Vol. 1, Issue 2 A quarterly publication of Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA, Inc. April - June 2017
Pangasinan Brotherhood rolls with the times By Lino F. Caringal, Jr.
Pangasinan Brotherhood is performing superbly as envisioned. In a nutshell, it has sponsored major activities and events and the latest being the trade seminar on April 25, 2017 at the Toyota Museum Center in Torrance, California.
In Musical Odyssey, Dan Nino defines who we are: “Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA, a 501-C3 non-profit, tax-exempt charitable organization founded in 1978 is an organization whose members come from various town and city associations based in Southern California. It is registered in the City of Cerritos as a Class A community organization. Ambassador Armando C. Fernandez, himself a Pangasinense, who was then the newly-designated Consul General of Los Angeles extended a big helping hand to the original 16 town associations that composed this federation.”
“As its Mission Statement, Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA shall be an avenue for intelligent participation by Pangasinenses in the affairs of their community, state and nation, here and abroad; to provide them opportunity for personal growth and achievements; and to develop true friendship in our community. The Brotherhood shall vigorously work for progress to raise the quality of life in the thriving cities and towns of the province of Pangasinan in general and to help preserve and promote its people’s unique culture and tradition, thereby making the Brotherhood a positive agent of change and prosperity.”
PB-USA has evolved in many ways since its establishments 39 years ago. It has partnered with several sectors of our society here and in the Philippines with government and non-government entities, church, business and entrepreneurs to achieve its objectives.
It provided scholarships grants to academically-endowed college-bound students in both Greater Los Angeles and Pangasinan, provided four low-cost housing units through Gawad Kalinga in Villasis and Laoac towns in Pangasinan, provided monetary donations to victims of natural disasters through the church in Central Philippines, provided funds to cooperative projects in Pangasinan, and provided opportunity for Pangasinan producers and manufacturers to showcase their products in Artesia, California for potential export opportunities of their products to USA, among others.
PB-USA in current times. The executive planning group has met several times throughout the year and periodically updated its plans and projects to roll with the times. This portfolio covers trade and livelihood that fuel the journey of hope of self-sustaining local business in the grassroots level in the province of Pangasinan. A historical first is the successful importation into the US by IC Motors products, Inc. with a fellow Pangasinense from Bayambang at the helm, Dennis Alvarez with the strong support of Grace Belinda Basilio. Considered a miracle product by many, its entry into the US market is making waves, considering its current demand. A big factor in the equation of success of that trade is built by members of PB-USA who themselves are the leaders of their own shipping and customs broker companies – Eddie Ferrer and Jacqueline Ferrer.
Filipino-American performers, scions of Pangasinenses from left: Sean Irwin Collado, Samantha Rose Murray and Sheila Christine Tejada belting out 'Ako Ay Pilipino (I am A Pilipino) at the world-renowned Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. -Photo by Dan E. Nino.
The dramatic statement of Steve Jobs as he lay in bed waiting for his curtain to fall has brought shock waves to the world because of his honest to goodness revelation of our times on earth. Steve Jobs simply put in a proper perspective what we should do, which are more important than wealth accumulation. Accepting that we have provided for ourselves and family sufficient wealth in life, he suggested that maybe let us focus then to relationships, art or a dream in younger years. Jobs utters, “God gave us the senses. Let us feel the love in everyone’s heart.”
Coincidentally, not only have we focused on wealth preservation and protection but also our health and wellness awareness in the Health and Wealth seminar by “Iron Eagle” Mike Pestano and his company coordinated by Ferdinand “Bong” Soriano.
PB-USA also focused on arts and music this second quarter with the huge success of the Musical Odyssey. This is the first arts –oriented project led by Dan Nino, Eddie Ferrer with the direction of Errol Mendoza of DreamAgeGroup to highlight the talents of scions of Pangasinan to support the main headliner – the Filipino international virtuoso pianist – Rudolf Golez. It was a huge success!
Then within the month, a trade seminar featuring the cooperation of trade industries major components in sourcing, shipping and selling, was successfully done. Kudos to companies owned and operated by key members of PB-USA, the Ferrer family of the EC Ferrer Customs Broker, America Pacific Container Line, Planet 63, Ferdinand Soriano and Fernando Soriano and e-commerce company of Mike Pestano and partners.
Our new projects on members' fellowship and camaraderie are the picnic and beauty pageant combined with Christmas party for the second half of the year 2017. The summer picnic is chaired by Menchu Madriaga and the pageant is chaired by Neil Estrada.
Membership in critical times. As we continually roll, we are renewing our membership drive towards the end of this year. Knowing that with stronger memberships, we can do more good things. We will put in place a program called the project 300. We believe in the good qualities of the Spartans that stood their ground on a narrow path in Themopylae to resist thousands of foreign invaders so that their people will survive to fight another day and preserve their nation that eventually united because of the martyrdom of their 300 Spartans.
Focusing on membership to PB-USA, what do we do to make it strong and grow for the years to come? And what are we fighting for? Membership to Pangasinan Brotherhood is a calling
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for all like-minded people to join us in our advocacy – helping the poor in the Philippines and building on the hopes of our people here and everywhere through good examples. - (Please continue on page 4)
Former Cerritos Mayor and current Mayor Pro-Tem Mark Pulido delivers his welcome remarks during the Musical Odyssey Concert of PB-USA at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. - Photo by Dan E. Nino
