Thanks to Shirley Contreras for her recent article recognizing the contributions of Filipinos to American life, history and culture.

For these contributions, October has been declared as Filipino-American month in California.

Thank you for making this Filipino's heart beam with much pride.

May I also express my thanks and appreciation for your newspaper, which has been very much a part of our daily life while my wife and I visit Santa Maria. I have benefitted much from your paper — laughing at the editorial cartoons, learning about senior events, activities and opportunities, playing Sudoku, reading the well-written sports stories and the great action pictures and generally, just knowing a little bit more of the life and times of the people on the Central Coast.

We are traveling back to the Philippines at the end of this month. Already I am missing your paper.

Veopoldo B. Caronan

Santa Maria