03-01-2008
Bert de Los Reyes: One of OB’s longest serving nurses passed away February 1, 2008 in Sydney, Australia. Bert was 79 years old and had succumbed to bone cancer. His obituary can be found in our Member News sections.
12-02-2007
New Laos book and our 2008 trip: Lonely Planet’s Laos recommendations will form part of our planning for our Laos November 2008 trip. We are doing our own supplementary research. Indeed, two Lao members – Sounthaly Lapitan and Phikoun Ackathai -- of our organizing committee have been scouting there since October 2007. Be aware that 2007 Vientiane is no longer the Vientiane of our 1970s memories. Tentative details of our trip will soon be available. For more on this subject, click here.
07-23-2007
Update on scholarship program: Please visit our Iskolar ng Mekong Circle page to see an update on our scholarship program in the Philippines.
07-12-2007
Passing of an OB Pioneer: Jovito J. Naranjo, Jr., one of the few remaining Operation Brotherhood-Vietnam veterans who made the transition to OB Laos and served in both countries from beginning to the end of the programs, died July 10, 2007, in Jaro, Iloilo City. Read the obituary here.
Mekong Circle Philippines: Posting of the minutes from a recent Mekong Circle meeting in the Philippines. See the minutes in our Reports section.
06-06-2007
New newsletter online: If you haven't already received it by mail, the latest version of our newsletter is now online. To view or download it, please visit our Reports section.
Also, sent to members via e-mail recently was this news release from the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs, which discusses recent medical missions to Laos and mentions Operation Brotherhood.
We still are looking for photos from everyone for any Mekong Circle-related event. If you have met with fellow members -- formally or informally -- and have pictures, we'd love to post them. Please e-mail the files or the links to your photos to the Webmaster.
11-15-2006
New newsletter online; Thanks to donors: The latest issue of our newsletter is now online in the Reports section of the Web site. (Note: The last page did not scan properly and is posted as a separate link.) The newsletter includes a wrapup of our sixth reunion cruise in Florida and the Bahamas.
We also would like to thank those who have generously responded to our newsletter fundraising drive. Click HERE to see a list of donors and total amount given as of Nov. 10. We are confident that there will be more of you sending in your donations and we look forward to updating the list. This is a fairly good start to our first effort at raising money for our Association's general fund. In the past our fundraising was for specific projects such as the Leyte mudslide and the Katrina hurricane victims. An updated list will be published in our next newsletter. All donors will be receiving a tax-deductible notice from our treasurer. If you need extra copies of the solicitation materials, please contact us. More information also can be found online at our Support section.
We also welcome any ideas to encourage donations from our members. Please e-mail suggestions to webmaster@mekongcircle.org
08-30-2006
Reunion Pictures: The first photos from our 2006 Florida Reunion are now posted. The two sets of photos were taken by Pete Fuentecilla, and are posted in our Photos section. All members who attended the 2006 reunion are encouraged to submit photos. The best way to do this is to upload them to a photo sharing Web site such as Yahoo, Snapfish or flickr. Once you do that, send the link and we will post the link to the pictures in our Photos section. If you need any help or have questions, please feel free to contact B.J. Reyes by e-mail: webmaster@mekongcircle.org
08-20-2006
Until 2008: Thank you and congratulations to all of the members of Mekong Circle who helped make the 2006 Reunion Cruise a smashing success. Special thanks to Dr. Pete Gonzales, the chairman of the Florida Reunion Organizing Committee. For more, please visit our Reunion section and click on Reunion Report. The Reunion Report includes a guest book for members to share their thanks and congratulations or their stories from the reunion cruise. There also is a note on photos, if you would like to share your snapshots from the cruise. We very much look forward to our SEVENTH Reunion, 2008, in the Philippines !!
07-02-2006
Newsletter online: The latest edition of our quarterly newsletter is now online. Please visit the Reports section to view or download the document.
06-24-2006
New newsletter: Watch your mailboxes. Our San Francisco chapter has begun mailing the issue this week. It has more details on our Caribbean cruise and an updated full list of the 178 Mekong Circle passengers. The standard sections -- Historical Notes, first person anecdotes as well as an expanded Member News are these issue's features. If you do not receive your issue within the next two weeks, you may e-mail Puring at prdejesus@aol.com.
