Winter Edition PACCTX Business Chronicles PDF

VOL.
1 ISSUE 4 WINTER 2019-2020 Edition

THE OFFICIAL QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF TEXAS
EXCELLENCE EMPOWERMENT SERVICE
INSIDE: Celebrating Christmas Around the World
DALLAS HOUSTON McALLEN SAN ANTONIO

“ BRIDGING FILIPINO AND AMERICAN BUSINESSES ACROSS THE SEAS. ”
PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TEXAS
BUSINESS CHRONICLES
OFFICIAL QUARTERLY PUBLICATION

OF THE PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
EDITORIAL BOARD OF TEXAS
GUS MERCADO
PUBLISHER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CELEBRATING OUR STATE OFFICERS
Gary Ilagan
State President
RYAN TEJERO
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Gus Mercado
State Executive Director
DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS Rowena Watters
Regional VP Greater Dallas
Website:
www.pacctexas.org Bobby Reyes
Facebook: Regional VP Greater Houston
www.facebook.com/pacctxregion1dfw Rhodora Elizondo
www.facebook.com/paccrgv Regional VP Rio Grande Valley
www.facebook.com/pacccentraltexas
www.facebook.com/
Yolanda Moy
Regional VP San Antonio/Central TX
pacctexasgreaterhoustonregion
Tess Tuazon
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES State Secretary
PACC-TEXAS Elna Mallari
8315 Navisota Drive State Treasurer
Lantana TX 76226
Hon. Ethel R. Mercado
Phone: (940) 728-2222
President Emeritus and Founder
Fax: (940) 725-0798
PACCTX BUSINESS CHRONICLES

PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF TEXAS is in no way responsible for the loss of any unsolicited materials. The publisher assumes no
responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts or art. PACC TX is not responsible or liable for any misspellings, incorrect dates, or incorrect information in
its captions, calendar, or other listings. The opinions expressed within the fair confines of Business Chronicles magazine do not necessarily represent the views or
policies of the magazine or any of its agents, staff, employees, members, interns, volunteers, or distribution venues. Bylined articles and editorial represent the
views of their authors. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters may be edited for style and libel, and are subject to condensation. Business Chronicles accepts
advertisements from advertisers believed to be of good reputation but cannot guarantee the authenticity or quality of objects and/or services advertised. As well,
Business Chronicles is not responsible for any claims made by its advertisers. As the publisher, PACC TX reserves the right to accept or to reject any editorial or
advertising matter. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission.
All rights reserved. Copyright © 2019.
2019-2020 WINTER EDITION PACCTX Business Chronicles

2
To inspire the spirit of entrepreneurship among Filipinos, Filipino-Americans and their business associates to
promote the growth of business and professions, and to be of service to our communities.
To support and promote trade, investments, tourism and other economic relations and activities between the
Philippines and the United States.
PACC TEXAS OFFICERS

Gary Ilagan, State President
Gus Mercado, State Executive Director
Rowena Watters, Regional VP Greater Dallas
Bobby Reyes, Regional VP Greater Houston
Rhodora Elizondo, Regional VP Rio Grande Valley
Yolanda Moy, Regional VP San Antonio/Central TX
Tess Tuazon, State Secretary
Elna Mallari, State Treasurer
Hon. Consul Ethel R. Mercado, Pres. Emeritus/Founder
3
Top Filipino Organization in the U.S.
Celebrates 10th Anniversary with
well-attended State Dinner and Awards
for 10 Outstanding Filipinos in Texas
Greatness is achieved when motivated people perform extraordinary
things. Powered by the drive to succeed, the desire to help and the passion to
serve, people who achieve greatness sustain it by a constant pursuit of excellence.
While most Chambers of Commerce focus only on business and how their
members can become better business people, the Philippine American Chamber
of Commerce (PACC) Texas also excelled in their business mission, but they went
the extra mile and dared to be different. They made a big difference in the lives of
countless people that they served. This is the reason why they unquestionably
gained recognition as the “Top Filipino Organization in the U.S. for Community
Service, Trade Development and Aid to the Philippines” from the NAFFAA Na-
tional Federation of Filipino Associations.
Cover Photo of Souvenir Program Book
“Classy and elegant,” “visually stunning,” “spectacular show,” “expertly-planned and orchestrated.”
PACC Texas successfully rolled out its “Decade of Excellence” with a State Dinner and Awards Night on October 18, 2019 at
the Marriott Quorum in Dallas. This event was a celebration to honor the special achievements of 10 Most Outstanding Fili-
pinos in Texas in their respective fields of Entrepreneurship, Professions, Humanitarian Work and Public Service. The Phil-
ippine Consul General in Houston Jerril G. Santos and his senior staff, along with about 400 guests from all over the state
graced this one-of-a-kind event in the state of Texas.
PACC Texas is based in Dallas with more than 600
members altogether from the four region chambers in Hou-
ston, Rio Grande, San Antonio and Dallas. It takes pride in its
many high impact, community building projects that include
trade, investment and humanitarian missions to the Philip-
pines, sponsoring Consular outreach projects, organizing
numerous business seminars, and rescue and repatriation of
homeless Filipinos who were victims of human trafficking
and mail-order-bride exploitation and violence.
In his keynote speech, Consul General Jerril Santos

thanked the PACC members and volunteers for their hard work
and sacrifices in the 10 last years. He also recognized PACC
Founder and Honorary Consul Ethel R. Mercado for her 6 years Hon. Jerril Santos
of personal sacrifices and commitment as Honorary Consul, Philippine Consul General in Houston
performing official consular duties without salary before the Keynote Speaker
Houston Consulate was re-opened last year.
ROTC Color Guards Addison Deputy Mayor Lori Ward DFW Host Chamber Chair Rev. Primitivo Pagayon RGV Chamber
welcomes the 400 guests to her city. Rowena Watters gives opening remarks. Officer gives invocation.
4
This special event was graciously hosted by two high profile co-
emcees, Rose Ann Aragon from Houston who is an award-winning NBC
Channel 2 news anchor, and Camille Buensuceso of Dallas who is the
reigning Miss Filipina International. Topnotch features of the event
include the performances of local musical talents by Vicente “Enteng”
Villanueva from Houston, Misha Panares, Liana Angelica Stoval and the
Sanlahi Rondalla from Dallas. Other highlights of the event was a
fashion show featuring world-renowned Filipino designers, artwork
exhibit by local young artists, a Philippine history mural prepared by the
UNIPRO group of young Filipino professionals, and a video showing of
PACC Texas Decade of Excellence. The parade of colors was provided by
the ROTC Honor Guards from RL Turner High School. Deputy Mayor
Pro-Tem Lori Ward of the City of Addison gave the warm welcome to all
attendees.
Lovely co-emcees Rose-Ann Aragon and

Camille Buensuceso
PACC Founder and Consul Ethel R. Mercado Dr. Rolando M. Solis Bhong Zausa
Outstanding Humanitarian Outstanding Entrepreneur
introduces Keynote Speaker Award Award
Other luminaries and distinguished project partners of PACC

Texas sent in their video-recorded congratulatory messages from the
Philippines. They were L.A. Consul General Adelio A. Cruz whose consu-
late served Texas during the 25-year absence of the Consulate in
Houston, and partnered with PACC Texas in organizing 10 years of
Consular Outreach in the state; Former Philippines Secretary of Tourism
and Trade Dr. Mina Gabor who, for 10 years, hosted and partnered with
PACC Texas in their successful Trade, Investments and Humanitarian
missions to the Philippines; and Gerry Palon, President of the Coalition
of Filipino-American Chambers of Commerce who recently signed an Air Force Fighter Pilot Major Monessa Catuncan
Alliance Agreement with PACC Texas. Belzhiser, Outstanding Public Servant Award
Flor Guinhawa, Outstanding Professional Award

VIP Table with Distinguished Hosts, Consular Officers and out-of-town guests
2019-2020 WINTER EDITION PACCTX Business Chronicles 5

