By Meriam Amy, Chapter President
Rekindling memories and creating new ones during the CPUAAGTA annual picnic.
June 8,2024, the CPUAAGTA annual picnic was held at Centennial Park in Etobicoke Toronto. The weather was perfect. The excitement started early on with the garage and food sale. With Julie Banas a licensed real estate agent at the helm, you can hear echoes of $5.00, $10.00. She makes the best auctioneer. Some of the popular items like bibingka and valenciana just disappeared as soon as it was put on the table. All the other items donated by the members were sold. In fact, I overheard some higher bids on food items due to popular demand. The porcelain teacups had been sold to the highest bidder through the silent auction. Over-all the fundraising was very successful. Thank you to those who brought items and homemade food for the garage sale. A special thank you to Rose Buensuceso, for her generous cash donation and Rose Celiz.
The potluck is always the highlight of the day. We did not have lechon this year, however there was enough supply of fish. Faith Ramous brought salmon that could feed our crowd. Thank you, Nang Norma and Jolly, for organizing the potluck. The menus were all delicious and healthy. The variety of pancit, salads and authentic Filipino dessert.
Harmonizing ways through cherished memories at Centennial Park in Etobicoke Toronto.
The program was interactive and animated. Faith Gicana led the singing with our resident accompanist Joe Quanico on the guitar and Naemi “Jing” Herradura playing ukulele. We sang Ilonggo songs and as we all know most of our folksongs were written to the rhythm of dance. We sang “Kon Kita Magtililipon” which was also sang in Kinaray-a, Mag-iri-rimaw. Nancy Faldas did a great job as our choreographer who kept us in sync the special folk dance moves that go with the folksongs. Our picnic site was transformed into a stage. Even my husband who does not speak Ilonggo was trying to memorize “Iloilo Ang Banwa Ko”, curious about ki-ay-ki-ay.
Thank you to our three members who shared their testimony. It was emotional, uplifting and inspiring.
Gerry Falco is a graduate of CPU BS in Agriculture 1972, shared his ministry in Candelaria, Tapaz, Capiz. Camp Moses provides a safe place for school age and youth training through their activities, conferences and retreats. The organization also provides community development projects like bamboo planting to help farmers and fishery to augment their livelihood.
Joe Quanico, Civil Engineering Class 1990. Joe came to know the Lord more intimately during his stint in the Middle East through an underground church. When they moved to Canada it was his daughter Kellah who ignited the spark for their involvement with Mully Children’s Family. A mission organization that rescues the most vulnerable children of Africa by providing shelter, food and education training. 23,000 thousand children had been rescued from poverty, abuse, and slavery since 1989. Joe also shared his personal journey with illness. encouraged us to reach out to our family, friends and church community for support and prayers. God’s faithfulness in providing resources for him and his daughter to Africa.
Jun Faldas, an alumni of CPU high school and Chemical Engineering in 1970. He has been instrumental in engaging CPU students through a graphic design contest for our global reunion in 2003 and 2025. He generously donated prizes for the contestants. Jun’s generosity extends beyond the alumni chapter. These are the following churches and mission group that he is supporting. South Florida Filipino American Fellowship. The group also provides board and lodging for ministers on training in the southern part of the Philippines. Grace Baptist Church, in Cabanatu-an and Rev. Nunez Memorial Church in Damayan Capiz. Jun is very much involved in the ministry to the youth group of these churches by sending them to experience Camp Higher Ground. Even providing resources and training for a special skill in boxing.
The Trivia questions about CPU prepared by Rod Gonsales and Hannah Quanico were challenging. Rod was also challenged by our inability to listen and follow instructions. There was lots of laughter and excitement, as prizes were provided for the correct answer. Most of the trivia questions took us back to CPU roots and heritage. A great reminder and reinforcement of the schools’ mission, vision and core values. Edwin Arroz made an announcement for the upcoming election of FOAA officers in August 2024. The committee decided to extend the submission of candidates on June 30, 2024. Nomination forms are available and interested candidates and nominations to contact Edwin Arroz or Meriam Amy.
We had an attendance of 65 with a surprising number of first-time attendees. The inspiring story from our alumni is just the tip of the iceberg. I know that alumni around the world are making an impact on those around them. Each time we get together, we are celebrating our Filipino culture and most of all the CPU alumni culture. The common bond share, The Central Spirit transcends beyond the campus. Centralians are ready to serve and generous to those in need.
We hope that we can continue to ignite the Central Spirit with your attendance at the upcoming Global Reunion on July 10-13, 2025, here in Toronto. It will be a time of connecting, discovering Toronto and exploring the CPU alumni global culture for endless possibility. Come and share your story.