04-27-2006
Call for aid: An update to our call for aid to help the victims of the Leyte mudslides. As of May 1, donations should be directed to Louie Tabano, whose address was contained in an e-mail sent to all members on our electronic distribution list. For Louie's address, you may e-mail the webmaster.
04-06-2006
Reunion Hotel Information: All members will be receving a copy of a letter from our travel agent in Florida, Tess Papa, regarding hotel accommodations for our 2006 Reunion. The letter also is posted in the Reunions section of the Web site.
03-12-2006
Newsletter Online: The latest issue of our quarterly newsletter is now online. The newsletter was compiled by the Texas Chapter of Mekong Circle and provides features and an update on the latest news regarding our 2006 reunion scheduled for Aug. 11-14. To view the newsletter, please go to the Reports section.
03-08-2006
Appeal for Help: Mekong Circle is seeking donations to aid the victims of the recent mudslides in the village of Guinsaugon, St. Bernard Township, Leyte, in the Philippines. An e-mail appeal has been sent to the group e-mail list. To download the letter, click here.
02-12-2006
In Memoriam: Ambassador Rodolfo Sanchez, first resident Philippine Consul in Laos in the 1960s, passed away on Jan. 28, 2006, in Manila at the age of 72. The cause of death was kidney failure. The complete obituary is in our Members section.
01-20-2006
Katrina Relief: Mekong Circle International donated $745 to the American Red Cross. We would like to thank the members who made this possible:
Raul and Puring de Jesus
Lina Tapiador Bautista MD
Mario Morales
Ian and Lucille Pagaduan (Raul's niece)
Rene & Vivian Dimaunahan
Luis and Gladys Tabano
Tony & Cora Sazon
Bik & Anita Marquez
Tony & Feny Victa
Tony & Tacing Atienza
Bear & Brenda Joy McDaniel
01-19-2006
New York Times Laos Article Cites Former OB Lao Nurse: This feature (click here) which appeared in the newspaper on Jan. 15, 2006, described efforts to track avian flu in Laos. It cites Dr. Phengta Vongphrachanh as "the country's foremost epidemiologist" and one of the country's "top disease fighters." Dr. Phengta was a 1969 graduate of the OB School of Practical Nursing in Vientiane who went on to medical school. Also, Dr. Dean A. Shuey (mentioned in the article) is one of the World Health Organization people we met in Laos in 2000. He's the Programme Management Officer, Health Systems.
12-30-2005
Newsletter online: The latest version of our newsletter is now online in the Reports section.
12-12-2005
December 2005 Newsletter Mailing: Watch your mailboxes. Our Los Angeles Mekong Circle chapter is taking charge of the mailing of this issue. It will begin mailing this week. The recipients are mainly members listed in our 2004 Directory -- almost 500 names. But since then there have been additions or changes. Copies for our Philippine-based members will be mailed from there, courtesy of Cecile and Manding Datu who are flying there this month. If you have not received your copy by next week, contact Pol Custodio at 323 663 8391; email: polcustodio@hotmail.com. If you want a copy of our directory, please contact Puring Dejesus at 920 232 8210 or 513 868 9396; email: prdejesus@aol.com.
12-04-2005
Journey back to Laos: Tricia Lapitan, daughter of Sounthary and the late Sergio Lapitan of Seattle, Wash., visited Vientiane during the middle of August 2005. An account of her first visit to Laos was published in a Seattle-based newsweekly for Asian Americans. Here is her account. The story also is linked in the Member News section. Tricia is a practicing lawyer and attended the first International Conference on Lao Studies in May 2005 in DeKalb, Ill.
09-16-2005
In memoriam: We announce with sadness the passing of two Mekong Circle members -- Rose Marie del Rio Ocampo (on Sept. 7, in Toronto, Canada); and Isagani Bautista (on Sept. 9, in Manila). Obituaries on both are posted in the Member News section.
08-02-2005
More information: We have more details on our 2006 reunion. An e-mail and paper mailing of the announcement has been sent out by Pete Fuentecilla & Lewie Gonzales to all members. Click here to view the announcement.
