrated his birthday at Our Lady of the Rosary Church with family and friends from across California, Texas and Washington. Union City Mayor Mark Green was also in attendance.
Zendejas has six children, 21 grandchildren, 43 great grandchildren and 14 great great grandchildren.
His family says he is never alone and is always surrounded by loved ones.
Aside from keeping his family close, Zendejas says gardening keeps him mentally and physically fit. He grows different kinds of fruits, vegetables and nuts in his backyard, including almonds, nectarines, apples, cactus, corn, grapes and more.
His eldest daughter, Consuelo Zendejas, 85, prepares his meals and makes sure he’s well taken care of. But she says she doesn’t really have to worry too much because he eats almost anything and is still capable of making his own bed and dressing himself. He even refuses to use his wheelchair.
Zendejas came to the U.S. from Mexico when he was 19 years old. He brought along his 17-year-old wife, their first-born child and an immigration visa.
Since then, Zendejas bounced around and pursued a variety of jobs to support his family, ultimately settling in Union City in 1945. Though family members have branched out, Zendejas has stayed put in the same house here in Union City.
Reporter Richgail Enriquez was at Zendejas’ 106th birthday celebration and has more from the man himself.
Vigil held for Missing Nursing Student in Hayward
June 4th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Original article: Union City Patch.com
More than 200 people gathered in Hayward Friday night in a show of support for missing nursing student Michelle Le, 26, of San Mateo.
“I hope she can be found anywhere — safe and alive. Hopefully somewhere close,” said Le’s cousin Krystine Dinh. “We love her. We know that she’s out there.”
A reward for information leading to Le’s return has grown from $20,000 to $45,000 in a matter of three days, thanks to donations from strangers. The family also announced that the FBI is providing support to the Hayward Police Department investigation but cannot intervene unless the investigation crosses state lines.
Community members, friends and family members, some traveling from as far as San Diego, where Le attended high school, gathered at a cul-de-sac on Ponderosa Court off of Oliver Drive, where Le’s locked white Honda SUV was discovered on May 27. Many wore T-shirts with Le’s face, the word “Missing” and the Hayward police department’s phone number (510) 293-5051.
A Week and Counting
At about 7 p.m. on May 27, Le stepped out during a break in her duties at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Hayward. Family members said they were told that she went to get something from her car. She never returned.
According to Hayward police, video surveillance from the Kaiser garage shows her car being driven out of the parking structure that night, though it does not clearly show who was driving.
Her car was located less than half a mile away in a cul-de-sac near an apartment complex. Family members said she didn’t have friends in the neighborhood, as far as they knew.
Friends said Le was planning to drive to Reno with friends that night, after finishing her clinical rotation at the Kaiser facility.
“Our family has been pretty in the dark” about the details of the investigation, Dinh said. She said the family was told they would not receive an update from the police until Monday.
“There’s that state of limbo,” said Le’s uncle Eric Duke after the gathering. “I believe they’re doing the best they can do … but we need more resources,” he added. Through their network, family members were able to reach out to FBI to get their support, Duke said.
New Yorker in Tondo this Saturday
May 12th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Been putting my video journalism work on hold for a theater performance this Saturday. I shouldn’t be nervous because it’s a re-staging of the same play we’ve done few months ago, but I can’t help it.
The play is called “New Yorker in Tondo”, a satire about a Filipina who left the slums of Tondo, Philippines for a better life in New York. After little less than a year, she returned, but not as the same person.
I would say that Theater and Journalism are similar in sense that they both examine a political dilemma in our society. So in essence, I am practicing my Journalism! hehe..Well ok, the plot is fictional but the issues we tackle are not.
Crossing fingers that this Saturday’s show will be the best among the past performances. Wish me luck!
(taken from the first performance, August 15, 2010)
(our recent poster, can’t get a bigger file resolution)
Rakenrol
May 10th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Rakenrol (Filipino play word for Rock and Roll), is an independent Filipino film and ode to the Filipino rock music scene.
Upon hearing about the movie, I thought it’s refreshing to find out there’s more to Philippine cinema than cheesy “love team” movies, and ripped off plots from Hollywood. Of course, that is because “Rakenrol” is an independent film. But then again, the same to be said with commercial Hollywood films and their underrated independent counterpart. I guess this is just the norm, mainstream vs avant garde. Nevertheless, I hope “Rakenrol” won’t disappoint to its promising potential.
Rakenrol screens in San Francisco this Friday.
Proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit two Filipino Arts organizations based in the Bay Area: Bindlestiff Studio and Kularts.
Of course, Rakenrol will have a Rock and Roll after party featuring prominent pinoy bands, and will be held at Mercury Lounge in San Francisco.
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