The following were the recipients of the Finalists’
Awards: Buen Arago (DFW), Joel Bamba (Houston), Mare-
vi Bishop (DFW), Dr. Maria Danet Bluhm (SA), Annalyn
Borja-Freese (RGV), Melissa Cunanan (DFW), Annie Marie
Esguerra (RGV), Jose Yuri Gonzales (DFW), Councilman
Art Hall (SA), Susie Jennings (DFW), Rowena Manubay
(RGV), Rev. Herman Martir (DFW), Rev. Joseph Modesto
(RGV), Farida Minner (DFW), Cheryl Piccio (Houston), Dr.
Arlene Sanchez (RGV), Leah Theys (RGV), Dr. Nelson
Tuazon (SA).
The Founders’ Awards were given by PACC
Outstanding Region Chamber of the Year – the RGV Chamber Founders Gus and Ethel Mercado to six outstanding young
leaders, and the recipients were: NBC Channel 2 News
Anchor Rose Ann Aragon of Houston, Miss Filipina
International Camille Buensuceso of Dallas, Miss Dallas
Averie Bishop of Dallas, San Antonio Jaycees President
Dominique Liu, UNIPRO Young Professionals leaders Josh
Garcia and Mark Sampelo. Gus Mercado extolled the
credentials of the young leaders and also paid tribute to the
organization’s founder Consul Ethel R. Mercado whom he
described as the quiet and humble but powerful driving
force behind the Chamber’s 10 years of special
achievements including the trade and life-saving
Big Houston Delegation with ConGen Jerril Santos and the Founders humanitarian missions, the consular outreach to 40,000
Filipinos in the state and the 2019 State Dinner and Awards
Night.
The Outstanding Entrepreneurs awards went to
Rene Isip Jr. of Dallas, Bhong Zausa of Houston, Engr.
Prescilla Calara of the Rio Grande Valley and Dr. Melinda
Rodriguez of San Antonio. The Outstanding Professionals
awards went to Cardiovascular pioneer Dr. Rolando M.
Solis of Baylor Dallas, renowned Architect Manolo DePerio
of Houston, Dr. Jayson Valerio of the Rio Grande Valley
and Angelica Docog of San Antonio.
Receiving the first major state award for
Outstanding Humanitarian was a humble philanthropist
DFW Chamber Officers with ConGen Jerril Santos Florencio Guinhawa from Houston. He was instrumental in
graduating 338 engineering students through personal
scholarships in prestigious universities in the Philippines
mostly from his salary and other personal resources, and
without the benefit of a tax-deductible Foundation. Flor is
still working at age 75 to sustain his noble mission of
supporting bright and needy college students whose
number could reach 400 in a few years.
The second major state award for Outstanding
Public Servant went to war hero and veteran of Middle East
wars Major Monessa Catuncan Belzhiser from Mesquite,
Texas. She was the first and only Filipino to fly the most
modern, fastest and deadliest combat plane, the F-16
fighter jet crossing enemy lines at supersonic speed,
Central Region Officers with ConGen Jerril Santos and Dallas Consul Mercado attacking enemy airfields, missile sites and troop
formations over Iraq.
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The PACC President’s MVP awards were given to past and current Region
Chairs: Myrna Carreon and Rowena Watters (Dallas), Ricky Guinhawa, Bobby
Reyes and Tito Refi (Houston), Merpu Roa and Rhodora Elizondo (RGV), and
Robert Sibug (San Antonio). The recipient of the Outstanding Region Chamber of
the Year was the Rio Grande Valley Chamber for its outstanding humanitarian
efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey that affected cities in South Texas
which included Filipinos, their humanitarian, tourism and trade mission to
Boracay and Aklan, their last Consular Outreach in McAllen, and their all-out
support of the immensely successful State Dinner and Awards Banquet in Dallas.
NBC Anchor Rose-Ann Aragon receives Founders’
After closing remarks from State President Gary Ilagan, the event ended Award from Consul Ethel Mercado
with the drawing of winning raffle tickets for valuable prizes by State Executive
Director Gus Mercado. The two round-trip tickets to the Philippines were won by
Robert Rodriguez and Robert Sibug of San Antonio. Other prizes drawn from the
raffle included the 50,000 miles rewards from American Airlines, local airfare
and hotel package in Boracay or El Nido, giant screen TV, Lenovo laptop and HP
printer, Canon camera set, Apple watch, autographed Manny Pacquiao
memorabilia, $300 Visa card, and a large Christmas Parol.
The October 18th event was flawlessly organized by the host DFW
Chamber led by Region Chair Rowena Watters, her program co-chairs Jil Lasaca
and Monalisa Amidar and many volunteers. It drew rave reviews from the guests
who expressed words such as “classy and elegant,” “visually stunning,”
“spectacular show,” “expertly-planned and -orchestrated,” “hands-down the best
Founders’ Award Recipient San Antonio
gathering of Filipino-Americans and friends in Texas we’ve have ever attended.” Jaycees President Dominique Liu
Works of art by gifted local young artistsng artists Consulate’s Cultural Officer Jane Mariano
Fashion Models of Famous Filipino Designers
draws top raffle prize winner
Program Co-Chair Jil Lasaca summed up the tremendous success of the

historic PACC event as a fitting tribute to the Chamber’s 10 years of out-
standing achievements. “The event also highlighted the solid accom-
plishments of outstanding Filipino-Americans in the state, while show-
casing the best of what we have - from world class Filipino entertainers
to well-crafted fashion, arts, cultural and historical exhibits. And lastly,
the evening witnessed the coming together of two generational leaders -
Young violinist Matthew Guck
the founding leaders and the young leaders - as they reflect on
important past accomplishments of the founding leaders, as well as the
potentials of young people to take on the mantle of leadership.”
Remarkably, this “Decade of Excellence” event best

showed the unparalleled and excellent character and
achievements of the men and women behind the PACC
Texas and the continuing legacy of building PACC Texas
truly as a top Filipino-American organization in the nation.
Sanlahi Rondalla regales audience with classic Filipino music

7
Past RGV Region Chair Merpu Roa receives
MVP Award.
Miss Filipina International Camille

Buensuceso receives Founders’ Award.
Program Co-Chairs Monalisa Amidar

and Jil Lasaca.
The tireless DFW Host Chamber Volunteers put on a good show.
DFW Chamber Past Chair Myrna Carreon

receives President’s MVP Award.
Outstanding Entrepreneur Rene Isip, Jr.receives award from ConGen Jerril Santos. Finalist Cheryl Piccio of TFC receives award
from PACC Pres. Gary Ilagan.
8
The consistent efforts of the officers and members
of the Rio Grande Valley region chamber to achieve
excellence in their projects have paid off. At the prestigious
PACC Texas state dinner and awards night on November 18,
2019 the RGV Chamber was named “Chamber of the Year”
for 2018-2019, a rare distinction for a young chamber that
represents many Filipino communities in various cities in
deep south Texas bordering Mexico.
Ever since the chamber was founded in McAllen in
June 2015 when then PACC State President Ethel Mercado
and Executive Director Gus Mercado met with Merpu Roa
and about 20 community leaders from different border cities
during their Independence Day celebration, the Chamber has
been a beehive of civic and humanitarian activities. Among
the many projects that catapulted the young Chamber to the
top are: hosting and managing the Consular Outreach
program that helped thousands of Filipino nationals in the
RGV Chamber hosts Consular Outreach in McAllen
Rio Grande Valley with their consular needs, organizing
humanitarian missions in poor villages and schools in the
Philippines, gathering and delivering relief goods directly to
victims of Hurricane Harvey in South Texas, holding business
meetings and signing MOUs with the provincial governor and
presidents of local chambers of commerce in Aklan province,
hosting the PACC State Meeting in Port Isabel, and their all-
out support of the 2019 State Meeting and Awards Night in
Dallas.
Rhodora Elizondo, the dynamic Region Chair of the
RGV Chamber proudly and tearfully accepted the
Outstanding Chamber of the Year award, and said: “This is a
great honor for me and all the active members of our
Chamber who all worked very hard to earn this very special
award.” The other members of the RGV Executive Board who
attended the Awards Dinner include Nilda Henson, Olive
RGV volunteers distributed relief goods to victims of Huricane Modesto, Jennifer Cleveland and Rev. Primitivo Pagayon.
RGV Chair Rhodora Elizondo with children beneficiaries in RGV Region Chair Rhodora Elizondo with Aklan Governor Florencio T.
Banga, Aklan Miraflores and the Presidents of Aklan and Boracay Chambers.
2019-2020 WINTER EDITION PACCTX Business Chronicles 9

Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Central Texas
Honors Six Outstanding Filipino-Americans
in San Antonio
The Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Central Texas Region (PACC-CTR) honored six Outstanding
Filipinos in San Antonio with a well-attended Awards Banquet on November 2, 2019 at the Grand Ballroom of Embassy
Suites in San Antonio.
Left to Right: Keynote Speaker Con-Gen Jerril G Santos, San Antonio Mayor Ron Niremberg, Dallas Consul Ethel Mercado, Angelica
Docog, PACC-CTR Region Chair Robert Sibug, Dr. Antonio B. Cruz Jr., Nelson Navarro and Art Hall. Not in picture is awardee Evelyn
Ballesta Crow.
The six Awardees were:

The TOFSA Awards program of the PACC-CTR is Evelyn Ballesta Crow is a r etir ed Dir ector of In-
intended to develop a reputation for selecting and honoring ternational Programs at St. Mary’s Hall and Faculty in
outstanding Filipino Americans in and around San Antonio. Charge of the Humanities and International Program at
According to Chamber Region Chair Roberto Sibug, “TOFSA St. Luke’s Episcopal School. She was selected by the
National Peace Corps Association for the Global Educa-
seeks to give recognition to Filipino Americans who are at tor Award in 2001, followed by the Franklin H. Wil-
least 40 years of age, whose selfless dedication to their liams Award for Community Service in 2002. In addi-
profession or vocation has resulted in significant contributions tion to serving on the planning board of the Institute of
Texan Cultures Philippine Exhibit, she is currently
to the welfare of their fellowmen, as well as to the advancement President of the KARILAGAN Philippine Cultural
of their fields of endeavor.” Group, which focuses on the authentic portrayal of Fili-
pino culture through the performing arts, specifically
traditional folk dance and music. She is 100% Filipino.
Dr. Antonio B. Cruz, Jr. com pleted h is m edical degr ees fr om the Un iver sity of the Ph ilippin es in
1957, then pursued his Master of Science Degree in Surgery at the University of Minnesota focusing on General Thoracic
Vascular Surgery. He invented the Cruz-Kaster Floating Heart Valve. As one of the founding faculty of UT Health San
Antonio he was Chief of the Surgical Oncology Department. He was instrumental in promoting the blue dye-radioisotope
sentinel node biopsy procedure on lymph nodes in a patient’s axilla, which is now being widely tested throughout the US
and Canada. He is currently a semi-retired Clinical Professor of UT Health San Antonio.
Continued on next page.
10
Angelica Docog is a do ctor al student in th e Depar tm ent of Anthr opo logy at th e Un iver sity o f
Texas in San Antonio (UTSA), specializing in cultural heritage, cultural preservation, and cultural sustainability with
an emphasis on Asian cultures and indigenous cultures. In March 2012, Angelica was appointed executive director of
the Institute of Texan Cultures, the university museum of the University of Texas at San Antonio, the first female and
Asian-Latina to lead the Institute. During the six months of San Antonio’s Hemisfair in 1968, the museum welcomed
more than three million visitors. In 2019, in recognition for providing innovative initiatives to promote cultural
heritage and sustainability, Angelica was inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame.
Art Hall is a graduate of Harvard University (BA 1993), Texas Tech University (JD/MBA 1996), and the
University of Wales at Aberystwyth, UK (LLM 2000). He is an attorney and is currently the Academic Dean at the
Alamo Community Colleges District (ACCD). He serves as President/CEO of Artah Holdings, Inc., his personal
investment vehicle, and of Dos Veces-RM/CP Hall Ranch, Inc. and Dos Veces Stock Farm, LLC.. In 2003, Art was
elected to San Antonio’s City Council District 8, becoming the youngest person ever elected to the district and the first
Asian American. From January to June
2019, Art was appointed back to the City
Council by Mayor Ron Nirenberg and the
San Antonio’s City Council.
Ron Nirenberg is the mayor of San
Antonio, one of the nation’s fastest
growing cities with the 7th largest popula-
tion in the US. He is currently serving his
second term having been re-elected on
June 8, 2019. He was raised in Austin,
Texas, and attended college in San Anto-
nio. Mayor Nirenberg is the son of an
immigrant from Southeast Asia and the
grandson of immigrants in Eastern
Europe who passed through Ellis Island.
He finished his B.A. degree summa cum
laude from Trinity University and his
Master’s Degree in Communication
magna cum laude from the University of
Pennsylvania. His first stint in public
service was as councilman of District 8 on
the San Antonio City Council where he
Officers of PACC Central Texas Region with PACC heads of RGV, served for two terms. Mayor Nirenberg is
Greater Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth Chambers the Chairman of Sister Cities Internation-
al, which connects cities across the globe
through civic, educational and cultural
exchanges. He continues to promote San
Antonio as a premier 21st century city
open for business, trade, and investment,
attracting top talent and innovation com-
panies. In 2018, the United States Confer-
ence of Mayors recognized Mayor Niren-
berg with the Small Business Advocate
Award for his efforts to encourage entre-
preneurship.
Dr. Nelson Tuazon is the current Vice
President & Associate Chief Nursing
Officer of the University Health System
(UHS), San Antonio, Texas. He previously
held executive positions in several hospi-
tals in New Jersey and San Antonio. He
was Assistant Dean & Faculty Member of
the College of Nursing of Angeles
University in the Philippines. He has been
for 16 years adjunct academic faculty of 3
TOFSA Awardee San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg with Con-Gen different nursing schools in New York &
Jerril Santos, Robert Sibug, Gus and Ethel Mercado New Jersey. He is a fellow of RWJF
Executive Nurse Fellowship Program
(2008-2011), American College of Healthcare Executives (2007-Present) and National Academies of Practice -
Distinguished Practitioner in Nursing (2004-Present). He has held top positions in several professional and voluntary
organizations in addition to receiving prestigious awards, grants and recognitions at regional, state and national levels.

11
Combining modern ideas with ancient traditions, holidays
are expressions of religion, culture, history, creativity and
spirit. Holidays are human creations that, like humans, twist
and vary over time from the forces of changing viewpoints
and the circumstances that surround them.
The period between November and January seems,
on a worldwide scale, to be a time of renewal, goodwill, of
hope and magic, regardless of race, nationality or religion.
Christmas, Hanukkah, Loy Krathong, all represent distinct
world views and customs that are unique to each region or
ethnic group. A journey around the world during this joyful
season provides a fascinating view of the vast array of
traditions.
by Gus Mercado
CHRISTMAS
On no other holiday is the idea of cultural identification more evident than in the celebration of Christmas. This
universal tale of a family facing great hardships during the birth of a child is complete with miracles, wise kings, evil
forces and lowly shepherds. Marking the beginning of one of the world’s major religions, the birth of Christ was an
occasion that for many became a turning point in the history of the world.
Throughout the history of Christmas, local customs intertwined with religious significance to bring
extraordinary depth to the holiday. Individuals learned the colorful customs of previous generations, but added
innovations through the years. After Martin Luther first introduced the Christmas tree to reflect his ideological
correlation between God and the beauty of nature, people around the world have molded and changed Christmas as
they examine their relationships with family, friends and community.
ITALY
What has become a traditional part of the Christmas holidays for many Italians was once part of the ancient
Roman celebration of the Winter Solstice. Laurels of green holly and ivy which decorated Roman homes were of great
significance due to their ability to thrive in wintertime when nothing else could. Holly and ivy symbolized for the
Romans the promise of renewal and fertility in the spring. Although later Christian leaders frowned on the old Roman
pagan traditions, by the 4th Century A.D., they “resurrected” the use of holly and ivy as they searched for ways to bring
new meaning to old customs. This ancient symbol of new life seemed to fit well with the young religion. Continued on next page.

