The most fitting way to celebrate the 37th Anniverssary of the Original Filipino Seniors Association of Manitoba (OFSAM)is the proclamation the 2014 Miss OFSAM and her court in a dinner/dance held recently at Essence, Canad Inns, Garden City
OFSAM proclaimed Ms. Milagros Briol, Miss OFSAM 2014; and her court, Miss Friendship, Ms.Valerie Herbert; Miss Faith, Ms. Mercie Curesma; Miss Hope, Ms. Leonor Lucero; and Miss Charity, Ms. Amy Precioso.
Letty Antonio, OFSAM president, addresses the the 37th Anniversary Celebration: ” It has been a tradition of OFSAM to celebrate with this highlight: the Miss OFSAM and her court. Since 1977, with the leadership of Mr. Eustaquio Urrutia , then Ms. Arlene Simon, OFSAM passed the ultimate test of being the premiere of the seniors associations. This year, we are so blessed that the support of officers and board members,we are able to revive this tradition, and we will continue this recognition in the coming years, God willing.”
Letty Antonio also gave a heartwarming thank yous to the guests, donors of prizes, OFSAM officers and members; to the officers and members of other Filipino organizations.
The winners in the Best in Gown contest include Ms.Carrie de la Cruz, 1st place- prize donated by Tony and Letty Antonio; Ms. Gloria Agravante, 2nd place, prize donated by Zeny Calimlim Fronda (Miss OFSAM 2013); and Lorie Fernandez, 3rd place, prize donated by Cesar Fronda. Judges include Rowena Oquendo, Councillor Cindy Gilroy, Julie H. Javier, Candy Padilla, and Minas Pagtakhan.
OFSAM donated the prizes, flowers, trophies and crowns; Ms. Clarita Nazario, vice president of OFSAM, president, Bulacan Association of Manitoba and secretary of the Manitoba Council of Canadian Filipino Associations, Inc. (McCFFA), donated the sashes; Ms. Zeny Calimlim Fronda, 2013 Miss OFSAM and Mrs Luzon-Philippines-Manitoba 2014, arranged the crown and donated the trophy.
Outgoing Ms. Zeny Calimlim Fronda, Mrs. Luzon-Manitoba 2014 (Miss OFSAM 2013) transferred her crown to the new Miss OFSAM 2014, Ms. Milagros Briol, in a glittering ceremonyduring the 37th OFSAM anniversary.
Special guests include the newly elected Cindy Gilroy and Wade, Daniel McIntyre; the re-electionist councilor of Pt. Douglas, Mike Pagtakhan and his wife Minas; Julie Holland Javier, former trustee candidate and VP MaCCFA and member of City of Winnipeg’s Citizen Equity Committee; Rod E. Cantiveros, president, MaCCFA (co-emcee); Aida Champagne, President, Filipino Seniors Group and Chairperson, Manitoba Filipino Street Festival, Inc.; Ella Yambao, president, FILCASA; Maggie-Chan Urbano, president, QPAM;Rowema Oquendo, Ben Ahorro, former presidents of Pangasinan Group of Manitoba; Ley Navarro, board member of Manitoba Filipino Street Festival;Cris Aglugob, former Maples MLA; Florencio “Tony” Antonio, immediate past president of OFSAM.
