Third Philippine Presidents' Day on March 17th at
the FACLA
By Bobby M. Reyes
Los Angeles, California
The Filipino-American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) has agreed to host permanently the
commemoration of the Philippine Presidents' Day (PPD) at its Social Hall. The FACLA, which was founded
in 1945, is located at 1740 West Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90026. The third edition of the PPD will be
held on March 17, 2007, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The FACLA Board of Directors designated Bobby M. Reyes, a FACLA member, and its Treasurer-Director
Sally Jamorabon to cochair the event. Reyes and Ms. Jamorabon said that they are inviting community
leaders who hail from the home provinces of the Philippine Presidents to join the event's Executive
Committee.
So far, Ms. Luz Bautista-Yap and Ager Flores-Libago have agreed to join the PPD Executive Committee.
Ms. Yap is the president of the Marcelinean (Zambales) Association of Southern California. Zambales is
the home province of President Ramon Magsaysay. Mr. Libago is the president of the Cebu Brotherhood of
Los Angeles. President Sergio Osmeña, Sr., hailed from Cebu.
Reyes started in 2005 a movement of commemorating the lives of Philippine Presidents. He said that
March 17th is the best day to hold the event. It is the death anniversary of President Ramon Magsaysay
who died together with his party in a plane crash in Cebu on March 17, 1957. Then Vice President Carlos
P. Garcia was sworn into the highest office on March 18, 1957. Then President Emilio Aguinaldo of the
First Philippine Republic was captured by the Americans on March 24, 1901. Reyes said that March is the
ideal month to honor the Presidents of the Philippines.
The first PPD was staged at the FACLA on March 17, 2005, and the Media Breakfast Club (MBC)
sponsored it with the assistance of Ms. Lee Cummings (now deceased) and the Reyes and Albert families
of West Covina, CA. The second PPD was held at the Philippine Consulate General on March 16, 2006,
again with the MBC sponsoring it with the assistance of Ms. Susan R. Guan of the www.srnfinancial.com.
A memorial mass in honor of all the departed Philippine Presidents starts the commemoration services.
Prayers are also offered for the living Philippine Presidents in the hope that all of them would continue to
work for the welfare of the Filipino people. Some invited speakers then make short biographical sketches
of the lives of the Philippine Presidents. After the program, lunch will be served. Then the event's sponsors
will treat the senior citizens and veterans in attendance to ballroom dancing.
Reyes said that for this year's PPD, he will be representing in the Executive Committee not only the MBC
but also the Philippine-American Dream Team (PADT), which he and his friends organized to promote
certain Filipino and Filipino-American events. He said also that the PPD Executive Committee has invited
Ms. Susan Barlin and Ruben S. Panopio, Jr., to cosponsor the event. Ms. Barlin is the founder and prime
mover of the first-ever Asian International Real Estate Expo and Conference (AIREEC) that will be held at
the PICC in Metro Manila on Dec. 6-10, 2007. Mr. Panopio is the founder of U.S.-Philippines Expo, which
will be held at the Pomona Fair Grounds on Aug. 4-5, 2007. The PADT's Organizing Committee for the
2007 Filipino-American Events at the Dodgers Stadium will also cosponsor the PPD. To RSVP, please
e-mail mediabcla@aol.com or call up (626) 825-0628 # # #
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