Houston-based
Ecijana nurses honored
Luzviminda
Gutierrez-Palad (second from left), Wesleyan University-Philippines
College of Nursing Class 1980 alumna, received the Philippine Nurses Association
of Metropolitan Houston (PNAMH) Outstanding Filipino Nurse (OFN) Award
- Nurse Researcher Category in award rites held last last May 3 in Houston,
Texas.
Another
Wesleyan Nursing graduate, Elenita Bautista-Malicse of Class 1980,
was given the Outstanding Filipino Nurse Award - Nurse Educator Category.
The award was received on her behalf by her co-worker, Zenaida Alabbasi
(third from left), as she was attending an out-of-town conference
at the time. ###
Gapan
Club of Los Angeles County Picnic
Some
250 Gapanenses gathered at Cerritos Park East in Cerritos, California last
May 3 to mark the feast day of Gapan City's patron saint, the Divina Pastora.
A Mass
concelebrated by a local priest and Fr. Chito Beltran -- former assistant
parish priest in the Three Kings Parish of Gapan City -- opened the affair.
The
participants then shared a potluck lunch complete with lechon and
other native delicacies.
Among
those spotted at the affair were Irene Yuson-Gamble, Ruben and Lita Liwag-Alvarez,
Norma de Guzman, Perla Nerona- Tonoff, Nena Moore, Lily Ongpauco, Rudy
Maningas, Sinia Labios-Uytingco, Flor Padiernos-Caro, Boy (Corong) de Leon,
Danny Manalastas, Elvie and Larry Camus, Conrado Liwag, Linda Punzal-de
Guzman, Josie Colcol, Rupert and Raquel Hernandez, Oscar Garcia, Letty
Parial-de Guzman, Linda Garcia-Tan, Esther Alfaro, Danny Garcia, Pete Caro,
Fred Sahagun, Rolly Ligon, Lito Alfaro, Tony Dayao, Lita Basa-Alfaro, Agnes
Morales, Rita Tinawin, Trophy Valmonte-Castillo, Veta Matias-Garcia, Gloria
Cabatuando, and Fe Dela Cruz, Teo and Randy Estrella, Rosa Estrella-Rayco
and Fanny Estrella.
The
gathering was spearheaded by the Gapan Club of Los Angeles County.
Contributed
by Teo Estrella
A
Novo Ecijano commander in the US Navy
Gil Nicdao of Guimba,
Nueva Ecija is perhaps the first Filipino recruited from Subic Bay after
the Vietnam era who attained a commanding officer position in the US Navy.
Definitely, he is one of the very few Filipinos recruited in Subic to reach
the rank of Lieutenant Commander (the equivalent of major in the Army).
He is the commanding officer of Flag Allowance, Naval Surface Forces, in
San Diego, Califiornia, in charge of 108 enlisted personnel.
Nicdao took over the command
in August 2007, with Vice Admiral Etnyre, Commander of Naval Surface Forces,
witnessting the event.
LCDR Nicdao, in formal dinner
dress uniform, at the Naval Surface Ball.
From
Winnipeg with love
Rino
R. Valdez,
his wife, Thelma Pader-Valdez, with their two sons,
Renz
and Hanz.
Rino
served as Director of the Provincial Science and Technology Center of the
Department of Science and Technology based in Central Luzon State University
in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. He and his family migrated
to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada last March 2, 2007. He currently works as
a Quality Control Analyst in a US pharmaceutical company at St. Boniface
Industrial Park in Winnipeg.
Hail
the champ!
Roger Sangalang,
a retired U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer and president of the Guimba Circle
USA, shows off the trophies that he got for winning the recently concluded
Week-end Strikers Golf Club Tournament held at the Admiral Baker's Golf
Course in San Diego, California.
Japan
Association of Novo Ecijanos (JANE)
The
Japan Association of Novo Ecijanos in Tokyo, better known as JANE,
during a recent outing:
Ecijana
in the US Navy
Hospital Corpsman Third Class
(HM3) Annaliza Obedoza Nilo took her oath of allegiance as she reenlisted
for thrte more years with the US Navy on February 15, 2007 at the Pharmacy
Department, US Naval Hospital Yokosuka, Japan.
Prior to her assignment in
Fleet Acitivities Yokosuka, Nilo served in the Naval Medical Center in
San Diego, California for thee years that included a deployment with the
US Naval hospital ship USNS Mercy in its 2006 humanitarian mission to the
Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia and East Timor.
