It
has long been a tradition of Pista sa Nayon to honor and recognize a local
Filipino American couple for their service and dedication to the community and
for their support of the annual festival. This year Pista is proud to honor
Manuel and Lauren Divina as the 2007 Hermano and Hermana Mayor.Manuel and Lauren came to the United States with their children in 1982. Manuel was born in Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Lauren was born in Sta. Cruz Manila. Manuel and Lauren have three children, Lara Mae (Chollette), Michael Lee and Marc Lemuel. Since making Seattle their home, they have immersed themselves in a multitude of organizations and causes. They recognize the value of service and the long-term benefits to the entire community.
Manuel and Lauren embody the true spirit of Pista and community. Sharing their time and talents, they selflessly give without expectations of receiving anything in return. It is out of a genuine desire to improve quality of life and provide positive opportunities for Filipino Americans of all ages that Manuel and Lauren are engaged in causes that are dear to their hearts.
“Volunteerism is an essential aspect in the growth and development of our community,” said Manuel and Lauren. “We have great leaders that can guide our members to continually give time and effort to keep a vibrant community that participates and engages in all aspects of the communities of Seattle, of Washington and the nation.
“Each one of us can contribute in his/her own humble way in helping our city to continue to be the most livable city in the world. To continue to serve and meet the needs of our community in our daily lives. It takes all of us to make sure that the future generations continue to enjoy the blessings that we have here.”
A bilingual instructional assistant at Cleveland High School and a mortgage loan consultant as well, Manuel has served in leadership positions and remains active with a number of organizations. He was president of and remains active with the Filipino American Political Action Group (FAPAGOW), served as president and remains active with Cuyapo-Seattle Association (CUSA), played and sponsored a team for Life After Forty Basketball League (LAFBL), and is a member of Filipino American Educators of Washington (FAEW), Bataan Corregidor Survivors Association and Their Families (BCSATF); and PMA Families of the Pacific Northwest.
An educator by profession, Lauren is currently the head counselor at Madison Middle School. Prior to that she was a classroom teacher there for five years, taught Filipino at the University of Washington, American Ethnic Studies at Seattle Central Community College and was a bilingual tutor at the Seattle Public Schools’ Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center. She is the president of FAEW, and is also a member of FAPAGOW, CUSA, BCSATF, CUSA, and PMA Families of the Pacific Northwest.
Manuel and Lauren are firm believers that service and philanthropic giving serves a greater purpose. Through their service, along with the blessings of family and friends, Manuel and Lauren have found contentment. Their volunteerism speaks volumes of their desire to make a difference and enhance lives.
“Filipino Americans have so much to share, every one has something that they can contribute to the betterment of everyone,” said Manuel and Lauren. “In the Philippines we have a term ‘bayanihan’ which means working together, helping each other, collectively aiming for the greater good of the entire community, the spirit of cooperation and having the same goals of greatness.
“We are a community that values diversity, inspires collegiality, nurturing the highest aspirations of each child, providing opportunities for everyone to be the best that he/she could be.”
Manuel and Lauren’s involvement with Pista spans the festival’s 18-year history. It was in 1990 during the first festival that they began volunteering in the FAEW First Aid Booth. As they prepare to participate in the 18th year anniversary of Pista, their wish for Pista is continued growth and success. They look forward to joining the community for the “largest summer family picnic in town!”
“Pista is a living testament that shows the rest of the USA who we are as a people,” said Manuel and Lauren. “It shows what we can do together as we celebrate our roots, traditions, cultural heritage. When 10,000 or more people come together to celebrate our music, food, dances, languages, history, livelihoods, we are significantly coming together to allow our youth to work along with the older members of our community in an activity that shows the best in us. Pista represents a piece of the hospitality the Philippines has always been famous for.”
In their roles as Hermano and Hermana Mayor, Manuel and Lauren Divina spearheaded the “Friends of Pista” fundraising effort which has been very successful.
“We are very, very deeply honored as this year’s Hermano and Hermana,” said Manuel and Lauren. “We hope that we are able to inspire our community members, both young and old, to continue to be involved and engaged in our community, the Filipino American community and also our larger communities in general. We thank our ever hard working Pista committee members who put in many, many hours of work to cultivate the true spirit of volunteerism among all of us.”
The year 2007 is proving to be a year of tributes for Manuel and Lauren. In addition to serving as Pista’s Hermano and Hermana Mayor, they were recently selected as the 2007 Filipino Community of Seattle’s Parents of the Year. It is yet another honor that is well deserved by this couple.
Manuel and Lauren Divina are the Hermano and Hermana Mayor for Pista sa Nayon 2007. They are to be applauded for their leadership and ongoing support of Pista and their fellow Filipino Americans. Pista thanks them for their outstanding efforts to help make this year’s festival a success.