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MICHELLE RAMOS / MRAMOS@STARBULLETIN.COM Lead writer/associate producer Stephanie Castillo, left, had an allergic reaction and was rushed to the hospital before the "Untold Triumph" screening but returned in good spirits.

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Filipino ‘Untold Triumph’
finally gets story told

ABOUT 90 people -- many World War II veterans and their families -- gathered at Leeward Community College last Tuesday to honor those involved in making "An Untold Triumph," and to watch the national broadcast of the film on PBS. The documentary told how the first and second infantry regiment came to be. The first Filipino battalion was constituted on March 4, 1942. The full Regiment was formed on July 13, 1942.

Among those honored were production team members Noel "Sonny" Izon, Stephanie Castillo, Domingo Los Banos, Simeon Amor and Susan Horowitz. Castillo is remembered by Star-Builletin oldtimers for her reporting stint here.

MICHELLE RAMOS / MRAMOS@STARBULLETIN.COM Juan Dionisio Jr., left, accepted an award on behalf of his late father, Dionisio Sr., who helped form the Filipino regiments by starting a petition that resulted in a resolution to allow men from the Philippines to enlist in the armed services. Also pictured is Dionisio Jr.'s wife Nelly, his brother William Charles, their sister Patricia Reyes and her husband Sonny Reyes.

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Teens write for TV

Teen writers might want to get busy. Aug. 1 is the deadline to write a story about a group of children who visit an animal reserve run by an eccentric old gentleman. The story should be 1,000 to 10,000 words in length.

The winning story will be the basis for a 60-minute TV pilot, which organizers plan on turning into a multi-episode children's adventure series to be filmed in India (hint: elephants should be part of your story). The winning writer will also receive $5,000.

The contest is free to enter. Writers must be entering grades 7 through college freshman, or age 20. Home-schooled students are also welcome. For rules and writing guidelines, go online at www.merlynspen.org.

MICHELLE RAMOS / MRAMOS@STARBULLETIN.COM Behind every great man is a great woman and in this case the women are Katherine Izon, left, and Mary Los Banos. The wives of "Untold Triumph" executive producer Noel "Sonny" Izon, left, and project coordinator Domingo Los Banos were honored for their help and support of the project.

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MICHELLE RAMOS / MRAMOS@STARBULLETIN.COM John Gallarde, left, Thomas Ortogero, William Galisa and Mark Q. Pilarca gathered with other veterans to view the film. Ortogero and Galisa saw the film when it played three years ago at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. It was "good," Galisa said.

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