Nilo is a native of Talabutab
Norte, General Natividad, and a graduate of Cabanatuan City Science High
School.
HM3
Annaliza O. Nilo takes her oath of allegiance before Lt. Gloria T. Garner,
Pharmacy
Dept. Head, US Naval Hospital Yokosuka.
Capt.
Michael J. Krentz, Commanding Officer of US Naval Hospital Yokosuka,
looks
on as Nilo signs her reenlistment papers.
Gapan
Association of Manitoba Annual Picnic
The Gapan Association of
Manitoba, Canada held its annual picnic at Kildonan Park, Winnipeg last
July 2006.
The elected officers of the
association are:
President
- Pascual "Amang" Salazar (Pambuan)
Vice-Pres. - Eddie
De Guzman (San Nicolas)
Secretary - Rosabella
Tankeko (Inang Bayan, San Vicente)
Treasurer - Elenita
David Carabeo (San Vicente)
Auditor - Solly Gamboa
Andrade (Santo Nino)
Barangay Chairs:
Ely Valmonte - San Vicente
Vangie Giorla Contreras
- San Lorenzo
Frank Matias - San Nicolas
Ray Rabaya - Santo Cristo
Solly Andrade/Francisco
Juan - Santo Nino
Advisers:
Lito Taruc (past president)
Luming Juan Ramos (past
treasurer)
Linda Natividad Cantiveros
During the picnic, the group
welcomed its newest member, Ulysses Jacinto Valdez,who was traced through
this website.
Novo
Ecijana expat meets Davide
Dr.
Tess Bernales, Retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide and Rusyan Mamiit of
Quezon province.
Novo Ecijana Dr. Teresita
Bernales, coordinator of the International Visitor Leadership Program for
the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council (PAAC), got the chance to meet retired
Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide last August 5 in
Honolulu, Hawaii.
Davide was honored by the
American Bar Association (ABA) at its international conference in Honolulu,
attended by some 5,000 lawyers from around the world. He shared the American
Bar awards with US Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.
Bernales, who coordinates
US State Department sponsored programs for visiting leaders and diplomats
in Hawaii, said it was a distinct honor to be a part of the prestigious
ceremony for a countryman whose work in promoting the “Rule of Law” is
recognized all over the world.
Davide was cited for his
work in election and legal reforms in the Philippines and Kennedy for his
work in promoting the rule of law abroad.
Davide, the first Filipino
judicial figure to receive the ABA international award, praised the ABA
for it efforts to promote justice, freedom and democracy around the world.
He called his award the``greatest gift from the legal profession’’.
Papaya
Residents of East Coast America, Inc.
The
association's banner.
The Papaya Residents of East
Coast America, Inc. (PRECA, INC) was founded and incorporated as a non-profit
organization in the State of New Jersey in 1997. Among its founders
were Jennifer Padolina and Amelita Rivera, who originally conceived the
organization as a means of fostering closer relationships among U.S. residents
of Papaya (now called General Tinio) descent, particularly those residing
in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Michigan,
Virginia, Ohio and Illinois. Occasional get-togethers bring about
goodwill and camaraderie among kababayans and also give opportunitiesto
talk about current happenings in the town and reminisce about the "good
old days" there. After all, they may be U.S. citizens and/or green
card holders, but the town of Papaya is still in their hearts.
The first set of officers
was elected on January 27, 1996 with Othelio Fajardo as President.
At present, Larry Rivera who has been the president since 1997 leads PRECA.
The initial social objective
of the association evolved into a nobler goal -- to give back to
the General Tinio community by assisting less fortunate kababayans.
This led to the establishment in 1999 of a college scholarship fund to
support deserving graduates of high schools in the hometown who could not
afford to go to college on their own. The belief was that assisting these
poor students to pursue their academic goals would make them responsible
and good citizens and would bring honor to the town and ultimately contribute
to its progress.
The PRECA scholarship fund
has been operational for six years now and is supporting eight selected
scholars. It has already produced two graduate scholars, Janet Maducdoc
who graduated from the Pamantasan ng Maynila in 2003 as cum laude with
the degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and Alvin
Caballero who graduated from Polytechnic University of the Philippines
this year as magna cum laude with the degree of Bachelor of Science in
Accountancy.
