ATLANTIC CITY: Rise, fall and rebirth. I began coming to this City in 1988. Literally, even if I lived in Alexandria, Virginia, my children grew up here. Thanks to my wifes many political connections, I got a tiny kiosk on the third floor of the then newly refurbished most sought after Shops on Ocean One where I only sold everything handcrafted Filipino upscale women Accessories on the weekends. They were just courting Mr. Donald J. Trump. But next week, as I complete the 28th year of the official 52 States National Association of Miss America Trade Show at the Trumps Plaza Casino, he will finally close the brand that excited millions around the world. We met him during the Inaugural Ball of the Reagans, his brief stint with the USFL launching in Washington, D.C. and many more occasions in A.C: from Mrs. Ivana, to Mrs. Marla and when he was just dating Mrs. Melania. At the time, Atlantic City like D.C. was financially bleeding after former Pres. Jimmy Carter. The place was an impoverished wood padded rendezvous market but with a can do attitude Mayor. When the big Casino players built and moved in, I became one of the regular Trade Show Exhibitors under the auspices of Atlantic Arts Center, under the loving tutelage of its visionary founding Chair, a beautiful but feisty Sicilian lady, Mrs. Florence Miller. In such a short span, during Pres. Bill Clintons financially never to be repeated again new moneyed group and excesses, I saw the City rose to its mighty splendor. Like an ugly duckling, A.C. turned into a glamorous Swan to be seen. But the Mayor and other political handlers changed (like everything else, money and titles change people). This week, the world will see what happens when we forget the great virtues that got us here in the first place. A miserable Fall of many great adventures, unseen bankruptcies and unprecedented divorces. Five thousand people who built their dream homes close to these workplaces will be out of jobs. Next year, Georgetown&co has been asked to part-take in many of its super Luxury Shows, a move perhaps for a rebirth. We thank its newly promoted events director, Sheila Harvey, for inviting us in. Besides, they have a new Mayor in town, we are again hopeful. Im proud to say that in spite of many unsavory or stark remarks and lack of support of my closest friends and relatives about my stance on being just a plain self-employed immigrant in the U.S. since 1986 at age 36, Caroll and I bravely sailed Gods mighty but favored seas with our fabulous die hard supporters without much regret! I will always remember with gratitude and much love the good times here and the thousands and thousands of people who came to my shows and now to our showrooms (thanks Cara), heavily recalling my first saddest and full of empty emotions flight out of Manila in 1978 after my fathers untimely death when leaving for abroad was probably not a big deal! So as a toast to good times, please everybody come and join us on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014 at 10:30 am. when the new Mayor Don Guardian, who accepted our formal invitation, will stop by to wish us well. Its is a SNOB PARTY. Come in great Miss Americas colors except Black! Cest la vie!
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 14:25:34 +0000
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