Birth of Negrenses del Oriental de Minnesota

Can you imagine being a Bisaya living in Minnesota and knowing only four other people from Negros Oriental amidst all the Tagalogs? And two of them were your own sisters, Bebotte de Mira Foroozan and Marlou de Mira Hough? The other two are Gloria Umbac Winter, a former schoolmate who lived in Edina and Imelda Surban Blakstad, another friend, who lived in Maple Grove. Back in the mid-1980’s, Dr. Onesimo (Nanen) de Mira, Jr., was very lonely for Pinoy companionship, especially Bisaya from Negros Oriental. Family get-togethers were not enough for him. He longed for other Negrenses to share hometown stories, songs, inon-onan, linubihang monggoes, guinamus. He wrote letters home asking about friends or connections to people from Negros living in Minnesota. He found a handful, and invited them to a picnic attended by Dr. and Mrs. Onesimo de Mira, Sr. and Jr., the families of Marlou de Mira Hough, Bebotte de Mira Foroozan, Nila de Mira Roxas, Moxy de Mira, Gloria Umbac Winter, Imelda Surban Blakstad, and Gus Avenido. These annual picnics went on for years, with Nanen mailing out invitations or calling by phone. He rented the lakeside picnic shelter at Snail Lake, decorated it with the Philippine flag, and had a sign-up sheet. He hoped that one day, these group could become a cohesive organization of people from Negros Oriental. It was not until the early 2000’s that he heard there were nurses from Negros Oriental brought here by Jim Chalmers. In June, 2002, we had the first potluck picnic attended by more non-de Miras, than there were de Miras. A few of those present were Rodgie and Teret Pacquingan and Grace and Jun Lim. In June, 2005, more people attended the picnic. We had our first election of officers with Rodgie Pacquingan, as president; Bebotte Foroozan, as veep, Iris Bendijo, as secretary; Heidi Florentino, as treasurer; Jay Florentino, as PRO. Board members were Nanen de Mira, Marlou Hough, Gloria Winter, Fr. Vic Valencia, Didi Dagudag, and Pastor Gonzalo Olojan,, Sr. In 2010, Jose Felipe Torres, Jr. designed the official Logo of the organization depicting a new beginning for Negrenses, represented by Cuernos de Negros, in this part of the world. Hence the tagline: From the twin peaks of Mt. Talinis to the twin cities of Minneapolis & St. Paul; from the twin lakes of Balinsasayao to the land of 10,000 lakes. Our life’s journey continues.” Today, Nanen de Mira’s dream is a reality. Negrenses del Oriental de Minnesota (www.negrensemn.org) is an active group of people from the province who share stories, songs, food, traditions, and dreams.