The current scholars of PRECA
enrolled in various universities in the Philippines are Yesselyn Martin,
Far Eastern University, BS in Accountacy, graduating in 2007; Jomar Abela,
Nueva Ecija Colleges, BS in Nursing (2007); Maria Dominica Rivera, Centro
Escolar University, BS in Nursing (2008); Arnel Ortega, Wesleyan University-Philippines,
BS in Accountancy (2008); Girly Oltiveros, College of the Immaculate Conception,
BS Education (2008); Ephraim Maducdoc, University of the Philippines, BS
Chemical Engineering (2009); Mercy Caba, Polytehnic Universityof the Philippines,
BS Accountancy (2010); and Stephanie Bolisay,Wesleyan University-Philippines,
BS in Nursing (2011).
Education is perhaps the
noblest gift that could be shared with the deserving youths of Papaya.
PRECA takes pride in its achievements in this field and will continue to
look for other opportunities to serve its members’ beloved hometown.
The keys to these achievements have been the generosity, strength, dedication
and continuous support of all PRECA members and friends.
PRECA
officers: standing (from left) Jesssie Derina, Ronald Padolina, Ferdinand
Padolina, Larry Rivera and Marciano Estrella; sitting (from left) Julie
Diamante, Matilde Valera, Mila Fernandez and Julie Q. Garon.
Officers
and members in recent picnic in Solomons, Maryland.
The
Pajarillaga family dancing.
Mimi
Umana, Matilde Valera and friend.
Arlene
Padolina and friends.
DeGuzman
awarded Outstanding Filipino Nurse in Texas
Beth
deGuzman
Novo
Ecijana nurse Beth deGuzman was chosen Outstanding Filipino Nurse 2006
by
the
Philippine Nurses Association of Metropolitan Houston (PNAMH), Texas last
May 27, 2006.
DeGuzman
is the associate administrator and chief nursing officer of Ben Taub
General Hospital, and Quentin Mease Community Hospital.
DeGuzman
with WU-P BSN alumni: (top, from left) Marivic Tinio-Antimano, Class 1995;
Luzviminda Gutierrez-Palad, Class 1980; Elenita-Bautista-Malicse, Class
1980; Emily Salvador-Lagman, Class 1986; Cherry Calma-deGuzman, Class 1987;
(seated, from left) Marissa Mamaclay-Sanchez, Class 1978; the awardee;
and Marites Tayao-Reyes, Class 1978.
The
Outstanding Filipino Nurse Awards Program was established to honor Filipino
nurses who have made outstanding contributions to nursing, education, healthcare
and the community as professional nurses.
Earlier,
last May 12, deGuzman was the keynote speaker of the Texas Nurse-Friendly
(TNF) Designation Celebration at Ben Taub General Hospital
De
Guzman receives the TNF plaque, together with
George
V. Masi, Harris County Hospital District Chief Operating Officer,
Tena
Lawrence, Geriatric and Rehab Coordinator
and
Dr. Kenneth Mattox, Chief of Staff, Ben Taub General Hospital.
“The
success of being a TNF hospital is a tribute to the hard-working men and
women of this organization. The strong support from the administrative
team and staff, and from the physicians led by Dr. Kenneth L. Mattox, chief
of staff, coupled with the employees’ hard work, dedication, and
commitment all paid off in the end”, said Ms. deGuzman.
DeGuzman
is the daughter of Iluminada Young Salvador from Gapan City. She
finished nursing, cum laude, at Wesleyan University-Philippines in Cabanatuan
City in 1978. She rose from being a staff nurse to assistant nurse manager,
supervisor, nurse manager, and nursing director. ###
Ecijano
Scientist Back to Japan for Post Doctoral
Research
Fellowship
Dr.
Dionisio G. Alvindia
Dr. Dionisio G. Alvindia,
a Scientist of the Bureau of Postharvest Research Institute (BPRE), Science
City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija was recently awarded by the Japan Society for
Promotion of Science (JSPS) a 2 year postdoctoral research fellowship in
Tokyo University of Agriculture from April 2006 to April 2008.
Alvindia is also an Affiliate
Professor of the Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Institute of Graduate
Studies on Plant Pathology and Mycology.
During the research fellowship,
Alvindia will be working on the development and evaluation of new technology
for postharvest disease management of tropical fruits. Because of
the constraints on the use of chemicals to the environment and concern
on the health of the consumers, Alvindia believes that it is imperative
to develop non-chemical control system to improve the quality and prolong
the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. Among these novel technologies
are biological control, the application generally regarded as safe (GRAS)
substances, organic substances, food additives, and integration of non-chemical
control strategy.