12
GERMANY
The Christmas season starts early in Germany. On the night of December 6, children place shoes on the win-
dowsill, in hopes that the next morning St. Nicholas has left candies, fruits and nuts for them.
Germany also has a long tradition of observing Advent which dates back to the 6 th century A.D., when Roman Cath-
olic leaders designated the four weeks before Christmas as a time of worship and fasting in honor of the coming of the birth
of Christ. To commemorate Advent, a wreath displaying four candles is set up in a prominent place in the home. The can-
dles are lit successively, one each week, at Christmas, the candles form a circle of ascending heights. The wreath used
around the advent candles has its origin in the same ancient reverence of green life which thrived with the onset of winter in
Roman celebrations.
THAILAND
On a full-moon night in the twelfth lunar month, the Thai people gather at water’s edge to celebrate the festival of
Loy Krathong, or Floating Lotus cups. As the story goes, one of the wives of a Thai king, Nang Nophames, sought a way
to please both her husband and the Lord Buddha as they rode by boat, visiting temples. The idea occurred to her to make a
paper lantern in the shape of a lotus flower, which for the Thai people symbolizes the flowering of the human spirit. She
filled the lantern with carved birds and a candle, and cast it afloat for all to see. The king was so pleased that he declared
that on this night of every year all his subjects should follow the same custom. Since then, each year the Thai people cast
their sins to the water on the Lotus cups, and begin anew. The best luck is had by those who watch their cups glow until they
are lost in the distance.
THE HOLY LAND

Faithful followers from the numerous branches of Christianity:
Greek and Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and other
Protestant groups arrive yearly here, despite threats of religious conflicts,
to celebrate the birth of the Child Christ. In spite of ideological differences,
the branches of Christianity share this region’s holy places not only with
other Christians, but with Jews and Muslims as well. The historical conver-
gence of ideas makes the Holy Land a crossroads of religious history, devel-
opment, and, unavoidably, conflict.
The Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem is the focus of Christmas

celebrations. Built in 325 A.D. by the first Christian Roman Emperor Con-
stantine, it lies over a series of caves which are considered to be the place of
Christ’s birth. Roman Catholics march in midnight processions to the Grot-
to to celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25. Three distinct cultures
and lifestyles coexist here, but out of the contrast a timeless norm shines, in
which both modern tourists and women in traditional Arab dress seem at
home.
RUSSIA
Historians divide Russian holiday celebrations into three catego-
ries. Old Russia, Soviet Russia and Renaissance Russia. During the 70 years
labelled Soviet Russia, laws prohibited the open celebration of Christmas;
however, in the Russia of today, people are now free to practice the religion
and customs of their choice.
In Old Russia, costumed carolers called mummers accompanied the

feasts and celebrations. Travelling house to house by troika, or sleigh, mum-
mers disguised as bears, donkeys, and other animals performed Christmas
stories and antics for their neighbors.
Russia once had a legendary figure called Father Christmas, but the
figure was banned during the revolution for its relation to the Christian hol-
iday. Russia soon developed its own version of Santa Claus called Father
Frost. Father Frost has a female counterpart that is unique to Russia. The
Snow Maiden is a young girl who long ago sprang to life from a beautiful
snow sculpture. Today, these two characters form an integral part of the
Christmas celebration at Red Square, where they can be seen dressed in
blue, fur-trimmed suits.
13
WEST AFRICA
In the Christmastime and New Year traditions of Gambia and Senegal in West Africa, street celebrations are
quite spectacular. The Wolof and Mandinka tribes create these traditional celebrations by forming clubs with neighbors,
and great competitions are staged between these rival groups. As survival in Africa has depended for centuries on agri-
culture and the elements, most celebrations have their origins in the reverence of natural and spiritual forces.
Two beautiful celebrations are the Kan Korang dancer competition, where a colorfully-dressed “boogie-man-
spirit” dances for onlookers, and the traditional Fanal boat festival where intricate handcrafted wooden-stick boats are
lighted with candles and placed in boats and paraded .
MEXICO
Mexico is by nature colorful and lively, and its people spare no enthusiasm for their celebrations. Christ-
mas actually begins nine days before December 25, when the Posadas begin. The Posadas are a series of nightly proces-
sions in remembrance of Mary’s and Joseph’s nine day search for shelter. On each of the nine evenings, neighborhood
singing groups carry a nativity scene from house to house. Then, on Christmas Eve, the nativity finally comes to rest in a
nearby home, and the Child is added to the scene. Later hours bring the piñata, a brightly decorated papier mache shell
in the form of a star, animal or cartoon character, which holds candies, fruits and nuts. It is suspended from a ceiling or
tree limb and blindfolded children gather round and excitedly try to “bash” happiness and goodwill, represented by the
candies and goodies.
The poinsettia flower has an ancient and important history in Mexican celebrations. La Flor de Noche Buena
(flower of the Holy Night) blooms in December, seemingly just for the occasion. Legend has it that a young boy wished to
give a gift to the newborn Christ Child, but was poor and had nothing to give. He had the idea that the child might enjoy
a bouquet of green leaves which he picked up from a bush nearby. As his friends laughed, red star-shaped flowers sud-
denly appeared atop each green leaf. It was these bright red flowers which were given to the Christ Child on his birth
night and now brighten millions of lives worldwide in December.
BAHAMAS
On December 26 and January 1, English Boxing Day
and New Year’s Day, respectively, Bahamians celebrate what
they call the festival of Junkanoo. Passed down from genera-
tion to generation since the days of slavery. Junkanoo origi-
nated when African descendants created their own “secret”
year-end celebration that proclaimed their heritage. Today,
Bahamians literally work year round to build elaborate cos-
tumes and displays that show off their creative passion. Then,
twice a year in the pre-dawn hours, hand-made drums and
cowbells summon everyone out of their homes and into the
streets. Costume contests give way to frenetic street dancing
and revelry which culminate into a funky, exotic festival that
leaves everyone exhausted.
2019-2020 WINTER EDITION PACCTX Business Chroni-
14
JAPAN
In Asian countries, the New Year brings the greatest
celebration. Stemming from Japanese ancient wisdom, the season is a
time for renewal and preparation for the year to come. Ancient rituals
are followed in the hope of shaking off the past and welcoming in the
future. Houses are ritually cleaned, characters are reassessed, personal
changes are made.
Decorations have intricate significance. The kumade is a bamboo

rake hung with lucky gods and other images which must be bought new
each year in order to ensure its potency. On the Last Great Day, families
gather to await the midnight tolling of the temple bells which according
to custom, must toil 108 times. After paying respect to the shrine, every-
one enjoys a meal and exchanges gifts.
In Japan, only 1% of the population is Christian, but many

western Christmas customs are amazingly popular. In urban areas,
Christmas shopping is a highlight of the season. During the week of
December 25, many exchange gifts and indulge in large Christmas cakes,
which traditionally hide small surprises for lucky eaters. As for music, on
the holiday streets one hears both Japanese hymns and western
Christmas melodies sung in Japanese.
PHILIPPINES
Of all the countries, it is in the Philippines where the ceremony
and festivities of Christmas are longest and most religious. For many
years, the celebration of Christmas started in early December through
January 6, their Feast of Three Kings. But in recent years, Filipinos’
celebration of Christmas has gotten longer, starting as early as
September in some parts of the country. There is even a place in Central
Luzon called the “Paskuhan Village” where Christmas is celebrated year-
round.
The Philippines is the only predominantly Christian country in

Asia. In the Christian section of the Philippines everyone prepares for the
world’s most elaborate celebrations. For nine days before Christmas,
most Filipinos rise at 4:00 a.m. to attend Mass, the “Simbang Gabi” at
the Catholic churches throughout the islands. After the religious
ceremonies, families enjoy morning snacks of “salabat”, “bibingka” and
“puto-bumbong” with neighbors and friends and stroll through the
bazaar of small shops which line the streets. The ubiquitous Christmas
“parol” or lantern is present in almost every home, church, business and
commercial building. The very colorful “parol” is either home-made or
commercially and intricately made with dizzying kaleidoscopes of
moving lights.
Filipinos have adopted many of the western ways of celebrating

Christmas, from singing of “Winter wonderland” and “Dashing through
the snow” tunes to the paunchy Santa Claus at every Christmas
gathering. While fir trees are not plentiful in the tropics, people in the
Philippines decorate palms, dry or artificial trees with bright ornamenta-
tion including tiny star lanterns, candies, and fruits tied with ribbons,
small wood or bamboo carvings, small baskets, glittered items like
garlands and icicles. To give trees a cold-weather climate look, people
make snow from shaved and melted soap bars or cotton. No other
country beats the Philippines in imagination, creativity and pageantry.
On Christmas Day, young Filipino children, well-dressed in their

best church attire, are brought to the homes of elders to pay respect, kiss
their hands and receive “Aginaldos” or gifts of food, clothes or money.
This is one of many endearing cultural traditions and values that have
been passed on from generations to generations of Filipinos.

