Camarines Norte residents in Ontario to organize

Camarines Norte residents in Ontario to organize

By Jennifer S. J. MacLean

“It is about time and long overdue,” challenged one long time Bicolano fixture in Toronto, that Filipino Canadian residents in Ontario who hailed from the province of Camarines Norte should formally join together and form into a family- centered social entity “ to help, support, and give something back “ to their “ pinagmulan” and their fellow provincemates from Bicolandia’s only Tagalog- Bikol mix dialect-speaking area. In an exploratory meeting, Larry Bercasio (real estate broker), Jojo Taduran (freelance journalist), Suzy Llanera (city hall staffer), and Tony San Juan (TDSB teacher), decided to offer their collective commitment and experience to ensure realization of the newest “kid” in the Filipino Canadian social landscape.

The province, geographically – situated south of Quezon province in Luzon island, is famous historically for: its first erected Rizal monument in the country; Gintong Paracale jewelries; sweetest pineapple variety; Bagasbas beaches; iron mines ; Mercedes deep-sea fishing bays and many other distinctions.

The organizing committee envisions to promote and build on the unique heritage, culture, and interests of their “probinsiya” and their “kabanowaans” from the 12 towns of Basud, Capalonga, Daet, Jose Panganiban, Labo, Mercedes, Paracale, San Lorenzo Ruiz, San Vicente, Santa Elena, Talisay, and Vinzons. To achieve this expectation, the group, tentatively named: Camarines Norte Association of Ontario ( CNAO), hopes to develop and deliver viable programs and projects through social and cultural- laden undertakings within the “Pinoy” environment. Likewise, CNAO will participate as a purposeful player and partner in identifiable and mutually- meritorious, community focused initiatives and activities.

Initially, the core group is inviting everyone to a GET TOGETHER – Cum – ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING of all Camarines Norte residents in the Greater Toronto Area on April 21, 2007 ( Saturday) at 1:00 p.m. at the Filipino Centre Toronto (FCT), Lower Level, # 597 Parliament / Wellesley Sts. , Toronto. For further information / particulars, please contact: L. Bercasio, 416-286-8862/ laber@sympatico.ca ; S. Llanera, 416-421-4289/ sllanera@toronto.ca; J. Taduran, 416-757-5971/ jojotaduran@gmail.com or T. San Juan, 416-491-2346 / bobsanjuan@sympatico.ca.

(PRESS RELEASE)