He is working at the Laboratory
of Tropical Plant Protection, Tokyo University of Agriculture under the
guidance of Dr. Keiko T. Natsuaki.
Alvindia, himself a farmer,
is from San Manuel, Quezon, Nueva Ecija. He completed his undergraduate
studies in CLSU, while his Master Degree and Doctor of Philosophy were
completed at the Tokyo University of Agriculture in Japan under the sponsorship
of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, and Technology of Japan.
During his graduate studies,
he specialized in the development of non-chemical management system to
control postharvest diseases of organic bananas for export to Japan.
Organic bananas from the Philippines are very popular in Japan for health
reasons. He presented his research results to local and international
seminars and published in international journals. The technologies
he developed are now adopted by exporting and importing companies of organic
bananas to Japan.
Alvindia is married to Lilia
Ona-Alvindia, a teacher in Julia Ortiz Luis National High School, Sto.
Domingo, Nueva Ecija. They have three children: Jason Dionysus, Janus Dionysus,
and Jovis Dionysus. ###
Novo
Ecijana makes it to
'Who's
Who Among America's Teachers'
Victorina
Liwag-Lacuna
Victorina
Liwag-Lacuna, originally from Gapan City, added another laurel to her distinguished
career as teacher in the United States. She has been listed in the Ninth
Edition of Who's Who Among America's Teachers.
Who’s
Who Among American Teachers honors educators nominated by students
listed in Who’s Who Among American High School Students, Who's
Who Among American High School Students-Sports Edition and students
honored in The National Dean’s List.
The
students were asked to nominate one teacher from their entire academic
experience who made a difference in their lives by helping to shape their
values, inspire interest in a particular subject and challenge them to
inspire for excellence.
Only
last year, Lacuna received the coveted Elizabeth Ann Seton Compassionate
Educator award from the Archdiocese of New York for her "reverent
concern for all students, recognition of the potential in each of
them and her daily incorporation of Catholic values in her classes" at
the Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School, Manhattan, New York.
Lacuna
began her teaching career in 1960 in Gapan City. In 1981, she left the
Philippines to teach in a boarding school in Nigeria. In 1988 she ventured
to the United States to teach in New York.
In
August 2005, she retired after devoting 45 years of her life to teaching.
She now lives in the Bronx, New York City with her husband Francisco who
joined her in the U.S. in 1994 after retiring from his jobs with the Philippine
government and the private sector. ###
Ecijano
in Iraq
Another Novo Ecijano fighting
for democracy in Iraq with the US troops is
Eduardo Santiano,
originally from Cabiao Nueva Ecija.
He is with the 29th Brigade
Combat Team based in Hawaii.
Former
San Jose City teachers in Winnipeg
Nestor and Ana
Ros Ching are former teachers of Constancio Padilla National High School
(formerly San Jose City High School) in San Jose City and used to live
at Melcar Subdivision, Barangay Calaocan before migrating to Winnipeg,
Manitoba, Canada.
Nestor used to head the Values
Education Department while Ana Ros taught at the Technology and Home Economics
Department.
They arrived in Canada on
July 19, 2004 . Nestor is now a registered substitute teacher of Seven
Oaks School Division and Winnipeg School Division No.1. Ana Ros works as
a child day care worker also in Winnipeg.
They have three children:
Nathaniel, married to the former Jenny Lynn Sarne who arrived n Canada
last September 9, 2005; Melchezedek, who is in Grade 11 at Maples Collegiate;
and Roxanne Evita who is in Grade 6 at Ecole Leila North Middle School.
###
Ecijano
musician spices up Dubai nights
Eduardo
J. Chico, Jr.
For five years now, Eduardo
J. Chico, Jr. of San Lorenzo, Gapan City has been working as a musician
at La Meridien Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
He belongs to a group called
Lighterside, formed by Kiko Gatchalian, a famous name in the local nightclub
circuit who has been deploying Filipino musicians for stints in five-star
hotels in Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
Eduardo
poses with the boss, Kiko Gatchalian (second from left), and Lighterside
members.
Eduardo's brother Eleazar
also plays with the same band.
Eduardo
and brother Eleazar with some band members.
They are the sons of the
late Eduardo Sr. -- himself a noted musician in Gapan -- and Nene Chico.
###
.
