| Mel writes columns for the Vallejo Times-Herald and Ang Panahon newspapers. Following are a sample of articles. |
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| Manong Frank |
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| Frank Fabillaran celebrated his 100th birthday last year. But to look at him, you'd think he was only 70 years old. He has lived an active and fun-filled life. Women, cock-fighting and dancing were his passions. He still lives in Vallejo and is one of the few Manongs who are still out and about. |
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| Grandpa Joe |
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| Jose Flores was born on June 12, 1898, on the island of Mindoro in the Philippines. I interviewed him for the original article a day after his 105th birthday. Sadly, Grandpa Joe passed away in July of this year 2004. |
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| Sascha Jansen |
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| There are many stories about Filipino WWII Veterans. Little, however, is written about the other victims of the war. This is the story of Jean "Sascha" Jansen, who, as a little girl, was imprisoned at the University of Santo Tomas prison camp. She was an American whose family owned a sugarcane plantation. |
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| This past Olympics held in Athens brought fort a new American sports hero in Natalie Coughlin. What most people didn't know was that she is part Filipina. She was born and raised in Vallejo and got her start in the local pool. |
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| Natalie Coughlin |
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| Mel's writing can also be found in "Seven Card Stud with Seven Manangs Wild" and in the forthcoming "Arkiteknik", by Anthony Legarda. |
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