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PHILIPPINE
CULTURAL FOUNDATION, INC.
The Making of the Bayanihan Arts & Events Center
 The
completion of the Bayanihan Arts and Events Center in
the Philippine Cultural Enrichment Complex in Tampa is
the work of a seamless, integrated fabric of talents
that blended perfectly. It consisted of generous and
focused people who have diligently and selflessly given
their time and energies since the founding of the
Philippine Cultural Foundation, Inc. (PCFI) in 1995.
At the time when
Roberto Ruelo came to Florida from Chicago in the early
1990s, there were already efforts and talks about
building a small cultural center primarily by members of
the Pilipino-American Association of Tampa Bay (PAAT).
In late 1992, Cesar Domagas, then president of PAAT,
appointed Bob Ruelo to chair its clubhouse committee.
Finding that the lot donated by Dr. Bobby and Josie
Villanueva to PAAT for its clubhouse was small and that
PAAT alone cannot build a center for all the community
to use, Bob decided to involve the various organizations
in the community.
This led to the formation in June 9, 1993 of the
not-for-profit Philippine Cultural Center and Library
Title Holding Corporation (THC). The incorporators were:
Bill Ick of the Philippine Performing Arts Company (PPAC),
Rudy Curioso of the Pilipino-American Political
Aggregation (PAPAG), Maria Feir of PAAT, Dr. Ben
Abinales of the Philippine Medical Society of Florida
West Coast Chapter (PMS), Dr. Carlos Soriano of the
Filipino American Club of Pinellas County (FACPC), Ed
Pabilonia of the Philippine Nurses Association of Tampa
Bay (PNA), Ed Bilbao of Ang Bisaya of Florida (ABF),
Bert Almeda of the Phil-American Kiwanis Club of Florida
(Kiwanis), and Linda Capua of the Philippine Medical
Auxiliary Florida West Coast Chapter (Auxiliary).
The idea was for
each organization to be the owner of the cultural center
and library in proportion to its contribution in the
construction of the building. Joey Omila was elected the
first president of THC. Claire Ick, who went along with
her husband to attend meetings, volunteered to help Dr.
Ben Mosquera, who was in charge of fundraising.
As chairman, Claire introduced the concepts and named
the first charity event the Sampaguita Ball. Committee
members Dolly Mosquera, Maria Raffinan, Clem Lazaro, Luz
Pinder, and Lari Cummings worked on what became the most
successful and well attended first reserved seating
event in Tampa Bay.
Joey Omila and
Claire developed the Sampaguita Ball logo; Joey coming
up with the dancing partners in terno and barong tagalog,
and Claire adding the Sampaguita lei around it.
Henceforth, Sampaguita Ball concepts have been adopted
at all formal events in Tampa Bay, including the cena de
media noche (midnight snack) that has now become a
staple of all formal parties in Tampa Bay.
Sampaguita Ball ’94
and ’95 were both chaired by Claire. In another
fundraiser, Claire and Bill Ick initiated the handling
of a concession stand for the Lightning Hockey Games at
the Tropicana Field (then the Thunderdome) that earned
the corporation its first $10,000. With those successes,
Claire was asked by Bob to run as the next president of
the Title Holding Corporation. Claire told Bob that she
would accept the presidency only if the corporation
becomes a non-profit tax-exempt corporation that would
be owned by the Filipino-American community, rather than
the contributing organizations.
She was convinced
that if the community worked together to build their
center, the probability of success would be much higher.
She believed that in order to achieve the goal of
building a center and not continually assess the
community, the corporation must establish annual events
that would later partially support the Center after it's
built. All donations and fundraising income should
immediately be spent on the purchase of a piece of land.
By slowly building on the property, the community will
be inspired to donate more as they see their money fund
an endeavor they can immediately benefit from.
Intrigued and
finding that the incorporating organizations were not
contributing as hoped for, Bob convinced the THC to
incorporate PCFI (executed in March 28, 1995), dissolve
the THC, and transfer all of its assets to the PCFI.
Claire was elected first president of PCFI.
In July 3, 1995,
the Foundation bought its first 5-acre property at Nine
Eagles Drive using funds from the Thunderdome concession
project, large donations from PPAC and PAAT, proceeds
from the Sampaguita Ball ’94 and other fundraising
events, and grass roots contributions. The location of
the property was dictated by requests from the Filipino
American community that it be centrally located between
Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties.
