PAMANA Spring Fling
Shaping the future of the Fil-Am community
Shaping the future of the Fil-Am community
By Heidi M. Pascual
Filipinos in the Madison area welcome spring every year with a get-together – an
important way to keep the connections and promote relationships that strengthen the
foundation of PAMANA, an association over 30 years old. It is also every spring, when
PAMANA members officially nominate and vote for the new board members of the
association.
President Cora Halloway was the first to arrive at Elver Park, with her famous home-
cooked Filipino dishes. “We expect people to come and enjoy the picnic,” Hallloway said.
“We’ll have lots of Filipino food. That’s what’s amazing in the Filipinos — we gather around
food, you know. We have barbecue, pancit and stuff like that. “
Halloway explained that in choosing the future officers of PAMANA, the current board
created a Commission on Election (COMELEC) composed of Jeanette Nelson, Allan Rosanes
and Noli Ybañez. “The COMELEC has already a complete slot of nominees for the board.”
Regarding the incoming president, Halloway said that PAMANA’S system provided for a
president-elect. “We had set up a schedule … so every year, we know who’s going to be the
next president,” she explained. “This year, it’s going to be Ferdinand Rico. What we’re going
to elect today is the rest of the board. The next president will not be nominated. We’ll have
nominations for all the positions and those nominees who will accept the position will
nominate among themselves the treasurer, the president-elect for 2010, and the rest of the
officers.”
Going back to her plan to establish a Philippine Center during her presidency, Halloway
admitted that it has been a very slow process, but her goal is on track, regardless of
PAMANA’s new leadership. She said the first step is to incorporate PAMANA as a nonprofit
organization. “We’re in the process of filing for 501-C3, and it’s a good thing because for
more than 25 years, we’ve never been incorporated,” she explained. “I’m so proud and
confident to say that it will be done maybe in the next month or so. Carmel Capati, who is a
member and past president of the organization, is working in that respect, with Alvin
Gutierrez and myself.”
Halloway believes that PAMANA can begin raising funds when the first step has been
accomplished. “We first gathered information on how we can apply for the 501-C3 status,”
she continued. “And that’s going to be a long, difficult journey, lots of hard work; but I’m
confident that with the enthusiasm of PAMANA members in promoting our culture and ideas,
we can do that. The Philippine Center is going to be something that we can be proud of — a
Filipinos in the Madison area welcome spring every year with a get-together – an
important way to keep the connections and promote relationships that strengthen the
foundation of PAMANA, an association over 30 years old. It is also every spring, when
PAMANA members officially nominate and vote for the new board members of the
association.
President Cora Halloway was the first to arrive at Elver Park, with her famous home-
cooked Filipino dishes. “We expect people to come and enjoy the picnic,” Hallloway said.
“We’ll have lots of Filipino food. That’s what’s amazing in the Filipinos — we gather around
food, you know. We have barbecue, pancit and stuff like that. “
Halloway explained that in choosing the future officers of PAMANA, the current board
created a Commission on Election (COMELEC) composed of Jeanette Nelson, Allan Rosanes
and Noli Ybañez. “The COMELEC has already a complete slot of nominees for the board.”
Regarding the incoming president, Halloway said that PAMANA’S system provided for a
president-elect. “We had set up a schedule … so every year, we know who’s going to be the
next president,” she explained. “This year, it’s going to be Ferdinand Rico. What we’re going
to elect today is the rest of the board. The next president will not be nominated. We’ll have
nominations for all the positions and those nominees who will accept the position will
nominate among themselves the treasurer, the president-elect for 2010, and the rest of the
officers.”
Going back to her plan to establish a Philippine Center during her presidency, Halloway
admitted that it has been a very slow process, but her goal is on track, regardless of
PAMANA’s new leadership. She said the first step is to incorporate PAMANA as a nonprofit
organization. “We’re in the process of filing for 501-C3, and it’s a good thing because for
more than 25 years, we’ve never been incorporated,” she explained. “I’m so proud and
confident to say that it will be done maybe in the next month or so. Carmel Capati, who is a
member and past president of the organization, is working in that respect, with Alvin
Gutierrez and myself.”
