By Cyrus A. Natividad

Members of the CPU NORCALAA Chapter during a reunion.

Pastor Edward Pormilos is the newly elected President of the CPU Northern California Alumni Association (CPU NORCALAA), an overseas chapter based in the Bay Area of Northern California, USA. The election of its new set of officers was done through a virtual Zoom meeting on October 24, 2020.

Following is the new set of officers for 2021-2022:

PRESIDENT: EDWARD PORMILOS (BSC ’93)
VICE PRESIDENT: LISEAR CARLO PINEDA (HS 2007)
SECRETARY: JEWEL JOY BORJA CASTILLON (BSC ’86)
ASST. SECRETARY: ROSARIO MEJICA (KINDER ’60, Elem ’66, HS ’70, BSMT ’75)
TREASURER: MARAH RAFOLS TORRES (BSN ’78)
ASST. TREASURER: TITO GERVACIO (BSC ’69)
AUDITOR: ARLITA NITE MANAAY (BSC ’70)
ASST. AUDITOR: LEE PLAGATA (HS ‘76, BSME ’81)
PRO: CLINT ANDREW HO (BSBA 2018), ANANNIAS GASACAO

ADVISERS:
KATHY LEYBLE KRIEWALL (HS ’77)
PAT ONATE DESALES (HS ‘54, AA ’56)
PIO GO (HS ’67, BSME ’73)

PRAYER COORDINATORS:
EMINEH ALON PACANIA (BSN ’78)
SUSAN TAYAPAD XAVIER (BSN ’69)

Pastor Edward Pormilos in red holds the NORCALALA Banner.

Pastor Pormilos who is a Bingawanon and an Ilonggo, is currently the Lead Pastor of JCMI Fremont, a non-denominational church he pioneered during their family transfer to California from North Carolina. He is also an online futures trader, a unique work-at-home setup that gives him flexibility to take care of the ministry, his family, and now the Alumni Chapter.

During his student days in CPU, Pastor Pormilos was Governor of the Province of Commerce, an Alma Mater Awardee, and Most Outstanding Graduate of Batch ’93. He had served CPU from 1999 to 2005 (serving as Executive Director of the Centennial Celebrations in 2005).

He served as Project Coordinator for both the Centennial Village (a milestone Pavia-based housing project for employees) and the Centennial Wall of Remembrance. The Retirement Plan Office was also conceptualized and constructed during his watch. He was a faculty member of the College of Commerce, Retirement Plan Officer, and Assistant to the President on Communications.

“Serving CPU is the golden moment of my professional career,” Pormilos said. He left for good to join his wife in the U.S. – the former Katherine Plaga, a registered nurse, and a fellow Bingawanon Centralian (HS ’89).

The CPU NORCALAA Chapter covers Silicon Valley, the Home of Facebook, Apple, Google, and Tesla Motors among others. It also includes San Francisco City where the iconic Golden Gate Bridge is located. The NORCALAA Chapter is considered one of the biggest and most dynamic overseas chapters. It has a 40-plus contingent during the last Global Reunion held at the CPU Campus. The chapter is also a regular donor to the God’s Grace Program – a support ministry for the needy working students.

The new chapter leadership includes a younger generation; the Vice President Carlo Pineda is another young Centralian, a Valedictorian of High School Class 2007; Clint Ho, PRO is the youngest team member who graduated in BSBA last 2018.

In taking over the leadership of CPU NORCALAA, Pormillos said that “It is a big shoe to fill, but I consider it a call from God, the way he pulled me into the ministry. It is also a part of his grand design of moving my family to California. With his guidance and the cohesive effort of the new team, we can carry on the legacy of a dedicated and Christ-centered leadership left by our former president, Mrs. Kathy Kriewall.”

“CPU NORCALAA will continue to be steadfast in pursuing its mission of taking care of its members as a big family, living out the Central Spirit, supporting our beloved CPU, and ultimately giving God the glory,” Pormilos added.