UPAAT leads Filipino Citizenship oath taking

UPAAT leads Filipino Citizenship oath taking

Photo shows the largest group of oath takers so far, presented by UPAAT president Fred Gamboa to Ambassador Leslie Gatan. The Canadian and Philippine governments agreed to allow Canadian citizens of Filipino descent to re-claim their homeland’s citizenship and birthright, making them dual citizens of both countries. PHOTO: RENE SEVILLA

TORONTO–With one long serious sentence , and the raising of the right hand, 36 Filipino Canadians reclaimed their Philippine citizenship in what Ambassador Leslie Gatan named  the largest group he has sworn in at the solemn ceremony that made them dual citizens of the Philippine homeland and Canada.

The event, sponsored by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association Toronto and the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, was held during the UPAAT  fellowship “Kapihan” at the Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre in Mississauga last October 12, 2013.

In the past, Filipino nationals who acquired Canadian citizenship were not allowed to re-acquire Philippine passports and lost many of the privileges incumbent on Philippine citizens. Recent laws changed this and thousands of Filipino nationals with Canadian citizenship have retrieved their Philippine birthright when two countries agreed to grant dual citizenship.

While conversations among newly-sworn in dual citizens are tinged with humor and light banters , the topic of citizenship has always been a deep  emotional issue due to nationalistic , heritage, tradition, culture and family ties. Thus, the heart skips a few beats specially at the part of the Oath of Allegiance which declares   ”…. I will maintain true faith and allegiance (to the Philippines) ….. and impose this obligation upon myself voluntarily without mental reservation or purpose of evasion.”

Of the 36 newly-sworn dual citizens, 17 are UPians and the rest are family members and friends. Several UPian family members took the oath together, like husband and wife UPAAT president Fred and  Diana Gamboa, former UPAAT president Joe and Lita Zagala,  lawyer Red Liboro, wife Lita and daughter Rosalie Liboro ; Alice and  Romy Herrera; Mary Ann and Dennis Morales and their two sons; Romi and  Necie MananQuil, Oswald and  Mila Magno; Nemesio  and Susan Villanueva; Minda Mendoza and Diego Linan,  and others like Terry Chua, Marissa Fortuno, Marie Rosali, Doreen Cortez, among others.

In a separate interview, UPAAT  president Fred Gamboa stated that the Board (also called Council)  has a plan to hook up with as many Canadian- and US –based   UP alumni associations to form a North American-wide UP alumni umbrella. Thus there will be concerted efforts to hold periodic conventions, plan fundraising, and in bringing in the UP president for a visit, and other activities.

President Gamboa said  some of the scheduled activities at UPAAT are the Christmas Party on Dec. 6, 2013, the annual Career Development Seminar on March  22 and 23, 2014, and the Tee UP high golf tournament on June 22, 1014.

(PRESS RELEASE)