Cantiveros elected as MACCFA president
Rod Escobar Cantiveros, recipient of Queen Elizabeth ll Diamond Jubilee Medal, and publisher of the Manitoba and Alberta Filipino Journal, elected as the president of the Manitoba Council of Canadian Filipino Association, Inc. during the election meeting held recently at the FSGW building. Julie Javier, also a recipient of Queen Elizabeth ll Diamond Jubilee Medal, founder and executive officer of Asian ConNEXTion Agency, currently governor of Batangas Association of Manitoba, member of Manitoba Street Festival and Asian Heritage Society of Manitoba, is the vice-president for internal and external affairs. Florencio Antonio, president of OFSAM and senior advisor in the City of Winnipeg, treasurer; Jun Oquendo, of Pangasinan Group of Manitoba, financial secretary; Clarita Nazario, president of Bulacan Association, secretary; Norman Padilla, of QPAM, pro; Rowena Oquendo, immediate past president of MACCFA and former president of Pangasinan Group of Manitoba, and Letty Antonio, OFSAM officer, as advisers.
Since its foundation in 2009, MACCFA has been involved in various endeavours to help member associations. Fundraising events were held to help our kababayans and other ethnic groups, like the fundraising for Haiti, a country which was hardly hit by natural disaster.
The creation of HELPfund will generate more sustainable fund for disaster reliefs and for other programs on scholarship and community events. During the term of Rowena Oquendo, MACFFA was able to reach other councils in the province of Alberta, esp. in Edmonton and Calgary and this led to the formation of the ambitious but doable Filipino National Congress of Canada. With this mandate of MACCFA, strategic plans are finalized so that the Filipino National Congress will represent various Filipino associations in Canada. A former national association of Filipino groups left a void to be filled by the proposed Filipino National Congress.
Being one of the biggest ethnic group in Canada and having no formal national group, it is the purpose of MACCFA to spearhead the formation of the Filipino National Congress as a body to be involved in the consultation on immigration, culture, health, education and other issues affecting the Filipinos in Canada.
“Right now, we are moving forward to have a stronger foundation to finalize the formation of the Western Filipino Council which will pave the way to merge with Ontario and Eastern Canada’s various Filipino Associations, and finally , the formation of the Filipino National Congress, It will take goodwill and hardwork to realize our main objective.Lately, I was able to talk to some leaders and media in Toronto and I received positive responses and supports. Others say: “Panahon na.” (Now is the time.), Cantiveros says. “We have the plan to meet various leaders in the major Canadian cities. And through their cooperation and involvement plus our dedications and commitments, I am sure the formation of Filipino National Congress is doable.. As a matter of fact, we have the numbers, and the strength, a strong foundation to have a national Filipino group in Canada.”
Currently, MACFFA is working on the campaign platform to welcome associations as members. Presently, the member/organizations include Quezon Province Association of Manitoba, OFSAM, Pangasinan Group of Manitoba, Batangas Association of Manitoba, Bulacan Association of Manitoba, Bacoor Association of Manitoba, Teatro Filipino Group, and other associations have shown interest to join the council.
Other forthcoming projects of MACFFA include; Bud&Spud Fundraising, Search for Mrs. Philippines of Manitoba and Car raffle, and sporting and charitable events.
For more information about MACCFA please get in touch with the officers and members. Use our emails: rod.cantiveros@gmail.com; Julie Javier: JCJavier@exchange.hsc.mb.ca; Rowena Oquendo: rvoquendo@hotmail.com; clarita nazario: claritanazario@yahoo.ca; tony and letty antonio: e.antonio <duque5@shaw,ca >;jun oquendo: oquendo.jr64@gmail.com; norman padilla: norman0453@gmail.com
Photo by Ron Cantiveros | Filipino Journal