07-27-2005
Newsletters online: Our newsletters are now online and downloadable. Just visit our Reports section. Each of the newsletters is between 3MB and 5MB in size, so they may take longer to download depending on your connection speed. The June 2005 issue has many details regarding next year's reunion in Florida. If you know anyone who did not receive the most recent mailing, please direct them to the online version of the newsletter.
04-29-2005
Tax-exempt status: Mekong Circle has passed conditional status as a tax exempt organization. A ruling was received from the U.S. Department of Treasury on March 23, 2005 classifying our status as a 501(c)(3) organization, the designation given to Federal tax-exempt organizations. This designation will be noted on all our fund-raising literature and projects so that donors can avail of it. Our treasurer Tony Victa will process all requests for documentation. If you have any questions, contact Bik Marquez.
03-29-2005
Moving on: Our man in Vientiane, Consul Raul Dado, will be reassigned to Buenos Aires in Argentina, "anytime now," as he reports to us below. Raul was assigned to Vientiane in February 2000. He has been acting as charges d'affaires with the Philippine Embassy since the middle of 2004 in the absence of a new Ambassador. See the report in the "Member News" section.
01-05-2005
Florida in 2006: An organizing committee headed by Dr. Pete Gonzales is in the early stages of formation to start planning for our sixth reunion in Orlando, Fla., next year. Two scenarios are being worked out: either a land-based venue or a cruise ship. Tentative date is July or August. It's not too early to start thinking of scheduling your 2006 vacation during these months. More details to come. All the latest details will be posted online.
01-04-2005
E-mail update: Happy New Year everyone! Mekongcircle.org is updating its master e-mail distribution list. Members should have received an e-mail asking them to confirm their e-mail address. If not, please send an e-mail to webmaster@mekongcircle.org
10-14-2004
Organizational information: The Organization section has been updated to include Mekong Circle's Articles of Incorporation and organizational Bylaws.
10-01-2004
New look and feel: Welcome to the new and improved online home of Mekong Circle International. The Web site has been redesigned with the goal of making it easier to navigate.
Among the new features:
-The navigational buttons at the left appear on all main sections of the Web site. To return to the home page from any other main section, just click the Mekong Circle logo in the upper left. Each main section also includes at the top an e-mail link to a Mekong Circle board member or officer who should be able to answer any questions you may have about that section's topic.
-The most recent news for members is now displayed on this, the main home page, with a link to all past updates below. All main pages have been condensed of material, with most now featuring links to all past and current material.
-The "Directory" page has changed, and now is listed as "Organization." This change was made to better reflect the evolution of Mekong Circle and provide an idea of the structure of our organization. The "Souvenirs" page has become "Suggested Reading" and information on all reunions can be found at one central page, "Reunions."
-We also have provided information on how to support Mekong Circle's mission. And finally, all members should continue to update their contact information as necessary and urge others to submit their information by using the forms found in the "Membership" section.
If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, please feel free to e-mail the Webmaster.
09-05-04
More updates: The Reunion 2004 page has been updated to include information on how to purchase the book "Filipinos in Laos." This information also is posted in the Souvenirs section of the Web site. Also on the Reunion 2004 page is listed the address to write if you would like copies of the souvenir program and members' directory. If you have photos you would like to share with others and have uploaded them to a photo sharing Web site, please send the link to webmaster@mekongcircle.org to have them posted on this page. Finally, the Directory page has been updated with the new members of Mekong Circle's Board of Directors for 2004-2006. A list of corporate officers will be posted shortly.
08-09-04
Reunion 2004: Special thanks to all who attended the 2004 reunion in Chicago. Now it's your turn to share your thoughts. Please do so in our special guest book. Click here.
05-17-04
More minutes: The minutes from each of the last two meetings of the 2004 Reunion Planning Committee have now been posted. The meetings were held Sept. 30, 2003, and May 10, 2004. Of particular interest to members, please note that due to Chicago Fire Department regulations, Mekong Circle is required to submit to the Hyatt Hotel a total number of people attending the Saturday dinner-dance event. Because of this, the committee may not be able to accommodate last-minute registrations. Members are encouraged to send in their reservations early to reserve their seats at the dinner-dance. (Detail included in minutes from May 10, 2004.) Minutes from all of the Planning Committee meetings are linked to the main Reunion 2004 page.
