News

COPAO ELECTS OFFICERS FOR 2007 & 2008

Rita Buencamino Andrews heads the list of officers who will lead the Council of Philippine American Organizations of San Diego County (COPAO) in 2007 and 2008. The orderly and well-attended general election was held on December 11, 2006, at the COPAO Center in National City.

In addition to Andrews, who was re-elected President, other officers elected by secret ballot were Merly Ferrer, Executive Vice President; Normita Atangan, Vice President for Finance; June Olson, Secretary; Olivia Ancayan, Assistant Secretary; Arnel Encabo, Treasurer; Cynthia French, Assistant Treasurer; Myra Lopez, Auditor; Arlito Reclosado, Sgt-at-Arms; and Julio De Guzman, Assistant Sgt-at-Arms.

Like clockwork, registration of the delegates of the member organizations started at 6 p.m. By 7:30, all the ballots cast had been accounted for and tallied by the Nominations and Elections Committee, and the winners were officially proclaimed. They will serve a term of two years, effective on January 1, 2007.

Founded in 1971, COPAO is dedicated to promoting mutual respect and harmony, and mobilizing the Filipino-American community of San Diego County to work together for their collective benefit and the preservation of their cultural heritage through education, advocacy and service, so as to provide positive contributions to the greater community. With 57 member organizations, It just recently celebrated its 35th anniversary, during which it honored its past presidents, chairs and speakers as special guests, and awarded them leadership medals.

Induction of the newly-elected officers will be on December 30, 2006, concurrent with the organization’s Rizal Day celebration, which starts at 10 a.m. with a floral offering at the Rizal Square in front of Sea Food City in National City. This will be followed at 11 a.m. by a program, lunch and the induction of officers at the COPAO Center at 832 E Avenue in National City. The public is invited to attend and join COPAO members in celebrating the 110th death anniversary of the Philippine National Hero. This year’s theme is “Rizal: The Epitome of True Love.”

PHILIPPINE FESTIVAL AND FAIRE 2008

The “Philippine Festival and Faire 2008” to be held at the Mira Mesa Community Park in San Diego, on June 7, 2008, promises to be a bigger and better celebration of the 110th Anniversary of Philippine Independence. The whole day affair starts at 9:00 with a “Festival of Festivals” Parade from the mall at the intersection of Mira Mesa Boulevard and Greenford Drive, featuring depictions of several colorful fiestas and festivals celebrated in the Philippines. Thousands of Filipino-American community leaders, professionals, students, and others are expected to march West along Mira Mesa Boulevard, make a right turn on Camino del Rio and then move on to the Festival & Faire grounds at the Mira Mesa Community Park. An opening ceremony at 10:45 a.m. will be followed by non-stop entertainment and cultural presentations, simultaneous with business, cultural, community service, information service, health service and food booths and exhibits. The whole community is invited. Admission is FREE.

Some people wonder why we bother to celebrate the independence of the Philippines, which is thousands of miles distant, when we are now residents and citizens of the United States of America.

We celebrate that historic moment because, 110 years ago, we, as a nation, were born into freedom. As Diosdado Macapagal, the 9th President of the Philippines, said, the Filipino people, “moulded into a nation by the process of cultural evolution and a sense of oneness born of common struggle and suffering, announced to the world that it was asserting its natural right to liberty and was ready to defend it with blood, life, and honor.”

We celebrate Philippine Independence because it allows us to take stock of our community’s social and political situation in the United States. Although we are free, we continue to struggle to attain the same level of recognition and influence that other Americans enjoy. Our celebration of Philippine Independence is affirmed by the theme of the Philippine Festival and Faire 2008, “Community Through Unity,” which was selected by the hosts of the event: the Aguinaldo Foundation, the Council of Philippine American Organizations of San Diego County, and the Mabuhay Alliance. The collaboration between three of the largest organizations in San Diego County is a bold step toward unifying our often fractious community.

We celebrate Philippine Independence because it reminds us of our roots and the influence we can play in the molding of the mother country, not only through the sending of remittances to relatives and friends, but also in moving the Philippines from 3rd world status to a place among developing countries. Through helping the poorest of the poor attain a sense of dignity and worth in their own country.

The June 7 event in Mira Mesa will follow on the heels of another important gathering of Filipino-Americans . . . ONE. On Saturday, May 24, 2008, ONE will draw together thousands of Filipino Americans at the Kimball Park in National City to celebrate the Filipino dream for unity, for solidarity, for honor. ONE is a call to all Filipinos for a renewing of the mind. Historical patterns of divisiveness cannot be allowed to defeat the love all Filipinos have for the homeland and the dream of becoming a strong and proud people. A renewed will to be ONE fueled by our highest aspirations and cultural strengths must be our covenant with one another.

Soon after the gathering at Kimball Park, Filipino-Americans will have another opportunity to honor our birthright, pursue our ideals, as individuals and as ONE people as we jointly celebrate the 110th anniversary of Philippine Independence on June 7, at the Mira Mesa Community Park in San Diego. Another opportunity to honor the best of our roots, the best of our culture, the heroes among our ancestors, the patriotism and sacrifices of our parents. Another opportunity to show that Filipinos are ONE people, equal to the best, and capable of being ONE voice across America all the way to the homeland.

Come then and participate in the “Festival of Festivals” Grand Parade which kicks off the Philippine Festival and Faire 2008 at 9:00 a.m. Assembly for the parade will be at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 7 in the vicinity of the shopping mall at the corner of Mira Mesa Boulevard and Greenford Drive. To continue a tradition that we started several years ago, the parade will share with the rest of the community our nation’s unique history and culture of exotic influences, colorful combination of rich traditions, and unusual faces of ethnic diversity which are reflected in some of the country's most colorful and exciting fiestas and festivals. Filipino-American organizations are encouraged to pick a favorite festival from the many celebrated in the Philippines and to re-enact that festival through costumes, street dancing, a parade float or other mode of display.