15
UNITED STATES – The Melting Pot
Christmas in the United States is a conglomeration of elements of every Christmas celebration mentioned here,
and many more. As each ethnic group assimilates into the “melting pot”, in its own unique and special way, leaves a
mark on the community through its expression of song, dance, decoration and traditions.
With the growing appreciation for the variety of cultures which are part of the American tapestry, individuals
from various heritages and grassroots organizations have formed a new collective effort to recognize the traditions of all
peoples and to celebrate together. The project is called H.O.P.E. (Holiday Observances of People Everywhere). The goal
of the Dallas-Texas based group is to bring together diverse cultural groups and traditions (Christian, Muslim, Jewish,
Buddhist, Shintoist and others) throughout the country in order to better understand the global community in which we
live. Also based in Dallas, Texas is a unique fellowship group called “The Cousins Club” which is composed of Christians,
Arabs and Jews who dine, pray and celebrate the holidays together in a spirit of unity, friendship and harmony.
Common traditions and customs can always be found, even in a world of conflicts and strife. Through the study
of holidays, the views and practices of other cultures become clear. And we move one step closer to global peace and
understanding.
University of Houston receives historic $13 million gift for its entrepreneurship program
By Natalie Harms, Innovation Map
University of Houston's C.T. Bauer College of Business has received

its second-largest donation to benefit its entrepreneurship pro-
gram.
The Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship,

which was recently ranked the top undergraduate entrepreneurship
program in the country, received the $13 million gift from its name-
sake foundation — The Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Family Foundation
— and the state of Texas is expected to match an additional $2 mil-
lion, bringing the total impact to $15 million.
"Our family is deeply committed to the ideals of entrepre-

neurship," says Cyvia Wolff in a news release. "Our business per-
sonified everything that it means to be an entrepreneur. The skills,
the thinking, the mindset are fundamental to success for business
UH's business school just received its second-largest gift ever. leaders today and in the future. On behalf of my late husband, we
Photo courtesy of University of Houston are truly honored to ensure the entrepreneurial legacy not only en-
dures but remains accessible for students. We are truly honored to
be part of this program and university."
16
Houston No. 1 in U.S. for residential
construction permits in 2019,
report says
By Jeff Jeffrey
Source: Houston Business Journal
The greater Houston area continues to lead the nation in the number of residential building permits issued to
developers, according to a recent report by Apartment Guide.
Year to date as of July 2019, Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas saw 36,073 permits issued — nearly 20
times the 1,843 permits issued in the average metropolitan area. The report included both multifamily units and single-
family homes in its calculation of residential building permits. Greater Houston has routinely been among the top permit
-issuing cities in the country this year.
In the Apartment Guide report, three Texas cities topped the list. The Houston area edged out the Dallas-Fort
Worth-Arlington area, which came in at No. 2, with 34,523 residential building permits issued through July. The Austin-
Round Rock-Georgetown area was No. 6, with 17,848 permits issued. The other top construction boom towns, according
to the report included New York City (3rd), Phoenix (4th), Atlanta (5th), Washington DC (7th), Los Angeles (8th), Seat-
tle (9th), and Charlotte (10th). In all, the 360 major metro areas included in the report issued 678,300 building permits
from January through July 2019.
The report attributed the nation-leading number of permits issued in greater Houston and DFW to a spike in job
growth in both metro areas.
Regarding single-family homes, the report noted that greater Houston had among the lowest-valued new homes
in the country and those values dropped off this year. The average new home built in greater Houston built in 2019 was
$181,100, the report said. That’s about $65,000 less than the national average home value of $245,853.
Greater Houston actually saw the nation’s largest decline in the estimated value per new single-family home, with new
builds dropping 66.1 percent in value this year. For comparison, the largest increase was in urban Honolulu, where val-
ues jumped 69 percent.
The report said that unlike Honolulu's increasing population of billionaires, pricey neighborhoods in Texas have
seen a decline in sales, which might have led builders across the state to construct affordable homes.
“These changes aren't reflective of cities' entire housing markets, but they could indicate increases in the con-
struction of lower-value or even smaller-sized housing units,” the report said.
The Apartment Guide report was based on data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau for the monthly Building
Permits Survey. ApartmentGuide.com is owned by RealPage, a Richardson, Texas-based real estate software firm.
Charles Schwab to move HQ to Texas from California

after TD Ameritrade acquisition
By Brian Womack
Source: Dallas Business Journal
Charles Schwab Corp. is set to make Dallas-Fort Worth home after
its massive acquisition of TD Ameritrade closes.
The corporate headquarters of the combined company will eventually relo-
cate to Schwab’s new campus in Westlake, northwest of Dallas. Schwab,
which is based in San Francisco, said Nov. 25 it is acquiring TD Ameri-
trade Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: AMTD) in a deal valued at about $26 billion.
“Both companies have a sizable presence in the Dallas-Fort Worth

area,” the release said. “This will allow the combined firm to take ad-
vantage of the central location of the new Schwab campus to serve as the
hub of a network of Schwab branches and operations centers that span the
entire U.S. and beyond. Any additional real estate decisions will be made
over time as part of the integration process.”
The process to combine the companies will take between 18 and 36 months after the close of the deal, the state-
ment said. Continued on next page.
17
“Schwab was founded in San Francisco and has maintained a longstanding commitment to the Bay Area, which will
continue,” the statement said. “A small percentage of roles may move from San Francisco to Westlake over time, either
through relocation or attrition.”
The “vast majority” of Bay Area-based roles are not anticipated to be affected by the move, it said. Schwab
expects to retain a sizable corporate footprint in the city.
The companies expect the transaction to close in the second half of 2020.
Schwab already has sizable operations in North Texas. As of November 2018, the company reported about 1,200
employees currently working in the Dallas area and 145 job openings in the region. A company representative told the
Dallas Business Journal the approximately 1 million-square-foot Westlake campus, once completed, will be able to
house up to 7,000 employees. The company has about 20,000 overall.
Earlier this year, Charles Schwab, chairman of the company, spoke with the San Francisco Business Times, a Houston
Business Journal sister publication, about challenges for companies in the Bay Area as some seek corporate relocations.
“Look how congested we are here in San Francisco now,” Schwab said. “We certainly need infrastructure
investments to make sure traffic moves well (and) people move well.”
When asked about staying in San Francisco, he said, “We’ll continue looking at that as a possibility as taxes go, and the
cost of doing business here are so much higher than some other (places), we’ll have to move there.”
Apple’s new Mac Pro will be made in Austin, not China

