By Cyrus A. Natividad
NorCal AA chapter members.
This week’s issue of the Centralian Link features CPUAAI Northern California Alumni Association Chapter President Edward Pormilos.
Pastor Pormilos leads one of the biggest and dynamic CPU alumni associations in the United States. CPU NORCAL AA is based in the Bay Area that covers the Golden Gate Bridge and Silicon Valley: the home of Facebook, Apple, Google and Tesla Motors.
He took over the Chapter presidency at the height of the pandemic. He believes that the critical position was set-up for him by God to fill the gap left by the outgoing President who transferred residence. Pormilos consider it “a call from God to serve CPU again through the Chapter.”
He envisioned a Christ-centered cohesive leadership that will follow the legacy of a dedicated service left by his predecessor. He added “We must pursue the mission of taking care of our members as a big family, living out the Central Spirit, supporting the beloved CPU, and ultimately giving God all the glory.”
Asked about the effect of the pandemic and how they can extend support, Pormilos said, “The pandemic may have constrained our ability to meet in person, but it has not hampered the enthusiasm of the group. To continue on with general meetings, fellowship and discussions on projects, we had to shift to online platforms. There is enough room for sufficiency – to help with the impact of pandemic. We have a new fund raising initiative, The Treasure Hunt Fundraiser which was successfully launched recently. It involves the selling and buying of unused household items. The proceeds go to the Chapter Fund.”
One of the admirable projects of NorCal AA according to Pomilos, is its annual contribution of 500 USD for 2021 to the God’s Grace Program of CPU. “The program supplements the needs of work students. The fund will go mostly to the spending for internet data of work students so that they can continue schooling online during the pandemic.”
On the other hand, Pormilos said that, “A new major project is the grant-in-aid for poor but deserving students through an individual sponsorship of P5,000 per student. The project has gathered a total sponsorship fund of P80,000 for 16 scholars/recipients during the launching year 2021-2022.”
For the question on managing the Chapter, he answered that, “The way I handled my responsibility in the Chapter, although in a voluntary capacity is almost the same as handling the multiple assignments during my work in CPU.”
Serving CPU had been an important part of Pormilos’ professional career. From 1999 to 2005, he served Central Philippine University as faculty member of the College of Commerce, Assistant to the President on Communications and was also the Retirement Plan Officer. He was the Executive Director of the successful Centennial celebrations in 2005.
Before migrating to the U.S., Pormilos left tangible legacies in the form of the Centennial Village (a milestone Pavia-based housing project for employees), and the Centennial wall of Remembrance. He was Project Coordinator of both projects. The new Retirement Plan Office was also conceptualized during his watch.
Pastor Pormilos, a Bingawanon, was Governor of the Province of Commerce in the CPU Republic during his student days. He was the Alma Mater Awardee and Most Outstanding Graduate of Batch ’93.
He graduated his B.S. in Commerce degree (cum laude) as a recipient of the College of Commerce Dean’s Leadership Award. He finished his Master of Business Education degree from the University of San Jose- Recoletos in Cebu City, while teaching in the College of Commerce of CPU.
His life journey shifted towards the ministry while living in North Carolina. He started as the associate Minister for Youth and Discipleship at JCMI USA, a non-denominational and multi-cultural congregation in North Carolina. He is currently the lead pastor of JCMI-Fremont, a church he pioneered during their family transfer to California. He is also an online futures trader, a unique work-at-home set up that gave him flexibilities to take care of the ministry, his family, and now the alumni chapter. He is currently pursuing his Master in Ministry towards a doctorate degree in Vantage Bible Seminary.
Pastor Pormilos is happily married to Katherine Plaga, a registered nurse and also a fellow Bingawanon Centralian (HS ’89). They have two boys – Edrin Paul who just graduated in High School, and Luke Ethan who will be turning 12 this August.