03-08-04
Hotel information: Added page with hotel information for the 2004 reunion in Chicago. Click here.
02-21-04
More pictures added: Added two more albums to the Photos section with pictures from Fe Casher from both the 2000 San Francisco and 2002 New York City reunions.
02-02-04
January newsletter in the mail: Watch your mailbox. The January 2004 issue is on its way to 400-plus members on the planet for whom we have mailing addresses. It's our fattest issue so far -- 12 pages. We began our newsletter during the New York reunion, 4-pagers for three issues. For our Chicago reunion, we've issued a 4-pager in August 2003, then an 8-pager in November 2003. This third issue has a history of ECCOIL Filipinos (continuing our series on Mekong groups); what Vientiane is now compared to then (1960s); a daughter of former OB Lao nurses returns for her visit November 2003 after leaving as an infant in 1975, and writes about her adventure; our first resident consul Rody Sanchez recounts his escapades during his Vientiane posting 1965-1967; Christmas in Sam Neua 1965...and many, many more "kuwentos." We urge members to submit their own recollections.
Mini-reunions here and there: Mekong Philippines members will gather Feb. 7 in Laguna. Hosts are former OB nurse Jovit and husband Ben Revilla, former ECCOIL.
Former Continental Air Services and Air America Filipinos in Laos will meet in Las Vegas Feb. 19. Contact: Angie Maralit, telephone (650) 754-0273 or email agmarali@msn.comA large gathering of Lao residents in the USA who used to work for USAID, US Embassy, OB, IVS, Continental, Air America, came together for a dinner-dance on January 17, 2004 in Adelphi, Maryland. This was only their second reunion since 1999. More than 200 attended from all over the country. There were three OB Lao nurses and two OB Filipinos present.Registration forms for Chicago: Not yet registered? The January 2004 newsletter contains on a loose page the form. Fill it now and send back immediately. There is no need to enclose the fee with it if you don't want to pay now. Just say check to follow. But we need a response NOW so that we can reserve an adequate number of hotel rooms.
08-11-03
Mekong Reunion Registrations: Watch your mail. Your copy of the first issue of the Chicago 2004 Reunion newsletter was mailed first class to all in our membership list -- almost 400 names. It contains the registration form for the reunion. Mailing went out Monday, Aug. 11, to all addresses in the USA.Canada and Europe. Philippine-based members will get their mailing from the Philippines before the end of the month. We request all officers to urge their members in their areas to send back the registration forms. The Committee needs these responses in order to plan details of the reunion events. Tentative details are in the newsletter. If you do not receive it within the next two weeks, contact us at (920) 232-8210 or e-mail Puring de Jesus. In the meantime, we remind all again to keep these dates open for our reunion: Aug. 6, 7 & 8, 2004 (Friday to Sunday). Update posted by Pete Fuentecilla.
07-01-03
Two new features: Read about the new Philippine ambassador to Laos and a unique pesticide applicator training program at the University of Hawaii that is the work of a former Operation Brotherhood agriculturist. Both features are in the Member News section.
05-12-03
Reunion Planning Committee minutes: The minutes from the most recent meeting held by the 2004 Reunion Planning Committee now are available online. They are posted on the main Reunion 2004 page.
04-11-03
Where have all the nurses gone? That's the question posed by Pete Fuentecilla in a feature article about the graduates from the OB School of Nursing. The feature article and photos can be viewed in the Member News section.
02-14-03
Reunion Planning Committee minutes: The minutes from the most recent meeting held by the 2004 Reunion Planning Committee now are available online. They are posted on the main Reunion 2004 page.
01-12-03
Annual report for 2002: Last year was very productive for Mekong Circle International. Please read the report on our activities of last year with a look at upcoming projects in 2003 and, of course, our next reunion in 2004. The link to the report is at the top of the main home page.
