TrulyGrace

Future Philippine Nationality Room, Holiday Open House 2018

Today was the Nationality Rooms Open House at the Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh. Tita Tina and her elves provided AND prepared the holiday decorations for the room this year.

I recall that a decade ago that the original Philippine Nationality Room standing committee, which included both Dad and me, had recently found out that a room was selected for us---room 313 in the Cathedral of Learning. Driven by this selection, a group of my friends (both Filipino and not) and myself utilized decorations provided by our manangs and manongs. Now, each year's Holiday Open House since, Filipino-Americans have decorated the room (though the room until this year was a regular classroom, with linoleum tile floors and plastic and metal student desks).

The room is almost complete, with the blackboard and student desks yet to be installed. People stood about while I explained the room and the holiday decorations. Mom and Dad were Lola and Lolo; WA and SCA visited us; we were plied with nourishment by the PAPAGP food booth. I chatted briefly with Maxine, Sage, and Henry; and Gerry was kind enough to introduce me each time I made an mic'ed announcement about our incipient Nationality Room in the Commons Room. I made two announcements about the future PNR's being decorated and open today ONLY. The proclamations were made at noon and at 2PM. Chatted ever-so-briefly with Cristina, and Tita Tina and Maryann took photos of various permutations of Mom, Dad, and me in the soon-to-be-dedicated nationality room. A video cameraman, Dave, from WTAE television made a couple of clips for a short story on tonight's local 6.30PM news on the Nationality Rooms....At 6:30PM  We spotted Cristina from the Nationality Rooms Programs on camera, and, (as WA stated to M and D and me) "[We] saw your back!" (before he resumed dinner with SC).
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We will go to Sunday Mass at the Oratory after continuing the Novena for Auntie Chidia.

posted by Grace @ 12/02/2018 07:20:00 PM