A week later, Bob
secured the PCFI’s Section 501©(3) organization
tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service.
After closing on the property, Claire stunned the board
of directors of PCFI by proposing to hold the first
Philippine Festival the next year, April 1996. Bill
enjoined to convince the Board that the project was
feasible and manageable.
Reluctantly, the
Board voted to go ahead with PhilFest (the name was
coined by Joey from "Philippine Festival," which Bob
subsequently registered as a service mark). After Roger
Caculitan conducted the necessary site planning and
permitting work, the Board and many volunteers headed by
the Philippine Basketball Association then president
Gerry Canezo, Butch Nivera, and Butch Lotuaco (donor of
the first sign on the property that said, “Future
Philippine Cultural Center”) started cutting trees and
leveling the swampy 5-acres, together with members of
the PAAT, PASL and others.
Efforts to raise funds to pay for landfill, contractor's
fees, etc. poured in. There was a tennis tournament
chaired by Dr. Cesar Ruiz, and a bowling tournament
sponsored by the Philippine American Sports League
headed by Frank Estrada and Fred Llenarez, and the
Phil-Am Bowling League members. There was also the Fun
Kruz chaired by Joey, and bingo/mahjong/poker parties,
dances, etc.
On September 24,
1995, Meden “Jimmy” Jamo chaired the groundbreaking
picnic at a small cleared area of the 5-acre property.
Everyone was jubilant and very excited. However, three
weeks prior to the festival in April of 1996, when some
members of the board visited the site, they were shocked
to find the grounds still muddy and waterlogged. There
were suggestions to cancel the event, despite the fact
that tickets had been sold and billboard signs that were
underwritten by Dr. Cesar Cruz to publicize the event
were already up. Claire persisted.
Initiated by Dr.
Mike Dionaldo, who first handed her his check, the Board
gave Claire about $9,000 in donations to pay for
landfill and the contractors. The excitement and
generosity of the community escalated. Aurora Fortson
donated her design/ architectural skills and designed
the first architectural concept of the Cultural Center,
which became PCFI’s logo for the next five years. Roger
Caculitan initiated all site engineering work with some
help from Arnel Santos; Dee Perez volunteered his time
and equipment to clear the property with the help of
Roland Lazaro, Val Blanco, Rocky Barrido, and many
others.
Confidently, Bill
Ick chaired the first PhilFest on April 13-14, 1996,
with committee members Bob Ruelo, Joey Omila, James Jamo,
Roger Caculitan, Bing Curioso, Rudy Curioso, Jojo Lontok,
Claire Ick, Frank Estrada and Roland Lazaro. The group
then became fondly known as the “dream team.” The group
recommended to the Board that all board members,
officers and volunteers, except for the youth, would pay
for the entrance fees and food during PhilFest. The
Board adopted the rule not only for PhilFest, but also
for all PCFI-sponsored events.
Consequently, this
unprecedented and unselfish board action anchored PCFI’s
many successes. Jojo suggested the Miss PhilFest
contest, seconded by Joey who was in charge of
entertainment. On the first day of that two-day
festival, the first group of food vendors, Regina’s Food
Products, Jolens, Maxims, Aling Fely, Bob and Chris
Shum, and Jimmy Jimenez Lechons were flustered because
by 2:00 p.m. they had already served all the food that
they were supposed to serve until the next day.
The PhilFest site
was packed; side street parking was bumper to bumper for
more than a mile on both sides of Nine Eagles Drive. The
first arco constructed and donated by Dr. Ernie Colina,
as well as the small Bahay Kubo donated by Dr. Jun
Cordon, stirred nostalgia in all the guests. The small,
shaky, rented stage bustled with performances by the
Philippine Performing Arts Company dancers and the
Philippine Choral Group singers. The entertainers
grabbed the attention of more than 6,000 visitors in the
very first outdoor Philippine festival in Tampa Bay.
Joey Omila, Jojo
Lontok, Bing Curioso, Aba Villagomeza, Connie Chanrasmi,
and Olive Santiano were all sweats and smiles as they
led the entertainment extravaganza. Then there was the
Arnis exhibition by the students of Dr. Willie Matias.
The Bad Habitz Band led by Dr. Ric Galura with Dr.
William Cua, and the Total Sound Band entertained from
atop a wooden platform while hundreds danced to their
music till midnight.