Organizations, businesses, schools and individuals are encouraged to join us in the celebration of our freedom through this whole day event. Vendor, information and food booth rental applications are now being accepted. Applications to join the Festival of Festivals Parade are also invited. Send an e-mail to copao2008faire@yahoo.com or the E-Mail Button at the bottom of this page and we'll send you an application form.

COPAO Public Relations

On behalf of the Collaborative

Aguinaldo Foundation

Council of Philippine American Organizations of San Diego County

Mabuhay Alliance

Tel # 619-850-0825

COPAO ELECTS OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR 2009 AND 2010

The COPAO Center in National City was filled to capacity on December 8, 2008, as representatives of member organizations, volunteers, candidates and guests showed up to elect a new Board of Directors for the 37-year old community organization.

Rita Andrews, outgoing president, welcomed everyone and thanked them for their presence and for supporting the organization. She also greeted Paul Ones, longtime community leader and a three-term chair of COPAO, who had decided to celebrate his birthday with the group. Rita led the group in singing "Happy Birthday" for him. This was followed by the award of certificates of commendation to key members of the outgoing Executive Council, who had made significant contributions to the success of the organization during her term of office. She also announced that COPAO had entered into a consulting agreement with Ditas Yamane, who would serve as interim Executive Director of COPAO. Finally, she designated Merly Ferrer as acting president of COPAO while she would be away on vacation.

On behalf of the outgoing Board, Executive Vice President Merly Ferrer presented a plaque to outgoing President Rita in recognition of her outstanding service as president of COPAO from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2008. Merly pointed out that Rita's "dedication to duty and pursuit of excellence in running the affairs of the organization, have greatly benefited the Filipino-American community and gained the respect and admiration of your fellow members in the Board of Directors."

Heading the incoming Board of Directors for a two-year term to take effect on January 1, 2009, was Marita Ferrer of the Philippine Nurses Association and UP Alumni Association, who was elected as President. Other officers elected were Fred Gallardo as Executive Vice President; Normita Atangan as Vice President for Finance; Alice Podschun as Treasurer; and Arlito Reclosado as Sergeant-at-Arms. Elected as Directors with two-year terms were the following: Aurora Cudal, Riz Oades, George Alfonso, Nita Barrion, Nedy Lao, Larry Breitfelder, Nario Idos, Cesar Solis, Vince Bumanglag, and Jun Mataban. Also elected as Directors for one-year terms were the following: Mary Garrido, Henry Gonzales, Amy Buluran, Rudy Liporada, FemieCupit, Norma Baldad, Jeremy Buenviaje, Blanca Paloma and Alicia De Leon Torres .

The COPAO "Comelec" which took care of the preparations for the election was chaired by Normita Atangan. Volunteer members of the "Comelec" who took charge of the conduct of the secret ballot elections were Ditas Yamane, Ellen, Nobles-Sexsion, Juliet Nobles-Decadiz, Rita Andrews, Maria Corazon Paclibar, Ariel Iglesia, Bert Andrade, Ed Herrera, Winlove Cudal, Pete Cortez, Bill Flores and James Buencamino. Under their direction, the elections, followed a strict timeline and went smoothly without a hitch.

MANY THANKS to all the candidates, the volunteers who assisted us, and the delegates/representatives of the different member organizations of COPAO for making the elections orderly and efficient.

On Saturday, October 24 at the Kimball Senior Services Center in National City, the Council of

Philippine American Organizations of San Diego County (COPAO) and community volunteers organized and hosted the Kick-Off event for the First San Diego Filipino Complete Count Committee (FCCC). The gathering was the first step towards providing the Filipino community with the correct information and the importance of why we must all stand and be counted for the U.S. Census 2010. To understand why it is important one must first understand what the Census is. The United States Constitution mandates the Census Bureau to collect population data so that federal funds of up to $400 billion annually could be properly allocated to provide funding to hospitals, job training centers, schools, emergency services, senior centers, bridges, tunnels and other-public works projects. The data collected by the census also helps to determine the number of seats your state has in the U.S. House of Representatives, and serves as the basis for States in planning redistricting.

The U.S. Constitution stipulates that the Census be taken in each year ending with “0”. According to data given by Nampet Panichpant Michelsen, the Census Bureau Representative, San Diego county had approximately 200,000 -250,000 Filipinos when the last census was taken in 2000, but less than 125,000 Filipinos mailed in their Census forms. For every one person not accounted for, the county misses out on approximately $12 thousand in funding. It is now estimated that there are over 350,000 Filipinos residing in San Diego; therefore, the Filipino Complete Count Committee was organized to increase awareness of the Census so that every Filipino in the county will be accounted for. Following the U.S. Census motto, “It’s in our hands” the goal of the committee is to provide our community with the right information about Census 2010, the most important being that ALL information given to the Census is confidential and is only provided as population data to provide a better economic outlook in our region. No individual will be asked to provide a social security number and everyone must be counted whether they are a US citizen or not. “Filipino Tayo! Magpabilang!”

The committee is represented by Committee Chair Dr. Aurora Cudal and assistant Marcel Ocampo. The sub-committees of the FCCC and their respective chairs are as follows: Media - Virgil Yalong, Education - Dolores Balane, Business - Ditas Yamane, Seniors - Bert Andrade, Youth - Luisito Melchor Jr., Veterans & Military - Vincent Bumanglag, Faith Based Organizations - Arnel Encabo, Health Organizations - Cyd Gallardo, and Government Organizations - Dina Ellorin.