By: Kate Winkle and Yoojin Cho
Source: Austin Chamber of Commerce
AddThis Sharing Buttons
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The newest generation of Apple’s Mac Pro

computer will be made in Austin, the company announced
Monday.
The company didn’t specify when the new computers

would start to roll out, but said in a release it will “begin
production soon at the same Austin facility where Mac Pro has
been made since 2013.” As recently as June this year, the Wall
Street Journal and others had reported Apple planned to
manufacture it in China, as it does many of its other products.
The company unveiled the redesigned Mac Pro at its
Worldwide Developer Conference in June with a price tag of
$5,999. The computer includes components from more than a
dozen American companies.
Apple said it can build its computer in Texas because

it was given a federal product exclusion, so it can import
certain parts without paying tariffs. In July, President Donald
Apple Mac Pro manufacturing plant in Austin, Texas Trump tweeted that he might reject the exclusion, adding
(Apple photo) “Make then in the USA, no Tariffs!” He later said “A man I
have a lot of liking for and respect is Tim Cook, and we’ll work
it out, I think they’re going to announce that they’re going to build a plant in Texas, and if they do that I’m starting to get
very happy, okay.”
“The Mac Pro is Apple’s most powerful computer ever and we’re proud to be building it in Austin. We thank the
administration for their support enabling this opportunity,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We believe deeply in the
power of American innovation. That’s why every Apple product is designed and engineered in the US, and made up of
parts from 36 states, supporting 450,000 jobs with US suppliers, and we’re going to continue growing here.”
In its release, Apple said it was “on track” to invest $350 billion in the U.S. economy by 2023.
Average salary for manufacturing jobs in Central Texas nears six figures
“Manufacturing, especially advanced manufacturing, is growing in Central Texas,” said Drew Scheberle at Austin Cham-
ber of Commerce.
According to the chamber, about 62,000 people work in the manufacturing industry in the Austin area.
18
Scheberle said, expect the number of available manufacturing jobs to grow. “You have folks from all over the
world who’ve been investing in Austin, who’ve been investing in our talent, so this is going to continue to keep that at the
forefront as people look at where they put their best manufacturing presence in the world.”
Austin Community College’s Laura Marmolejo said, “There’s a job for everyone if they’re interested.”
The Manufacturing Technology Department Chair said it takes about four weeks to learn the basics, and you can
build your skills over a couple of years.
She said she gets calls all the time from local employers who’re looking to hire.
“Every time I turn around, I see companies saying we don’t have enough people,” Marmolejo said. “I just want to
grab people off the street and say ‘come over here, let me teach you something that you can get a great job in.'”
Marmolejo said ACC recently consolidated manufacturing-related programs into one department. It’s an effort to
make it easier for people to come and learn and for companies to recruit. “We want to do what we can to bridge that gap,
so that more people will have the opportunity to work in a really good field, the one that’ll help sustain them and their
families,” she said.
Scheberle said Austin competes against cities like Seoul, South Korea, Albany, New York and Denver, Colorado to
get companies to either move here or expand here.
He said the industry offers entry-level jobs, as well as highly-skilled, well-paying jobs, so the chamber is
constantly working hard to bring more manufacturing opportunities to the region.
“We are a free trade chamber of commerce. We believe, you should have as low barriers and free and balanced
trade as possible,” he said. “We’re working hard to make sure that we’re going out and talking to the manufacturers that
are here in Austin and in the region about what they need to grow, and we’re also making sure that we’re advocating for
things that are going to continue to expand manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, in the region.”
Study: 660 companies

moving facilities out
of California with
many bound for
Dallas-Fort Worth
By Bill Hethcock
Source: Dallas Business Journal
A record number of companies are leaving California for states with a better business climate, and a new report
shows that Texas remains their No. 1 destination, and it’s not just because of taxes.
The departures from the Golden State between January 2018 and now involve corporate headquarters, manu-
facturing facilities, data centers, research hubs, software and engineering centers and a few warehouses, according to
business relocation expert Joe Vranich, president of Spectrum Loca-
tion Services.
“Obviously a lot of them are going to Texas,” Vranich said in

an interview with the Dallas Business Journal. “It just makes sense.”
California companies large, midsize and small are shifting

their regional or corporate headquarters to North Texas because of
the DFW area’s generally lower taxes, more affordable housing, low-
er expenses, central location, access to an international airport and
other factors.
19
At the start of 2019, Fit Small Business re- Best and Worst Cities for
Female Entrepreneurs
leased a study showcasing the best 50 states for
female entrepreneurs. That study was initially
prompted by notable disadvantages women
face in the entrepreneurial world — including
pay and benefit disparities — and led to the
question: What are the states where women
2019
would be most likely to overcome these By Kelly Main, Fit Small Business
disadvantages and find the greatest success as
entrepreneurs?
Our subsequent research showed that key success factors can be more accurately represented on the city level.
These include safety ratings, professional resources and organizations, social and leisure life opportunities, and market
size.
Consequently, we decided to create a new study, highlighting the best cities for female entrepreneurs and sup-
plemented it with updated data from the state-based study: tax climate, startup environment, funding options, and
overall quality of life.
Unsurprisingly, many of the cities on our list land in states
featured in our early 2019 state-based study — largely on the periphery
of the U.S. Added city-based metrics, along with the inclusion of a
“worst” list, highlight the clear juxtaposition of important success and
failure factors for female entrepreneurs; top-ranking cities enjoy a high
quality of life, significant funding, and high safety ratings, while the
worst cities lack social infrastructure, small business funding and SBA
support, and a quality of life that’s critical to entrepreneurial success.
To find the best and worst cities for female entrepreneurs, we
analyzed the following data:
 Market size & buying power (20%): To b e co nsider ed for

our list, cities had to at least have a population of 500,000, including
its surrounding metropolitan area. Population, along with income per
capita and the median income for females, was used to determine
which cities offer a sizable market with buying power.
 Startup environment (20%): W e look ed at ho w cities fare

statistically in terms of economic growth, the percentage of new
businesses, and business survivability rates. Areas with sustained
growth and innovation were given preference in our consideration as
this indicates that they are good environments for entrepreneurs.
 Quality of life (20%): Entr epr en eur s ar e no tor ious for slaving aw ay in th e office, but quality of life is
critical to startups’ success as it encourages entrepreneurs to relax, rest, and recharge. We considered factors such as
women’s social, economic, health and well-being scores, as well as livability ratings by city and the gender-based
wage gaps in each city.
 Availability of resources and funding (15%): W hile

startups are not limited to finding financial resources — such as
business loans and grants — based on location, the amount of
loans businesses receive in a city suggests the general
availability of funds. Therefore, we considered loans received
and available in each city. On top of that, we also looked at the
number of small business association (SBA) centers in each city.
 Safety (15%): Accor ding to var ious studies, young

women are more susceptible to sexual attacks in larger cities
than males. To provide further insight into a city’s safety,
particularly for females, we looked at reported crimes and
assaults per 100,00 people.
 Corporate tax rate (10%): Tax r ates var y on a state by

state basis and can affect a business’s profit margin. Therefore,
we included this data in our study as a possible impediment to Women Entrepreneurs in Texas
entrepreneurial success.
20
Everything is bigger in Texas, and for female entrepreneurs,
No. 1 Best City for Female Entrepreneurs:
everything is better in Austin. The city that has been ranked as
America’s best city to live in three years in a row is also the best
Austin, Texas (Total Score 82.2) city for female entrepreneurs. With a population of just under a
million, it’s big enough to have everything but small enough for
founders to stand out. It also
has a high rate of startup
growth and a wealth of local
resources for entrepreneurs.
Business aside, Austin
is simply a great place to live.
It has a high economic growth
rate and residents rave about
it. In fact, it’s one of the
millennial generation’s favorite
cities. Despite being a large-ish
city, it’s not as expensive to live
in as its rival startup cities
such as the Silicon Valley or
Seattle. It also has one of the
nation’s lowest crime rates per
100,000 people and the
nation’s highest livability rat-
ing, which covers everything
from culture to the weather.
No. 2 Best City – San Diego. Entrepreneurs
are ditching the Silicon Valley and trading up by moving
down to San Diego. It is easy to see why San Diego is the
No. 2 Best City for Female Entrepreneurs
second-best city for female entrepreneurs. It has a great
deal of local resources available to entrepreneurs,
San Diego, California (Total Score 74)
including five SBA centers in the city alone, groups such
as the San Diego Entrepreneurs Exchange and Startup San Diego,
many accelerator programs, and well-known venture capital groups.
Those living beachside in sunny Southern California live a
vacation lifestyle, though this comes at a cost. San Diego is the sixth
most expensive city in the U.S., tied with Los Angeles with a cost of
living index of 146 ⁠— nearly 40% higher than the national average.
It has the highest total women’s, economic, social, and health rating
of our top five cities, however, as well as the lowest number of
reported crimes in the nation, making the city safe as well as fun.