The Karaoke booth
of Dee Perez was packed with hopeful talents. Bob, Jean
Ruelo, and Rudy Curioso worked tirelessly in ticket/food
coupon sales and accounting for the donations. Jean,
Vadjie Corpuz, Nilda de la Cruz, Shirley Seepersad, and
Lita Iyog over the years alternately handled the task of
accounting for the Miss/Mrs. PhilFest donations.
The highlight of the Philippine Fiesta was the Miss
PhilFest pageant. The first Miss PhilFest was Angie
Raffinan, daughter of Drs. Jun and Maria Raffinan, who
chaired the Hospitality Booth. The dust had not yet
settled when Claire requested the Board to approve the
purchase of another 5-acre adjacent property as parking
area for the next year’s festival. However, PCFI did not
have any money since the $51,000 net profit generated by
PhilFest ’95 was used to pay for the contractors and the
almost 3- 5 ft. soil and white stone fill for the site.
Resolved to push
forward, the PCFI Board approved the application for a
short-term loan from NationsBank to pay for the adjacent
5-acre property, with the guarantee from the PhilFest
’97 chairman, Bill Ick, that the event will generate
more than $50,000 to cover the loan. In September 1996,
Maria Raffinan chaired the Sampaguita Ball at the Hilton
Inn in St. Petersburg, and in October 31, 1996, PCFI
bought the second 5-acre parcel of land.
Once more, the
volunteers went to work. A construction and property
development committee was formed with Roger Caculitan,
Aurora Fortson, Ed Pulido, Roland Lazaro, Bill Ick,
James Jamo, Arnel Santos, Bob Ruelo, Rudy Curioso, Joey
Omila and Claire Ick. Ho Ho’s at Dale Mabry became the
committee's official meeting place, with Bill Ick, Bob
Ruelo, Roland Lazaro and others alternating to pay for
the meals (the group started the PCFI trend of not
charging their meeting meals and expenses to the
Foundation).
PhilFest ’97, led
by the same dream team of PhilFest ’96, signed up new
vendors such as Delio and Ellen Mata, and Merly and
Virgie Panganiban. Ambassador Raul Rabe graced the
event.
With the donation
of Roland and Clem Lazaro of a silk screen machine, the
PPAC dancers headed by Dan Rojas and Jay del Rosario
produced the flags of the various participating
organizations, namely: Philippine Performing Arts
Company, Maharlika Society of Florida, Ang Bisaya of
Florida, Filipino-American Club of Pinellas, Phil-Am
Sports League, Bicol Florida Association, Philippine
Association of Ladies of MacDill, Philippine Medical
Society, Philippine Medical Auxiliary, Pilipino-American
Association of Tampa Bay, Philippine Nurses Association,
Philippine Basketball Association and Philippine
American Political Aggregation.
Another new
PhilFest feature was the Bingo booth, headed by Clem
Lazaro and Estela Gennantonio, assisted by Dave and
Nenita Sweet. With the support of the Miss PhilFest ’97
candidates, especially the winner, Michelle Dy, daughter
of Dr. Rodolfo and Rose Dy, the PhilFest netted $59,500
in profit versus its goal of $52,000. Bill and his
committee had fulfilled their promise.
Three days after
the event, PCFI paid off its entire loan from
NationsBank. That year, Roland and Clem Lazaro became
the highest individual donor until Year 2000, PAAT the
highest association donor until 2001, and Regina’s Food
Store the top PhilFest vendor. Lari Cummings chaired the
Sampaguita Ball ’97 held at the Clearwater Convention
Center.
Year 1998 brought a
lot of exciting things for PCFI. When guests came for
PhilFest ’98, they found themselves entering the newly
fenced property through the beautiful concrete/steel
gate with a sign “Philippine Cultural Center” and the
beautiful bamboo arco crafted and donated by Ver
Bautista and the Morong group. The excitement and
generosity of the community exploded.
These were the
people who made it happen: the fence volunteers were Ver
Bautista, Roger Caculitan, and all the PASL members, Val
Blanco (painting), Ross Hermano, Roy Covarrubias, James
Jamo, Ed Taghap and many others (site preparation); Jun
Balderama, Ed Pulido, Rocky Barrido, and Mike Lebrias,
worked on the electrical systems for the grounds and
booths; the steel gate was partially donated by Dee
Perez; landscaping was partially donated by Robert
Enriquez, and the expenses were donated by generous
community members and member associations.