Halloway believes that PAMANA can begin raising funds when the first step has been
accomplished. “We first gathered information on how we can apply for the 501-C3 status,”
she continued. “And that’s going to be a long, difficult journey, lots of hard work; but I’m
confident that with the enthusiasm of PAMANA members in promoting our culture and ideas,
we can do that. The Philippine Center is going to be something that we can be proud of — a
| PAMANA's Outgoing President Cora Halloway, New President Ferdinand Rico |
| Former President Ed Escall with wife Nieva |
under a common goal, not just for fun and celebration, would be best for PAMANA. “There is a time for
celebration; there’s a time for being together in terms of these needs; and there’s a time for dialogue,
whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat,” he stressed. “The bottomline is, we have a fresh presidency,
whether it’s in PAMANA or whether in the United States. But the thing is, we’re all close together in different
ways within this community — whether you’re in Madison as a community, or a Filipino American in
Madison.”
celebration; there’s a time for being together in terms of these needs; and there’s a time for dialogue,
whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat,” he stressed. “The bottomline is, we have a fresh presidency,
whether it’s in PAMANA or whether in the United States. But the thing is, we’re all close together in different
ways within this community — whether you’re in Madison as a community, or a Filipino American in
Madison.”
Llamas family
PAMANA welcomes back past President Al
Poliarco (second from left, front row)
Poliarco (second from left, front row)
Lec Rebudiao and kids
| Marilyn Lim, Jacqui Patricio and son |
| PAMANA attendees |
place to gather, showcase our culture, and where our
kababayans who need some help can be attended to.”
Halloway will stay as a member of the board and she
has some ideas for raising funds after PAMANA
becomes a nonprofit. “We’re thinking of showcasing
our beautiful ladies and handsome men doing a
fashion show to raise money,” she said. “We’re
looking at the Overture Center to do that. We have
member who is a professional model who will teach
us how to do modeling. And of course, the cultural
dances will always be there.”
She called on the Filipino community to help her
achieve this goal. “Let’s get together, really plan and
work together so that we can accomplish this main
goal,” Halloway said. “It’s for our community, and I
think we Filipinos here in Madison can do it if we pull
ourselves together. We’re about 400 families now. We
have about 300 members. And of course, there are
more that are not members yet. In Alaska, for example,
Filipinos have three big organizations, and they have a
building there! And do you know how they are paying
for it? They play Bingo, and they pay for the building
from the income they get from the games. If they can do
it, why can’t we?”
For his part, the new president-elect, Ferdinand Rico,
noted that PAMANA has always been a social
organization. “It has always been about gathering and
sharing our culture,” Rico said. “Intergenerationally,
we want to pass on that tradition to our kids.”
In addition, Rico said that there is a need to strengthen
the communication system in the community and
support one another especially in these hard times. “If
there’s death in the family, if there’s sickness or
illness, I’ve seen Madison take care of those who we’
re close to, and that community needs to grow,” he
said. “We brought our old folks here, and some
families are struggling at this time, while some are
making it. How can we share and how can we
communicate? How can we tap into the professionals
and help each other, teach each other, by having a
common place, a common group?”
Rico believes that identifying each member’s
passion and coming together to support one another
kababayans who need some help can be attended to.”
Halloway will stay as a member of the board and she
has some ideas for raising funds after PAMANA
becomes a nonprofit. “We’re thinking of showcasing
our beautiful ladies and handsome men doing a
fashion show to raise money,” she said. “We’re
looking at the Overture Center to do that. We have
member who is a professional model who will teach
us how to do modeling. And of course, the cultural
dances will always be there.”
She called on the Filipino community to help her
achieve this goal. “Let’s get together, really plan and
work together so that we can accomplish this main
goal,” Halloway said. “It’s for our community, and I
think we Filipinos here in Madison can do it if we pull
ourselves together. We’re about 400 families now. We
have about 300 members. And of course, there are
more that are not members yet. In Alaska, for example,
Filipinos have three big organizations, and they have a
building there! And do you know how they are paying
for it? They play Bingo, and they pay for the building
from the income they get from the games. If they can do
it, why can’t we?”
For his part, the new president-elect, Ferdinand Rico,
noted that PAMANA has always been a social
organization. “It has always been about gathering and
sharing our culture,” Rico said. “Intergenerationally,
we want to pass on that tradition to our kids.”
In addition, Rico said that there is a need to strengthen
the communication system in the community and
support one another especially in these hard times. “If
there’s death in the family, if there’s sickness or
illness, I’ve seen Madison take care of those who we’
re close to, and that community needs to grow,” he
said. “We brought our old folks here, and some
families are struggling at this time, while some are
making it. How can we share and how can we
communicate? How can we tap into the professionals
and help each other, teach each other, by having a
common place, a common group?”
Rico believes that identifying each member’s
passion and coming together to support one another