Dallas, Texas (Total Score 73.9)
No. 3 Best City – Dallas. Dallas, or “The Big D” to those who

know it, takes the No. 3 spot for the best cities for female
entrepreneurs. Following right behind Austin and San Diego, Dallas
leads the way in part due to its business-friendly environment —
there are relatively few regulations compared to other cities and no
corporate taxes. It also leads the nation in terms of business surviva-
bility rates, share of scale-ups, and high-growth company density.
Female entrepreneurs looking to go big will be at home in
Dallas, surrounded by international giants such as ExxonMobile,
American Airlines, AT&T, and Kimberly Clark Corp. It has a low cost
of living and a great deal of corporate wealth, making it a good place
to start a business, network, and make viable connections. It does
have the highest number of assaults per 100,000 people of our top
five, however — at 373 — though this is minuscule in comparison to
Detroit at 1,520.
21
No. 4 Best City – Columbus Ohio may not have been known in decades past as a startup city, but it’s gaining
traction as it provides a good financial environment for new ventures with a 0% corporate tax rate and very low cost of
living.
On top of being the most affordable city in the nation’s top five, it also a high livability score and the second-
lowest assaults per 100,000 people. It’s also bursting with networking opportunities with groups such as the
Entrepreneurs of Columbus and Startup Grind Columbus by Google — the latter with nearly 1,800 members — constant-
ly hosting events.

Columbus Ohio (Total Score 72)
No. 5 Best City for Female Entrepreneurs:

Raleigh, North Carolina (Total Score 69.9)
No. 5 Best City – Raleigh, North Carolina is an up-and-coming startup city that lands at No. 5 for the
best cities for female entrepreneurs. Known for being a city of research thanks to its positioning near three major
research universities and the famed tech-centric “Research Triangle Park,” it’s also a great city for female entrepreneurs
looking to break into business, particularly in tech and innovation. It has a below-average 3% corporate tax rate and an
affordable cost of living.
It’s also worth noting that this East Coast city has the second-highest livability rating of those in our top five
states, and while it’s the smallest city in the top five with a population of half a million, it has the highest average income
for females out of the top five states. It also boasts an abundance of resources; this includes three SBA centers and
groups such as Innovate Raleigh, Entrepreneurs’ Organization Raleigh-Durham, and the Carolina Small Business
Development Fund.
Rounding up the top 10 Best Cities for Female Entrepreneurs

are: New York NY (No. 6), Houston TX (No. 7), San Antonio TX
(No. 8), Denver CO (No. 9) and Colorado Springs CO (No. 10)
Here are the 5 worst cities for female entrepreneurs in 2019:
No. 1 Worst City for Female Entrepreneurs - Albuquerque NM (Total Score 25.5)
No. 2 Worst City for Female Entrepreneurs - Detroit MI (Total Score 32.1)
No. 3 Worst City for Female Entrepreneurs - Milwaukee WI (Total Score 32.3)
No. 4 Worst City for Female Entrepreneurs - Miami FL (Total Score 33.1)

22
Immigrant-Friendly
World Class City
Dallas Becomes First
Texas City To Earn
‘Certified Welcoming Status’
Regarding Immigrants
View of Downtown Dallas
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – Dallas is the first city in Texas to earn the Certified Welcoming status in recognition of
inclusiveness and integration of immigrants, the city announced Tuesday.
“Cities are the economic engines of Texas, and I

am proud we have passed the selection criteria to
be recognized as a welcoming certified city,” said
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson. “Dallas has a global
economy and a vibrant culture highlighted by
our diverse communities. We absolutely will lever-
age these assets to further grow our economy
and advance inclusion in our City.”
Welcoming America, a nonpartisan, national nonprofit Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson

organization, evaluated local efforts to establish an inclusive
community through government leadership, civic engagement, equitable access, education, economic development and
connected and safe communities.
“The Office of Welcoming Communities and Immigrant Affairs was established to ensure we as a City are accessible,
responsive and equitable to the needs of immigrant populations in Dallas,” said Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax. “This
certification acknowledges the work we have done to become a model city for being inclusive and promoting the
engagement of immigrants and refugees.”
“Welcoming America congratulates Dallas as the first Texas city to become Certified Welcoming, recognizing the
community’s outstanding efforts to create an inclusive community for everyone, including immigrants and refugees,” said
Welcoming America Executive Director, Rachel Peric. “Dallas exemplifies the kind of leadership our country is looking for at
a time when Americans are eager for solutions that advance economic vitality and ensure all Americans belong and thrive.”
Dallas’ Office of Welcoming Communities and Welcoming Affairs was established in March 2017 to promote the
successful inclusion of immigrants into the social and economic fabric of the Dallas community, the city said in a news
release.
“The welcoming plan unanimously adopted by the City Council in 2018 includes seeking welcoming certification as
a way to evaluate and measure the effectiveness of efforts to break down barriers, increase access, and leverage key
contributions made by immigrants,” said Chief of Equity and Inclusion Liz Cedillo-Pereira. “We are grateful to our
community for being such a significant part of this work.”
The office seeks to bridge the space between newcomers and existing Dallas residents, to find common ground, to
foster informed understanding and to promote shared leadership.
23
24
Schoolchildren in Mexico
sing “Lupang Hinirang”
to mark the Manila-
Acapulco galleon trade
anniversary
Source: goodnewspilipinas.com
Schoolchildren in Barra de Navidad in Mexico sing the

“Tierra Adorada” to mark the Manila-Acapulco galleon
trade anniversary.
As “Lupang Hinirang”, the Philippine National An-
them, continues to be sung in medal ceremonies at the on-
going 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), the same
song is being circulated online in its Spanish language ver-
sion, “Tierra Adorada”.
Schoolchildren in Mexico are seen singing the
“Tierra Adorada” in a video posted on Facebook by Ting
Caedo on December 3. The video has since gone viral raking
in over a million views as of this writing.
Spanish galleon ship used in Acapulco-Manila Galleon Trade circa 1564
The Philippine National Anthem was first performed on June 12, 1898,
during the Declaration of Independence in Kawit, Cavite, as the Marcha Nacion-
al Filipina composed by Julian Felipe. The Spanish lyrics of “Tierra Adorada”
were written by Jose Palma. In 1963 the title was changed to “Lupang Hinirang”.
Caedo captioned his post that the Philippine National Anthem was sung
to mark the 455th Anniversary of the Mexico-Filipinas Galleon Trade at Barra de
Navidad in Mexico.
Barra de Navidad is where shipyards built the galleons for the Spanish
fleet that set sail on an expedition to the Philippines following the order of King
Philip II of Spain in 1559. Today, the main Guadalajara-Barra de Navidad road is
still known as The Philippines Way.
The date November 21, 1564, is the date when the expedition under
commander López de Legazpi set off, marking 455 years of commercial and cul-
tural exchange between Mexico and the Philippines. Mexican schoolchildren sing
Philippine national anthem
The 455th Anniversary of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade was com-
memorated in Barra de Navidad in November with the Parangal Dance Company of California representing the Philip-
pines in the celebration from November 20 to 21 that featured art, music, dance, folklore, gastronomy, and history of the
two nations.
The Academic Program of the 455 Anniversary of the Mexico-Philippines Expedition and the II Forum of Studies
on the Manila Galleon in the Mexican Pacific was organized by the Government of Cihuatlán, Jalisco, in coordination
with the University of Guadalajara, La Benemérita Geography Society and Jalisco AC State Statistics the Secretary of
Culture of the State of Jalisco and the Thematic Network of Multi and Transdisciplinary Studies of the Manila Galleon.
The Philippines marks the 500 years anniversary of the Mactan, Cebu arrival of the Spanish fleet by Ferdinand
Magellan that will be celebrated worldwide as the first circumnavigation of the globe.
To watch the Mexican schoolchildren sing the Philippine anthem, click here: https://
www.goodnewspilipinas.com/watch-mexicos-schoolchildren-sing-lupang-hinirang
25
PH is king of Southeast Asia Games!
By Jean Russel V. David

