Published on October 15th, 2009

Putting a positive spin on her planet

By ROSE COX

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When Terry Abarro started sending out a daily e-mail to promote her new Filipino take-out restaurant, Planet Dutch, she hoped to let the Unalaska community know where they could get the best pork adobo and pancit in town. But her uplifting quotations and breezy newsbits that start each missive quickly became a hit with locals as well as former residents.

In six months, her e-mail list grew from 10 to more than 300 readers, not counting all the families and friends across the globe to whom people of this diverse community forward her messages.

"I get e-mails saying it's so nice to hear about so and so, I didn't know she's in Alaska," Abarro said one recent night seated at the table in the center of Planet Dutch that draws elementary school kids to do their homework and offers a place where the community can plan fundraisers or just shoot the breeze.

Abarro's focus on good news has quickly added to her reputation as the unofficial booster of Dutch Harbor happenings.

"People started sending e-mails to me saying, 'Terry, that's a nice thing you said about such and such, do you know that so and so is doing this and this?' So I said 'OK, come on, tell me about it.' "

It was a short leap to Unalaska Hero of the Week, a regular feature that Abarro started in October.

Abarro's definition of "hero" ranges from someone who commits an act of remarkable bravery to anyone who has characteristics that you admire - your school principal, an athlete, your child.

"The criteria is 1 to 200 years old. It's all about support, helping people, and I love doing that."

In the first week, she received a dozen nominations, and more keep pouring in.

Her first hero is Nancy Yates, the director of the Behavioral Health Clinic at Iliuliuk Family and Health Services and a clinical therapist.

Yates said she was surprised when she learned four people had nominated her, and she is completely supportive of Abarro's penchant for the positive.

Abarro was born in Manila, but immigrated to the United States when her father took a position as the drug adviser from the Philippines to the United Nations. Growing up, she helped her mother in the family restaurant in California. She worked as a human resources generalist for Unisea Inc. until 2008.

So who is Abarro's hero?

"My mom," she said. "She's always been my inspiration, my hero, my best friend. She passed away in July 2006, and I carry a picture of her every day."

To nominate a Unalaska Hero of the Week or to receive Abarro's daily e-newsletter, e-mail her at planetdutchterry@yahoo.com.

Rose Cox can be reached at rcox@alaskanewspapers.com, or by phone at 907-348-2419 or 800-770-9830, ext. 419

 

Copyright 2010

The Dutch Harbor Fisherman is a publication of Alaska Newspapers, Inc. This article is © 2010 and limited reproduction rights for personal use are granted for this printing only. This article, in any form, may not be further reproduced without written permission of the publisher and owner, including duplication for not-for-profit purposes. Portions of this article may belong to other agencies; those sections are reproduced here with permission and Alaska Newspapers, Inc. makes no provisions for further distribution.