12-08-02
Balik-Laos Progress Report; Other updates: For those wondering how the recent Balik-Laos trip turned out, you can find a progress report at the Projects section. Also, the Reunion 2004 page has been updated with the complete list of the Reunion Organizing Committee and the Directory has been updated with the most recent information available for the Mekong Circle International board and officers.
10-19-02
Balik-Laos Journey Begins: About two dozen Mekong Circle members will set foot on Lao soil for the first time after leaving it more than three decades ago, not knowing whether they will be able to return at all. The first group arrives in Laos on Nov. 3. More information on the Balik-Laos trip can be found in the Projects section. There is still time to join the party. Contact Bik Marquez at 650 991 3335 work or 650 692 6976 home or email bikmarquez@hotmail.com. His group will leave San Francisco on Nov. 2. We'll alert you if members wish to e-mail us messages from Vientiane for posting at our Web site.
10-02-02
New Projects section and Member News posting: We have added another new section to mekongcircle.org: Projects. This is where you'll find the latest information on planned Mekong Circle International projects. The section includes details of the proposals and e-mail links to submit your comments, suggestions or questions about the projects. Also be sure to check out the Member News section for a belated posting from a Laotian trying to get in touch with the Filipino OB doctor who saved him and his family. If this is you, please contact us.
08-18-02
Directory updated/New section: The list of Mekong Circle Board Members and officers has been updated in the Directory section. Also, a new section has been added to the main page: Member News. This page is for news and notes about members of Mekong Circle. If you have an item you would like to post, please contact the Webmaster. The new section replaces the "Balitang Laos" link, which may come back in the future once we can determine the best way to utilize the feature. Also, more photos from the Fourth Reunion are on the way, but keep them coming.
08-10-02
Post Reunion Update: Thanks to everyone who made the 2002 Reunion in New York City a great success. The Reunion 2002 page has been updated to include a post-activity report as well as a section where attendees may post their comments, remarks and suggestions for future reunions. The Photos section also has been updated with pictures from the Baci and cruise aboard the Paddlewheel Queen boat. The main page also has been updated to add a link for members of the Next Generation of Mekong Circle. Coming soon will be an updated directory reflecting the changes of the board members and officers and also a page to start organizing the Fifth Reunion in 2004 in Chicago.
06-30-02
We have a new name: In case you haven't noticed, the Web site has a new name, www.mekongcircle.org. This should make it easier to remember. The old site name will still be active for a while, but please remember to update your bookmarks.
04-02-02
Latest Committee Report: The minutes from the Reunion Planning Committee's latest meeting are now available. To view them, go to the Information section of the Reunion page. Also, a reminder to all to not wait until the last minute. Send in your registration now to reserve your place in the 2002 Reunion. Deadlines for both registration and to place an ad in the souvenir program are fast approaching. DON'T MISS THE BOAT!
02-24-02
Reunion Status Report: The most recent status report from the 2002 Reunion Planning Committee has been posted in the Information section of the Reunion page. Includes the minutes from the Feb. 9 monthly planning meeting.
01-15-02
Frequently Asked Questions: In an effort to answer some questions you may have about our fourth reunion and New York City, an FAQ page has been set up at the Reunion 2002 page. There are only a handful of questions posted at the moment, but if you do not find the answer you need, feel free to e-mail us. An e-mail link is provided on the page.
01-08-2002
Mekong Circle Donations Now Tax-deductible: The Internal Revenue Service has determined that Mekong Circle International is exempt from Federal income tax. The approval of our exemption application was received November 9, 2001 but donations to Mekong Circle given since Sept.20, 2000, the date of our incorporation, are tax deductible charitable contributions on individual income tax returns. In addition, gifts or bequests, made to the organizattion are tax deductible from Federal gift and estate taxes. Our tax exempt status provides us one more incentive to pursue educational and charitable projects. Indeed, at our August 2002 reunion, we encouraged participants to present projects that can avail of this exemption. For further information on deductibility of contributions or gifts and bequests, contact our San Francisco office at 650 991 3335.
