A Little Piece of the Philippines Thrives in Pennsylvania's Eagle Rock

Hazleton - Time is slow here in Eagle Rock Resort, and I think I will be here for as long as I can, said our host Ziggy Cancio as he drove us, a bunch of journos, to lunch in downtown Hazleton (a township) in Pennsylvania.

On the last day of spring, the wind and sun were soft but the foliage had turned deep green, so it was ready for summer.

Eagle Rock, I soon learned, has 80 percent of its properties owned by Filipinos. With the initiative of the nonprofit Prayer4Alex, the residents commemorated the 128th Philippine Independence Day and Father’s Day, the community's growth becomes visible and audible (the karaoke reverberated in the mountains of the resort).

Groups like the Agilang Bato (literally meaning Eagle Rock in English) was an active supporter to the celebration.

Truly, time stands still here and life is a vacation - with golden silence from the lush pocket forests, lakes, community center, swimming pools, ski and golf facilities, and club houses.

AB isn't a legal and structured organization but a social club of residents whose families have grown together in the posh resort.

Annie Javier, a realtor by trade, said life's good and quiet in Eagle Rock that the Resort has been home for 16 years now. We stayed at one of her residences on Winged Foot Drive.

Her husband Rene introduced me to Kris Fadul, referred dearly as "mayor" amongst them.

Fadul and several neighbors took charge of the barbecue station during the June 21 celebration.

Fadul said AB is a neighborhood organization where people come in freely to volunteer. He said he makes an effort to reach out to neighbors in the resort to be part of AB.

Now there are about 30 families actively participating in their social events that make their neighborhood cohesive. Residents agree - Eagle Rock is a great place to raise their children.

Proceeds from food sales all go to the nonprofit Aprayer4alex that financially and emotionally support children and families going through acute health crises.

Cancio had lost a child to cancer 14 years ago.

"I still choke up when I remember Alex. Thank you for your support and let's enjoy this day, it's Father's day too."

As part of Philippine tradition, a Santa Cruzan was reenacted with zagalas (literally meaning young shepherds in Spanish, but this word has evolved to mean young queens and princesses in Filipino culture during Flores de Mayo).

Apart from the religious procession in honor of Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, there's the whole nine yards of singing, dancing, and games for the entire family.

Indeed, you bring your home with you wherever you may be in the world. With Filipinos, there's fiesta funfare at Eagle Rock.

Entrepreneurs for health care, tea, coffee, cookies displayed their merchandise on that day as well. Too bad I missed the mango sticky rice macaroon of Muni-muni Bakery.

The outing at Eagle Rock was very well spent. I filled my lungs with fresh air and the brisk laughter with my witty journalist hommies. One writer and I, in fact, decided to get out of our usual selves and danced the latest craze "Hawak mo ang beat!"

For us creatures of the city, the serene appearances of deer out of the woods were enough joyful surprises too.