Phil-Am Holiday Celebration 2005

The annual Holiday celebration held at PSL Community Center on Saturday, December 17, 2005, marked the final event for 2005. Additionally, the Association pulled together and managed to hold each scheduled event without a hitch, despite setback brought about by hurricane Wilma. At the same time, the Phil-Am was able to raise funds at unprecedented level.

Meanwhile, over two hundred children and adults enjoyed the Christmas Party. After Dr. Gerard Flores’ welcome address, Dr. Mien Maranon offered the invocation. Daisy McGinnis did an outstanding job for being the MC. And with the talents of Vic Ventulan, Ginny Childress, and Tess Goodall, altogether working with the MC, they ran the evening program smoothly and on time. They also planned an entertaining program for the evening.

During dinner, the guests were serenaded by kids singing the Christmas carols, followed by a piano piece by a 17-year old visitor from New Orleans, Josef Ventulan. A young Mr. Bernabe also showed his guitar talents. Tess and Gary Goodall danced a modern version of Pinoy folk dance. With her group, Genie Childress also danced to the tune of Otso-Otso and Bulaklak. Also, Victor Mendoza, Eric Luyao, and Felix Carpio shared their Karaoke talents during dinner. 

The big surprise of the evening was the Hip Hop Tinikling performed by the PhilAm Youth: Megan Chanliongco, Genevive Flores, Mallory Flores, Melisa Flores, Johnny Luceru, Rexon Mancao, Brandon Magtalas and Erwin Magtalas.

Surrounded by kids of all ages awaiting their gifts, Gary Goodall, who played this year’s Santa Clause, handed out the gifts provided by the kid’s parents. Thanks Gary. We’re looking forward to seeing you again next year in the same outfit. 

On the food department, Tess Flores, Marjorie Deocampo, Norma Nycum, Puanani Lee, and Cynthia Lucero were in charged of coordinating the variety of foods provided by our kababayan who wanted to share their favorite dishes. Bing and Cynthia Lucero’s letchon served as the main centerpiece.   

As always, our decorating committee headed by Drs. Roly and Gemma Mendoza came early and stayed late to ensure the place was arranged and decorated properly for the party. The committee also made sure that the place was cleaned up. Thanks to the committee members for their efforts – Leah Acantilado, Felix Carpio, Aris and Ofe Mancao, Vic and Chari Mendoza, Rommel Ecarma, Monti Luciano, Jack and Eljay Cabansay.     Not to be outdone were the pretty ladies at the reception table. Headed by Anita Chanliongco, Lydia Cabansay, and Jay Sneider, these ladies were busy updating the membership list and collecting the annual dues while welcoming the guests. A special edition of 2006 Phil-Am calendar was also distributed to those who signed up or renew their membership.   

We can not possibly express our sincere gratitude enough. We thank all the officers and members who showed up for the event. Most importantly, we thank all those who brought their favorite dish to share with the rest of us. Any suggestion to improve the quality of the party for 2006 is strongly encouraged. Remember, this is your party and it can only be as good as your participation. We are looking forward to seeing you all at the 2006 Holiday Celebration at the same place -- Saturday, December 9, 2006. 

Our great food server: Puanani, Nanding, Linda, Norma, and Marjorie

No more Rice?

Our Pretty Money Launderers: Thelma, Anita, and Jay

Aling Nora, Les and Ofie; Our Desserts Corner

The Ladies of the Ticket Master   Malou, Ayet, Eleanor, May, Winnie, Daisy, and Cynthia

with Pinkey and CJ

Our Kids Room while the adults were playing

See the smiling faces?

Cynthia, Pinkey, Tess and Cloe

And the winners are...

Hurry.....Place your bets

Our Lone Jockey

Where is the money???

During one of the Tag Nights.....Anita Chanliongco, Tess Flores, Norma Nycum, Marjorie Deocampo, Linda Laroya, and Michelle Aldana 

The crowd started to gather around at 8 AM on Saturday

Thanks to Vic Obillo who donated his 2000 Daewo. The car was sold within 30 minutes of the opening on Saturday.

Our super Phil-Am teens during the Car Wash

Thanks to our volunteer nurse from Tiffany Hall Nursing and Rehab Center, Aida Walker, attending to Peggy Bowman of BellSouth

Sharn from Tiffany Hall Nursing and Rehab Center and daughters getting ready to serve free drinks and candies... Thanks for a wonderful job!!!

Just relaxing...Norma Nycum, Jack and Lydia Cabansay, Bobot Ragamat and Michelle Aldana

L to R: Anje Deocampo, Felix Carpio, Tess Flores, Norma Nycum, Dr. Roly Mendoza, Geoff Villarasa, Cynthia Lucero, Bing Lucero, Marjori Deocampo, Aries Mancao, Dr. Gerard Flores, Dr. Trinidad Garcia, Mike Razuman, Tina Magtalas 

Great Job!!!