12-24-2001 Mele Kalikimaka / Maligayang Pasko / Merry Christmas
Reunion 2002 page complete: The Web page for our 2002 Reunion in New York City is fully functional. Here you will find the minutes from the planning committee meetings, information on the reunion venues, a list of contacts, a schedule of events, printable versions of the registration and program ad forms, links to useful sites about New York City and features on why Mekong Circle members should attend the reunion. We urge you to forward this Web site (www.mekongcircleonline.com) and the related Reunion information to Mekong Circle members who have not attended previous reunions. To get to the Reunion page, click here.
12-17-2001
Reunion dates have changed: At the most recent meeting of the Reunion Planning Committee on Dec. 15, it was announced that due to the availability of the yacht cruise, the dates of the reunion have been changed to Aug. 2-4, a week later than originally planned. The Hotel Pennsylvania has agreed to keep the block of rooms for Mekong Circle members at a reduced rate. More details will be posted as they become available in the "Information" link at the Reunion 2002 page. Also on that page you can find a complete listing of Reunion Planning Committee members by clicking the "Contacts" button.
10-15-2001
Second planning meeting for 2002 reunion: Planning committee members met for a second time on Oct. 6, 2001 at the house of Boni and Evelyn Alon in Cherry Hill, N.J. The committee has established an initial schedule of events and set the location of the reunion for New York City. To view the minutes from the meeting, click the "Information" button on the Reunion page.
09-08-2001:
First planning meeting for 2002 reunion: Eleven Mekong Circle International members met in New York City. Organizing committees were formed and tasks were spelled out. Please click on the Reunion page for the meeting minutes. A follow-up meeting is set for Oct. 6. We call on all members to e-mail any ideas/suggestions/comments that we should consider at this meeting.
08-30-2001:
Technical update: The glitch to the photo essay by Vitoy and Joji Naranjo has been fixed. The photos on the essay page now open up full-size in a separate window when the thumbnail image is clicked. To view the photo essay, visit the Photo page and follow the link.
"In a Little Kingdom": A link and review for this book has been added to the Souvenirs section of MekongCircleOnline.
08-25-2001:
Application for tax-exempt status: We have submitted an application to the Internal Revenue Service to grant Mekong Circle International tax exempt status as a non-profit corporation. In our application we propose to undertake a number of educational and charitable projects. The educational project proposes to research and write a book on how Filipinos came to the aid of Laotians during the Vietnam War. A professional journalist has been chosen to author the book. The other project will send a medical team that will render free medical care in Laos. During the two-week mission, the team will also conduct clinical seminars for the local physicians.
Former OB members visit Vientiane: "It's a completely different place," says Jovito "Vitoy" Naranjo, "you won't recognize the old Vientiane." The new sights begin right on the road from the airport to the city. New commercial and government buildings, none of them in existence 25 years ago, lined the multi-lane highway.That's when in 1975, the last Filipinos with Operation Brotherhood left Vientiane when the Communist government took over the country. From March 20-28, former OB project manager Vitoy, together with his wife Joji, an OB nurse and OB social worker Bing Belicena, toured Vientiane like wide-eyed first-time tourists, amazed at the the many physical changes that have transformed the city where OB had opened a hospital in 1960. The hospital still stands, but is no longer in use. The Administration Building beside it remains locked and apparently unoccupied. Other OB places they knew too well were intact -- the OB House, the OB Annex, their residence. Restaurants and shops in the city that OB members patronized for many years have vanished. The Vieng Ratry nightclub has moved to another spot and has been renamed the New Vieng Ratry. The Talat Sao (Morning Market), where sellers, in years past, lay out their wares on mats on the bare ground, is now a three-building mall. During their stay, the OB visitors had dinners with the Philippine ambassador to Laos, with friends Dr. Savanyenh and a former Lao diplomat.The Ambassador had remarked that some Lao officials have inquired on whether OB can return to Laos.Vitoy, Joji and Bing are the first Mekong Circle members to return to Laos for a visit since 1975. A detailed account of their visit in pictures and words can be found on the MekongCircleOnline Photo Gallery.
07-07-2001:
Greetings from MekongCircleOnline.com: As you can see, the Web site is up and running, even though not all of the links are quite ready. The other sections of the site should be coming online shortly, so check back in the near future. And keep an eye on the Reunion 2002 link. The page will be updated soon to give everyone a jump on planning for next year's big event. (Webmaster)