The food for the volunteers were donated and prepared by
Roland Lazaro with the alternating help of Cleo Tagle
and the PASL wives.
PhilFest ’98, with
Bill continuing to be the chairman, and under the
leadership of Claire, generated a gross income of
$140,000 and a net profit of $70,000 -- thanks to the
hard work of many volunteers and the generosity of the
supporters of the Miss PhilFest candidates. Michele
Pilapil, daughter of Drs. George and Martha Pilapil,
became Miss PhilFest ’98; her escort was Jun Cabigas,
son of Dr. Virgilio and Lucy Cabigas, both families from
Lakeland.
The Sampaguita Ball
‘98 held on September 19 at the Tampa Convention Center
broke past records in attendance and its net profit of
$30,000. Dr. Patsy Abinales chaired the ball. Year 1998
also marked the beginning of the fundraising efforts for
the Sinagtala Theater.
In 1999, the year
of success and upheaval for PCFI and the community as a
whole, the goal was to construct the Sinagtala Theater
prior to the PhilFest. Roger Caculitan, as project
manager, together with Claire, sought for the best deal
for the Theater's steel roof. They initially thought
that $29,000 for one roof was good, but Claire found a
better deal -- two steel roofs (for the Sinagtala
Theater and the Barangay Pavilion) at the price of
$25,000, plus a third one (for the Bicol Pavilion) for
only $5,000.
Immediately, Roger
and Claire closed the deal and the heavy steel roofs
were delivered unassembled the Friday before the
Festival week. The committee and vendors panicked,
because none of the booths could be set up while the
steel roofs lay on the PhilFest grounds.
Claire called the
Caladesi Construction Company and literally begged them
to assemble and install the roofs in time for the
Festival that weekend. Caladesi obliged, sent their
crew, and worked overtime to finish the installation by
Thursday.
That Friday, PhilFest ’99 opened its doors. Indak
Pambata, with Bing Curioso as director, debuted at
PhilFest ’99. Again, the community awed at the new
Sinagtala Theater, the Barangay Pavilion, the Bicol
Pavilion, and the Palaruan (playround). Maharlika
Society of Florida, under the leadership of Rhose
McGowan, initiated and funded the playground.
PhilFest ’99
generated gross revenue of approximately $155,000 and a
net profit of approximately $70,000. Miss PhilFest ’99
was Anna Tioseco, daughter of Bonnie and Tina Tioseco,
with escort Rodney Bautista, son of Rudy and Lucy
Bautista, who became active directors of PCFI. The
enthusiasm at the festival inspired Ed Pulido and Nenita
Sweet to solicit donations for the construction of the
Ilocano Pavilion. Roger and Dr. Philip Lewis joined the
effort that evening. This campaign led to the formation
of the Ilocano USA.
With the support of
Bob Ruelo, Bill Ick, the Lazaros, the Caculitans, the
Curiosos, PPAC headed by Joey Omila, half of the PASL
(James Jamo, Frank Estrada, Emeng Germino, Ross Hermano,
etc.) and majority of the board members, Claire decided
to run for re-election, despite her original intention
to retire. Claire was re-elected to her fifth term as
president with a slate of the majority of the members of
the immediate past Board of Directors and new members
During the same period, the Sports Club of Tampa Bay,
with Roland Lazaro as president and Dr. Ben Abinales as
chairman, was formed. The Club, better known as TABASCO,
became a very active participating organization of PCFI.
That year's Sampaguita Ball was successfully cochaired
by Clem Lazaro and Amy Estrada.
Also in 1999,
Claire, working closely with Bob, Roger, Rudy and Emeng
Germino, drafted a grant application for $500,000 from
the State of Florida for the community arts center. To
meet the requirements of the State, Bill and Claire
solicited the help of their son, Mark, now a financial
consultant for DeLoitte and Touche, to conduct, pro
bono, a feasibility study on the capability of the
Filipino community to support a cultural arts center,
and then formulate a business plan.
Claire recommended to the Board that the entire 10 acres
be called the Philippine Cultural Enrichment Complex,
and the different structures on the facility be
officially named the Sinagtala Theater, Barangay
Pavilion, and Bayanihan Arts Center.
