Families and friends celebrate the feast day of Ina Poon Bato, the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Vienna, Virginia last January with a mass and buffet dinner. Emelina Camp, who started the pilgrimage in the area with other leaders, announced a book project this year.

Er Hu performer Xing Xu (far right) performed a New Year concert with pianist Li-Ly Chang (center) at An Die Musik, with Director Henry Wong (far left). Ms. Chang also played some piano solo works of hers. Wong also received an Award certificate from County Executive Isiah Leggett for his tireless efforts and dedication to promote music of China and cultural exchange between the Eastand the West.

US Rep. Gerry Connolly extends his wishes of good fortune to the hundreds of Vietnamese Americans gathered at the Eden Commercial Center at Seven Corners in Falls Church, Virginia to celebrate Tet, Lunar New Year 2010. Photo courtesy of Jackie Bong-Wright

Four dragons danced around the Eden Center courtyard, welcoming the Year of the Tiger at the sound of thousands of firecrackers, meant to drive away the bad spirits of the past year. Photo courtesy of Jackie Bong-Wright

Host Mei Yu Lin (far left) welcomed the New Year with family and friends. From left: grown-up children Belinda and Benjamin Juang, Li-Ly Chang and Douglas Guiles, piano teacher (back).

Tony Yeh, 4th from right, chairman of the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors (NVAR) Chinese Forum, announced that on March 10 the group will hold a Chinese Forum. Also in photo: Vinh Nguyen, 2010 Chairman of NVAR, far left; Micheal Huang, 3rd from the left; Susan McKenny, 2009 Chairman, 4th from left (rear); Siu Cheung, 5th from right, 2010 Vice Chairman.

Stan Tsai, co-president of OCA-DC, and other OCA officers joined area groups which participated at the Chinatown Community Cultural Center’s Lunar New Year celebration on February 21.

Non-profits may submit proposals for grants until March 11 to the Virginia Department of Social Services. RFP for AmeriCorps was launched late last year. Photo shows Candice Nunnally (second from left), 2009 Robert E. Wone Award recipient, with her family and Hung Nguyen, member of the Governor’s Advisory Board on National and Community Service. The late Robert Wone was a former member of our Commission and very active in the AAPI community.

The photo shows then Virginia First Lady Anne Holton leading the reciting of the AmeriCorps Oath of Service, with Governor’s Advisory Board on National and Community Service Chair Dr. Jarris Taylor, and Resources Committee Chair Hung Nguyen.

At a partnership meeting held at the Philippine embassy recently, Ambassador to the U.S. Willy C. Gaa (right) assured Fernando Armstrong of the embassy’s support and cooperation in encouraging the Filipino community nationwide to take part in the 2010 count. Armstrong is the U.S. Census Bureau Regional Director for Washington DC, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Southern New Jersey.

Jacqueline Yang’s exhibit on Oil on Canvas will run through March 7. Venue is Citibank, Potomac Village Branch, 9812 Falls Road, Potomac, Maryland. Call (301) 365-6151 for more information.