Pilipinong Migrante sa Barrie holds General Assembly, reaffirms commitment to serve community

Pilipinong Migrante sa Barrie holds General Assembly, reaffirms commitment to serve community

Pilipinong Migrante sa Barrie members with guests from Migrant Resource Centre and Migrante Canada

TORONTO – Pilipinong Migrante sa Barrie (PMB) held its General Assembly and Re-Launch last Saturday March 3, 2019 at #1 Sawmill Rd. Community Hall, Barrie. With the theme Revitalize, Inform, Educate, Organize! the 33 people in attendance, learned from and shared with guests from Migrante Canada, Bayan Canada and the Migrant Resource Centre-Canada (MRCC) regarding the present situation in the Philippines, the roots of migration and the challenges faced by Filipino migrants particularly in Canada and in different parts of the world.   Jesson Reyes, Co-Director of the MRCC delivered the keynote address, while Migrante Canada Chairperson Ma. Sol Pajadura and Bayan Canada Executive Committee member Remy Pajadura expressed solidarity from their organizations.

In her welcome address Juvy Almacin, one of the PMB pioneers said, “It really has been a while since we got together in a common organized endeavour as PMB. It was last year in 2018 though, that we realized we are still around as an organization and we can still do something for our community here and our kababayans back home.” She was referring particularly to the successful concert-fundraiser for the survivors of typhoon Mangkhut in Northern Philippines that they initiated with the involvement of two other community organizations in Barrie.

PMB members, heartened by achievements last year, then summed up their experiences since the organization’s establishment in 2008, drew lessons from these and crafted a program of action. They reviewed and made amendments to their Constitution and By-Laws, and elected a new set of officers: Chairperson, Elmer Flores; Vice-Chairperson, Wilma Delo; Secretary, Nellie Angagca; Finance Officer, Annie Daniel; and Propaganda Officer, Lanie Zafaralla.

With newfound vigour, PMB officers and members realize “this is no time to rest on our laurels and keep basking in our achievements” — that they “have to be vigilant and to sustain our efforts at making changes“ for their community in Barrie, the larger society and in support of efforts for change in the Philippines. For now, their focus is on further strengthening their organization while reaching out to the Filipino Canadian community in Barrie and addressing their immediate concerns.

(PRESS RELEASE)

Newly-elected PMB officers (L-R) Elmer Flores, Wilma Delo, Annie Daniel, Nelly Angagca and Lanie Zafaralla

Mary Anne Santiago emcees the day’s event