In July 9, 1999, 19
copies of the application and feasibility study were
sent to the State of Florida, Division of Cultural
Affairs. Bob Ruelo, Claire Ick and Rudy Enrille spent
thousands of hours communicating with the legislature
and arts council members, lobbying for the grant.
By November 3rd, a
delegation consisting of Bill and Claire Ick, Bob and
Jean Ruelo, Joey Omila, Roger and Angie Caculitan, Rudy
Curioso, Emeng Germino, Val Blanco, James Jamo, Rudy
Enrille and Rev. Christian Villagomeza had gone to
Jacksonville for the Florida Arts Council meeting to
make PCFI’s formal presentation of the grant. At this
meeting, the Florida Arts Council approved the grant and
a few weeks later, the Secretary of State, Katherine
Harris, recommended PCFI’s grant to the State
Legislature for funding. American Express Company,
through the efforts of Glenda Roepcke and Bob Wood, also
gave PCFI a $10,000 grant.
In December,
Ambassador Ernesto Maceda visited the Philippine
Cultural Enrichment Complex and inaugurated the Ilocano
Pavilion, which was proudly built by its members. PASKO
was born on December 18, 1999, conceived and chaired by
Clem Lazaro and Amy Estrada.
Year 2000 was a
dizzying year for PCFI, in terms of cultural, social,
and fundraising activities. PhilFest 2000, still chaired
by Bill Ick, broke all-time records in gross revenue
($214,000), net profit ($122,0000), and vendor
participation and attendance.
Fundraising parties
for the Mrs. PhilFest candidates were non-stop prior to
the Festival. There were Las Vegas nights, bingo and
mahjong sessions, dances, spaghetti/ whatever dinners,
Rizal movie premier, and other activities. The PhilFest
Committee, again headed by Bill, worked feverishly.
The Arco Project,
chaired by Drs. Ben and Patsy Abinales, Drs. Romy and
Vickie Tagala, and Drs. Len and Terry Bissonnette was
another big surprise to the PhilFest attendees. Ilocano
USA proved their unity and fundraising skills by winning
the Mrs. PhilFest (Bing Curioso, with escort Roger
Caculitan).
Old and new faces
became familiar faces as they joined the PhilFest and
various committees and advisory boards. Full support
came from: Lito Dano, Raxtie Auza, Dr. Evelyn Gador, Dr.
Philip and Merle Lewis, Drs. Romy and Vickie Tagala,
Drs. Len and Terry Bissonnette, Dr. Judith Cimafranca,
Dave and Nenita Sweet, Jun Balderama, Jimmy Abellada,
Rudy and Lucy Bautista, Dr. Greto and Edna Ramos, Robert
Enriquez, Mike Lebrias, Elena Garcesa, and Dr. William
Cua.
The Cultural
Affairs Advisory Board was formed with Flossie Abrigo,
Rey Aquino, Emma Cala, Connie Chanrasmi, Dr. Carlina
Jimenea Launger, Beatriz Nunag, Dr. Rafael Pascual, Dr.
George Pilapil, Edna Ramos, Dr. Gabriel Sanchez, Dr.
Caridad Santos, Dr. Vickie Tagala, and Rev. Christian
Villagomeza as its first group of members. Dr. Vickie
Tagala, Edna Ramos, Nenita Sweet, Loida Espiritu and Dr.
Carol Lacson later joined the group. Other highlights of
the year included the introduction of the
Consular-on-Wheels at PhilFest 2000 by the Philippine
Embassy, led by Ambassador Ernesto Maceda. Bill Ick was
elected president of PCFI in May for a two-year term.
American Express sponsored a very successful Hawaiian
Luau Dance for the benefit of the PCFI. The Philippine
Independence Day event, chaired by TABASCO, featured the
Hi-Pertensions, Rex Navarette and Paul Enriquez. And
most importantly, the Florida Legislature appropriated
the PCFI Grant of $500,000 in the 2000 Legislative
budget.
On June 15, 2000,
Florida’s Secretary of State, Katherine Harris, advised
PCFI that the Foundation had been awarded the $500,000
grant under the Department of State’s 2000-2001 Cultural
Facilities Program.
