June 2010 Issue No 12 Cover

June 2010 Issue No 12 Publisher's Note

How did your Mother’s Day go?

I think mine was the best one ever! Let’s just say I got everything that I wanted for Mother’s Day including the Lechon (roasted pork) from Fil-Am Bakery and Fastfood but most importantly I got to spend it to the two most important people in the world, my husband Ezra and my four year old daughter Megan.

June is another important month to all of us.
June 5 is still the Fiesta Filipino of Sacramento (see page 8) which we are very excited to participate for the first time! June 12 is Philippine Independence Day. Kumusta na ba ang ating bayan? What have we done lately to help our motherland, Philippines? I know we already help a lot as it is by just sending our hard earned dollars over there to support our love ones. That is just how we are we can’t turn our back from where we came from…and then here comes Father’s Day, June 20. Hmm I am thinking steak, a homemade gift certificate that says “you are entitled to play video games all day no interruption” or a gift card to best buy? Wish me luck! And to all of the DADs, Happy Father’s Day!!!



Melanie A Garcia
Creator and Founder

June 2010 COVER STORY - Weng's Oriental Fish Market, We clean, we grill, we fry

When was Wengs Oriental Fish Market opened?
WOFM officially opened on December 28, 2007.

How did you come up with the idea?
We have always wanted to open up a business, but didn't really have any solid idea as to what type. A care home was our first choice, but after a couple of offers that we have encountered problem, we decided that it was probably not meant to be. So our next choice was a Filipino Market.

What made you choose this particular business?
We moved to Sacramento from the bay area in 2005, since then we have observed that the only major area for our fellow Pinoys to get groceries and fish is the South Sac area. It approximately takes 20 minutes to get there. Plus gas at that time was a crazy $4/gallon it is still crazy up to now ). So we thought that having a convenient Filipino store that sells and fry’s fish with cooked food as well would work specifically in the Natomas area being that it is more centralized. Also, it would additionally keep my parents busy since they have retired and complained of doing nothing at home. Having the store keeps them active.

What are things that you love about having this business?
We all enjoy meeting different new people. As people come into the store, we do treat them like we personally know them. We enjoy the conversations we have with them. My mom (our chef) enjoys cooking daily. She gets excited when she knows that there will be some type of catering scheduled for the weekend.

What kind of products you sell aside from seafood?
We do party trays, cooked food to go, grill & fry fish, grill squid, a few desserts. We also have some Filipino groceries and frozen food items.

I know that you also sell food, what is your best selling entree currently?
Pancit is always a popular item. I think my mom’s (our chef) pancit bihon and bam-i (visaya version) is a hit! There is also the toron that is always in demand. Pichi-pichi is also a popular one.

When did you guys (Ron and Weng) move here from the Philippines or were you born here?
Ron migrated here with his parents in 1991. I migrated with my parents in 1992.

How did the two of you met?
We met in SF working at McDonald’s which was both our first job after coming to America. We got married at a very young age, but we both struggled to survive all the marital trials that came our way. We are still standing strong going on to our 17th year of marriage.

Any kids?
Three kids. Clarissa who is 16, Renald who is 15 and of course Clarence, who everybody knows, is 4.

What do you like about being in America most?
I guess I can say that in America is where dreams come true. There is no prohibition as to what you want to be in life. You can be a high school drop-out and still get a job. America allows you to become a better person if you work hard at it. Everything is possible and the possibilities are endless.

What advice do you have for those Filipino-Americans like you and me if they want to start a business?
Think really really hard and make sure that your decision to have a business is what you want. Having a business is not a joke, let alone trying to keep it going in this economy,

What advice do you have for those Filipino-Americans like you and me to stay in business in this current economy?
A lot of prayer and faith is all I can tell you. It is a struggle to be in business in this type of economy. Thank God for family!

June 2010 LIVING IN AMERICA:Filipino Classifieds Turns One

June 5, 2010 is Filipino Classifieds first year anniversary. We started with an A4 sheet, three fold Newsletter with eighteen listings and a circulation of less than one hundred copies. The idea was just very simple, help Filipino immigrants especially those who are new here like me find the things they need that will help America feel closer to home, support Filipino entrepreneurs, Buy Filipino!


Filipino Classifieds now circulates one thousand copies all over Sacramento, Roseville and Elk Grove area with a fourteen page booklet.

No man is an island, like everybody else we owe a lot to those that have trusted us from the very beginning. Filamor Doronio of Small Business Administration had brought me a handful of business cards that he had collected from his most recent APO speaking engagement. That was the very few first listings. He was very encouraging and had so much faith in the project. Vicki Avila, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Consultant and Zeny Winn, REA Realtor were our first couple of advertisers and I am forever grateful for their confidence and support. Lynn Napiza of Lynie's Variety and Pastor Tomas Burgos were the first to contact us from our website and it was very exciting to get their positive feedback. Then there is my unsung hero, Ezra. Ezra was there sitting next to me as my guidance in acquiring filipinoclassifieds.net.

December 13, 2009 we had our First Filipino Classifieds Christmas Party. Filipino Classifieds has also brought together Filipino Small Business owners as well as other Small Business Owners on March 18, 2010 when Wells Fargo South Natomas had hosted a Buisness Mixer. This May 16, is Entrepreneur's Exhibit and Fair by Angels and Creations and Filipino Classifieds is proud to say that we are supporting this event one hundred and one percent.

Filipino Classifieds is turning into a family, an intimate network of small business owners and professionals. Within, we have created a sense of camaraderie. So once you have decided to be part of us then expect invitations, referrals, and support. I look out for you and you look out for me. For me, it is a very nice feeling, actually.

This is how I dreamed it and this is how I wanted it to be.

Filipino Classifieds is the only publication that covers solely on what goes on in the Filipino Community here in America. Filipino Classifieds list businesses, organizations and professionals online free.

-MaG--