New PPCO officers elected, inducted

New PPCO officers elected, inducted

Oath taking: Adhoc Election Committee Chair Larry Bercasio administers swearing-in of the newly elected officers and board members of PPCO. Photo: HG

TORONTO–The Philippine Press Club of Ontario (PPCO) has elected a new set of officers for 2014-2016.

The officers, who comprise the executive committee of the PPCO Board, are: Rosalinda Tijam, president; Jonathan Canchela, vice president; Rodel Ramos, secretary; Noel Perada, treasurer; and Mila Astorga-Garcia, public affairs and communications officer. The other officers elected as board members are: Joe Damasco, Ariel Ramos, Melinda Rustia, Joaquin Taduran; and Romeo Zetazate.

Tijam, one of the founders of PPCO, has served as secretary, vice president and president in previous terms. She is a former radio broadcaster and agriculture journalist and now a freelance writer for community newspapers.

Canchela has served in the PPCO as secretary for two terms and is a writer and reporter for The Philippine Reporter. Rodel Ramos, a co-founder of

Adhoc Election Committee at the PPCO AGM: Larry Bercasio, Oswald Tugadi, Willie Reodica. Photo: HG

PPCO, is a regular and freelance writer for various Filipino community newspapers. Astorga-Garcia is managing editor of The Philippine Reporter and a former reporter with Business Day in Manila.

Perada, Ariel Ramos and Zetazate are photo journalists, the latter with St. Jamestown News Service. Taduran is editor of online publication Ugnayan and veteran journalist in Manila. Rustia is a co-founder of PPCO and publisher and editor of magazine iFilipino. Damasco, a co-founder of PPCO, is with radio program Talakayan.

The elections were held during the Annual General Meeting on May 10, 2014, at Music Box in North York, Ontario. Comprising the Commission on Elections were community leaders: Larry Bercasio, Willie Reodica and Oswald Tugadi.

Outgoing president Hermie Garcia, who had declined nomination for re-election to make way for new leaders, having served on the PPCO Board for eight years and president for one year and two months, reported on the highlights of his term as head of the organization.

PHOTO: ARIEL RAMOS

Re-elected treasurer Noel Perada also presented the organization’s financial report.
Immediately after the elections, the new officers took their oath of office, officiated by Bercasio, chair of the Adhoc Election Committee.