Officers and members took a quick five for a souvenir shot. 

Thanks to the leadership of Bobot Ragamat, Jack and Lydia Cabansay, and Dr. Tita Garcia for organizing the picnic. 

Thanks to Malou Reid and Sharn Atandi from Tiffany Hall Nursing and Rehab Center for providing us with unlimited supply of pop corn and ice cream during the picnic

Ayet and Malou

 Current President Dr. Gerard Flores with the newly President-elect Vic Ventulan

Vic Ventulan, a resident of St James Golf Club in Port St Lucie, was elected unanimously as president of the PhilAm Association of the Treasure Coast for the year 2006-2008 during the Labor Day Picnic in Okeechobee. Members from the tri-county area also nominated the rest of the officers for their respective position as Ari Reyes directed the process. The elected members are the following:

President: Vic Ventulan
VP’s:   Dr. Gemma Mendoza – Vero Beach
           Dr. Rene Alcalde – PSL
           Anje Deocampo – PSL
           Dr. Sam Razuman  -- Ft Pierce
           Bobot Ragamat – Okeechobee
Secretary:                 Tess Goodall
Assistant Secretary:    Leah Acantilado
Treasurer:                  Lydia Cabansay
Assistant Treasurer:    Tess Flores
Auditor:                      Norma Nycum
Assistant Auditor:         Marjorie Deocampo
PRO:  Dr. Roly Mendoza – Vero Beach
          Ofie Mancao – Ft Pierce
          Geoff Villarasa – PSL
          Bing Lucero – PSL
          Jack Cabansay – Okeechobee

The President will appoint the Board of Directors when he takes office in May 2006.

The 2005 Labor Day Raffle netted over $2,000.oo

Thanks to those who bought tickets for the raffle and thanks to Tess Flores for donating most of the prizes.

Treasurer Lydia Cabansay and President Dr Gerard Flores presented the Trip to Bahamas For Two ticket to Dr Paul and Mrs Michelle Aldana as the First Prize winner of the 2005 Labor Day Raffle during the picnic in Okeechobee.

Dr. Paul Aldana won the Trip to Bahamas for Two or $700.00 cash as the First Prize winner of the 2005 Labor Day Raffle.

The Second Prize, 14K Italian Gold Enameled Bracelet, went to Dr. Lilia Ladia

Zenaida Gonzales ended up with the protable DVD player as the winner of the Third Prize

The Fourth Prize winner of the Digital Camera was Melissa Flores

Plus 15 Consolation Prizes    

Thanks to Leah Acantilado, Almie Sedillo, Thelma and Felix Panong, Kaye and Richard Heyrosa, Nora and Leslie Webb, Puanani Lee, Norma Nycum, Jack and Lydia Cabansay, Ari and Maita Reyes, Chet and Tata Canoy, Vic an Winnie Ventulan, Maricor and Francis Frias, Sam and Mike Razuman, Gerry and Tess Flores, Roly and Gemma Mendoza, Malou and Boy Benemerito, Aris and Ofie Mancao, Anita and Edgar Chanlionco, Tina and Ronnie Magtalas, Bing and Cynthia Lucero, Nanding and Edna Origenes, Nita Quiambao, and ALL participants, members and guests!!!

                                                                           Leah and Almie

Saturday, April 9, 2005
5th Annual Golf Tournament and Karaoke Night                                           8:00 A.M. First Tee
6:00 P.M.  Karaoke Night
St James Golf Club, Port St Lucie, FL

                                                                               Joel                  "The Champion" Racca

                                                                                Kathryn Lopez

The Phil-Am Association of the Treasure Coast held its first Karaoke Night event following the 5th Annual Golf Tournament on Saturday, April 9, 2005 at the St James Golf and Country Clubhouse in Port St Lucie. Attended by some players, guests and mostly Phil-Am members, the event turned out to be the best show by far -- one to be remembered. The clubhouse was packed over its capacity.                                                                                                  The Karaoke Night brought out some hidden talents amongst the Phil-Am members. A guest from New Jersey, Mr. Joel Racca, wowed the audience with his talent. Receiving a standing ovation, he eventually won the “Championship Award”. Came in close in second place was Kathryn Lopez. A local talent who work as an emergency nurse at St Lucie Medical Center, Kathryn performed a rendition of “I Will Survive.” Over 40 members and guests participated and shared their talents with veryone.The attendees include two of the Filipino boxing heroes. Gerry Penalosa, a WBC Superfly Champion, and CZ Gorres, who ranked #5 in WBO are both in training in Vero Beach for their next fight.