Source: The Manila Times, December 12, 2019
CAPAS, Tarlac: The Philippines regained

the title King of Southeast Asia for har-
vesting the most number of medals in the
30th Southeast Asian Games, the biggest
edition in history.
Home advantage proved golden
for the Filipino athletes who hauled 149
gold, 117 silver and 119 bronze medals. One of 149 Gold medalists
at the 2019 SEA Games
The previous best for the country
was a total of 112 golds achieved when it
UNTIL THE NEXT GAMES Fireworks light up the New Clark City
hosted the games in 2005, followed by 91 Stadium where athletes and spectators gathered for the last time to
in 1991 — also in Manila. mark the closure of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
This year’s performance was the
best since the country joined the SEA Games in 1977.
Vietnam, the next host in 2021, placed second with a medal tally of 98-85-105 followed by Thailand (92-103-
123), Indonesia (72-84-111), Malaysia (55-58-71), Singapore (53-46-68), Myanmar (4-18-51), Cambodia (4-6-36),
Brunei (2-5-6), Laos (1-5-28) and Timor-Leste (0-1-5).
Arnis, the national martial art and sport, delivered the most number of gold medals — 14. Olympics-bound
Carlos Edriel Yulo emerged as the most bemedalled athlete with seven medals.
Filipino arnisadors racked a total of 14 gold, four silver, and two bronze medals and emerged as the best
performing national sports association.
The Philippine athletics team duplicated its 11-gold feat in the 1983 edition to cap off an impressive 11-8-8
showing at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.
The country grooved its way to 10 gold medals while taekwondo grabbed eight golds, boxing and wushu with
seven golds each, skateboarding with six, on top of a six-gold sweep in the obstacle course.
Triathlon and duathlon combined delivered four golds, jiujitsu, five golds, billiards, four golds,and kickboxing,
cycling, eSports, judo, muay thai, rowing, sailing, and soft tennis delivered three golds each.
The basketball-crazy nation also bagged all golds up for grabs as the Gilas Pilipinas finished with four golds,
sweeping the 3 by 3 and 5 by 5, both in men and women’s events.
First Filipino gymnastic world champion Yulo showed a prelude to his Olympic stint after flexing two golds and
five silvers.
“It is a happy day for the Philippine Sports Commission, Team Philippines and the country as we celebrate our
return to SEAG supremacy. We all worked hard for this. The Philippine Olympic Committee, national sports
associations, the organizing committee, the government, the private sector, and the Filipino people all came together to
show our team that they have the whole nation behind them. Salamat po sa lahat,” said Philippine Sports Commission
Chairman and Chef de Mission William Ramirez.
“I am overwhelmed by the performance of our athletes in the 30th SEA Games. They showed us that with prop-
er support and encouragement, they will deliver. I am proud that they proved that my faith in them was well-placed.
But this is just the beginning,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino.
“These Games are not only about medals. It is about character, resilience, love for one another and shoring up
the faith of the person next to you,” Ramirez said.
By virtue of Republic Act 10699, winners of the SEA Games are set to receive P300,000, P150,000 and
P60,000, respectively for gold, silver and bronze medalists.
On top of the reward, the President is expected to give out additional incentives of P250,000 for gold,
P150,000 for silver and P100,000 for bronze winners.
26
Philippine Tourism is up!
World-famous Boracay Island

Google picture
MANILA, Dec. 11 -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomed the continued upward trend of Philippine
international tourist arrivals tallying over 6.8 million visitors for another double-digit increase for the first ten
months of the year.
According to the monthly report released by the DOT, the country recorded a total of 6,800,052 visitors
from January to October 2019 equivalent to an impressive 15.04 percent increase from the 5,911,161 arrivals
for the same period last year.
PH records 6.8M international

visitors from Jan-Oct;
up 15% vs 2018
Source: Philippine Department of Tourism
October visitor arrivals also revealed an affirmative year-on-year arrival growth for eight of the top ten
source markets. For the first ten months, Korea still tops the list with a total of 1,609,172 arrivals (+21.75%),
which is expected to further improve following the signing of
the tourism cooperation program between the Philippines and
Korea.
China came in second with 1,499,524 (+41.13%) fol-

lowed by the United States of America (USA) at third place with
872,335 (+2.53%) for the ten-month period.
Japan remained fourth in the list with 569,625 (+7.43%), fol-

lowed by Taiwan, with a record of 282,220 (+36.77%) complet-
ing the top five markets.
DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat attributed the

encouraging figures to the improved air connectivity, intensified
marketing promotions including the refreshed "It's More Fun in
the Philippines" campaign, budding relations with other coun-
PACC Texas lady officers promoting 2020 VIP Trip to Bora-
tries, as well as the growing recognition of the country’s sustain-
cay. Watch for the trip headline in the Spring Issue of BC.
able tourism advocacy.
27
AMBASSADORS TRIP FLYER

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VOL.

1 ISSUE 4 WINTER 2019-2020 Edition

EXCELLENCE EMPOWERMENT SERVICE

INSIDE: Celebrating Christmas Around the World

DALLAS HOUSTON McALLEN SAN ANTONIO

OFFICIAL QUARTERLY PUBLICATION

PACCTX BUSINESS CHRONICLES

2019-2020 WINTER EDITION PACCTX Business Chronicles

PACC TEXAS OFFICERS

In his keynote speech, Consul General Jerril Santos

Lovely co-emcees Rose-Ann Aragon and

Other luminaries and distinguished project partners of PACC

Flor Guinhawa, Outstanding Professional Award

2019-2020 WINTER EDITION PACCTX Business Chronicles 5

Program Co-Chair Jil Lasaca summed up the tremendous success of the

Remarkably, this “Decade of Excellence” event best

2019-2020 WINTER EDITION PACCTX Business Chronicles

Miss Filipina International Camille

Program Co-Chairs Monalisa Amidar

The tireless DFW Host Chamber Volunteers put on a good show.

DFW Chamber Past Chair Myrna Carreon

2019-2020 WINTER EDITION PACCTX Business Chronicles 9

The six Awardees were:

2019-2020 WINTER EDITION PACCTX Business Chronicles

2019-2020 WINTER EDITION PACCTX Business Chronicles

THE HOLY LAND

The Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem is the focus of Christmas

In Old Russia, costumed carolers called mummers accompanied the

Decorations have intricate significance. The kumade is a bamboo

In Japan, only 1% of the population is Christian, but many

The Philippines is the only predominantly Christian country in

Filipinos have adopted many of the western ways of celebrating

On Christmas Day, young Filipino children, well-dressed in their

Continued on next page.

University of Houston's C.T. Bauer College of Business has received

The Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship,

"Our family is deeply committed to the ideals of entrepre-

Charles Schwab to move HQ to Texas from California

“Both companies have a sizable presence in the Dallas-Fort Worth

Apple’s new Mac Pro will be made in Austin, not China

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The newest generation of Apple’s Mac Pro

The company didn’t specify when the new computers

Apple said it can build its computer in Texas because

Study: 660 companies

“Obviously a lot of them are going to Texas,” Vranich said in

California companies large, midsize and small are shifting

 Market size & buying power (20%): To b e co nsider ed for

 Startup environment (20%): W e look ed at ho w cities fare

 Availability of resources and funding (15%): W hile

 Safety (15%): Accor ding to var ious studies, young

 Corporate tax rate (10%): Tax r ates var y on a state by

No. 3 Best City for Female Entrepreneurs

No. 3 Best City – Dallas. Dallas, or “The Big D” to those who

No. 4 Best City for Female Entrepreneurs

No. 5 Best City for Female Entrepreneurs:

Rounding up the top 10 Best Cities for Female Entrepreneurs

Here are the 5 worst cities for female entrepreneurs in 2019:

2019-2020 WINTER EDITION PACCTX Business Chronicles

“Cities are the economic engines of Texas, and I

Welcoming America, a nonpartisan, national nonprofit Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson

Schoolchildren in Barra de Navidad in Mexico sing the

Spanish galleon ship used in Acapulco-Manila Galleon Trade circa 1564

By Jean Russel V. David