L to R: Gerry Penalosa, Dr. Gerry Flores, Kaye Heyrosa, and CZ Gorres

                                                    Kathryn, Almie, Leah, and Marjorie

The Karaoke Night brought out some hidden talents amongst the Phil-Am members. A guest from New Jersey, Mr. Joel Racca, wowed the audience with his talent. Receiving a standing ovation, he eventually won the “Championship Award”. Came in close in second place was Kathryn Lopez. A local talent who work as an emergency nurse at St Lucie Medical Center, Kathryn performed a rendition of “I Will Survive.” Over 40 members and guests participated and shared their talents with veryone.The attendees include two of the Filipino boxing heroes. Gerry Penalosa, a WBC Superfly Champion, and CZ Gorres, who ranked #5 in WBO are both in training in Vero Beach for their next fight.

The event would not have been such a great success with out the participation of the Midport Dwellers who spearheaded the project. The committee included Leah Acantilado, Almie Sedillo, Thelma Panong, Kay Heyrosa, Nora and Leslie Webb.

Kaye, Maricor, Leah, Tess, Marjorie, Tata, Norma, Thelma, Winnie and daughter Isabela

                    Geoff "Sally Ride" Villarasa with back up, Roly, Ronnie, Bing, and Anje

We would like to acknowledge several people who contributed immensely to the success of both the Golf Tournament and the Karaoke Night. Thanks to the kindness of Vic and Winnie Ventulan who provided the venue for the event. To those who spend time and effort making baked goods for dessert -- a well deserving applause. Also, thank to Puanani Lee for her patience in tending the store. Also thanks to the Okeechobee representation of Jack and Linda Cabansay. Thanks to the participants who paid $5.00 each to show their talents. Thanks to our prize donors headed by Norma Nycum and Tess Flores.

                               The Clean-Up Crew

Thanks to the following who played a very important role for the successful event:

Gerry and Tess Flores, Vic and Winnie Ventulan, Ari and Maita Reyes, Anje and Marjorie Deocampo, Jed Deocampo, Sam and Mike Razuman, Jack and Lydia Cabansay, Danny Dairit, Edna Origines, and Francis and Maricor Frias.

The Players

The 5th Annual Golf Tournament held at the St James Golf and Country Club on Saturday, April 9, 2005 in Port St Lucie was a great success. Thanks to the diligence and hard work of one individual who made it happened without a hitch. As the overall coordinator of the event, Francis Frias single-handedly planned and executed the task flawlessly. With the guidance from the host, PhilAm president Dr. Gerard Flores, Frias also recruited the help of  Ari Reyes, Vic Ventulan, and Dr. Rene Alcalde to sign up players from the surrounding counties. With the help of Danny Dayrit, three players came all the way from Jacksonville to participate. There were over 40 golfers participated in the event.

                                                                 Francis Frias

Of course, the wives including Maricor Frias, Tess Flores, Maita Reyes, Winnie Ventulan, Edna Origenes, and Marjorie Deocampo showed up for support. They also ran the event -- from the registration to handing out refreshment at the course. Later, to show their support and help during lunch, some of the officers and members including Dr Malou Benemerito, Linda Laroya, Norma Nycum, and Jack and Linda Cabansay also came. Overall, the event brought in over 8K dollars to help the Association in its scholarship program.

Winnie Ventulan, Marjorie Deocampo, Maita Reyes, Edna Origenes, and Maricor Frias

Saturday, April 2, 2005
Rev. Rudy Osorio
50th Golden Jubilee of his Ordination to Priesthood
5:30 P.M.
Holy Family Catholic Church
Port St Lucie, FL

Fr. Rudy Osorio celebrated his 50th year of continuous spiritual service since his ordination to priesthood, Birthday, and Farewell Party – all in the same day. The Holy Family Catholic Church held a special service on Saturday, April 2, 2005, honoring Fr. Rudy Osorio. The mass was followed by a dinner given by the Filipino and Hispanic parishioners. Also, Fr. Osorio was presented with a plaque and various gifts from hundreds of attendees.

Born April 2, 1926 in Dalaguete, Cebu, Philippines, Fr. Osorio was ordained from the Archdiocese and Seminary of Cebu, Philippines in 1955. He came to the Sates in 1986 and served in Fort Lee, N.J. under the Archdiocese of Newark. After retiring in 1996, he moved to Port St Lucie and served at the Holy Family Catholic Church under the Archdiocese of Palm Beach where he nurtured the cross-cultural following from the Hispanic, Filipino, as well as the Anglo members the community. His association with the community, his passion for bringing different cultures together to serve one God, and his heartfelt homilies will surely be missed.

Fr. Osorio will finally retire, the second time around, to his hometown in the Philippines to be with his family and relatives, and to enjoy an occasional golf and stroll in the beach with a year-round sunshine.

We wish him “fair winds and following seas”.