Less than two months later, on August 6, the
groundbreaking for the Bayanihan Arts Center, chaired by
Joey Omila, was celebrated with fanfare, food and
camaraderie. Plans for the construction of the Bayanihan
Arts Center kept Claire Ick, Bob Ruelo, Roger Caculitan,
Bill Ick, Rudy Curioso, Emeng Germino, Roland and Clem
Lazaro, Ed Pulido, Jun Balderama and Jimmy Abellada
busy. Among themselves, they designed the building
without hiring an architect, thus saving this fee for
PCFI.
The Foundation
awarded the contracts to build the Arts Center to the
Caladesi Construction Company as constructors, and the
R.C. Land Engineering Company as site engineers, and
hired Roger Caculitan as project manager. Bill Ick acted
as the volunteer owner representative to oversee the
construction project that was scheduled to start in
January 2001.
Year 2000's
Sampaguita Ball, chaired by Lucy Bautista, once again
broke all previous records in attendance (570 guests),
gross income ($52,290) and profit ($31,637). To add to
the Foundation coffers, the Arts Council of Hillsborough
County gave a grant of $20,000 for PCFI's cultural
programs, and American Express gave another $10,000.
In December 16, 2000, PASKO, chaired by Clem Lazaro with
the Sampaguita Committee, became another successful
event of the Foundation. At the same time, Claire, the
first and 5-year term PCFI president, was awarded the
prestigious Philippine Presidential Award “Banaag” 2000
for her outstanding achievement in leading the
Filipino-American community's effort to build the
Philippine Cultural Enrichment Complex. Dr. Philip Lewis
received the award for Claire from President Joseph
Estrada in a ceremony at the Malacanang Palace in
Manila.
In February 2001,
the construction of the Bayanihan Arts Center commenced.
At that period in time, school principal, Rey Aquino,
aka Tatang Miguel, and Ning Bonoan initiated the
formation of the Heritage Enrichment Learning Program
(HELP). The cultural classes of Iskwelahang Munti
generated a successful turnout. Ning also established a
Health Assistance Program with nurses and doctors in the
Board and community.
PhilFest 2001, the
6th annual Philippine Festival, chaired by Roger
Caculitan, once again broke past records for gross
income and visitor turnout. Guests from all over the
United States, Canada and the Philippines mingled with
the huge crowd. They watched the performances of special
guest artist Janet Clark, a Filipino-American country
singer, and the awarding of the Mr. and Mrs. PhilFest
2001 to Dr. Greto and Edna Ramos of Ilocano USA.
In July, Frank and
Amy Estrada chaired the Independence Celebration for the
5th year. Joey Omila accepted the offer to act as
Executive Director tasked with overseeing the entire
operation of the Philippine Cultural Enrichment Complex,
including the Bayanihan Arts Center, as a selfsustaining
center, and establishing cultural programs for the
community.
As chairperson of the marketing, publicity, budgets, and
interior design of the Arts Center, Claire launched the
underwriters program to help furnish the Arts Center.
Immediately, Dr. Judith Cimafranca signed up to
underwrite the Library, Drs. Len and Terry Bissonette to
take care of a hall, followed by the Drapiza-Infante
families, Dr. Maria Teresa Guerrero and Roland and Clem
Lazaro. Rudy and Lucy Bautista volunteered to underwrite
the 7-ft. in diameter Austrian crystal chandelier for
the lobby, while the other underwriters donated the four
capiz chandeliers for the Sampaguita Grand Hall.
Lilibeth Lontoc expedited the purchase and donated the
shipping cost for the chandeliers, which were custom
handcrafted in the Philippines especially for the Arts
Center.
Lucy Bautista
chaired the Grand Opening and Open House with 750 guests
in attendance, on September 23, and the Sampaguita Ball
2001 held at the ballroom named after Olive Santiano
chaired the annual event on October 13th.
The upcoming PhilFest 2002 to be held on April 5, 6 & 7
will be chaired by Rudy Bautista and vice-chaired by
Lucy Bautista and Lari Cummings. The Sampaguita Ball
2002 in September will be chaired by Dr. Evelyn Gador
and vice chaired by Dr. Judy Cimafranca.
Today, the
community and the general public are enjoying the
beautifully appointed and upscale Bayanihan Arts Center
with cultural and community events happening almost
every weekend.
The Center also
gave other minority groups the opportunity to use the
Arts Center for their cultural and community events.
The evolution of
where PCFI stands now is a testament to the hard work
and commitment of a lot people. The success of PCFI is
primarily attributed to those whose support never
faltered since they became active in PCFI. Majority of
them joined in 1995 and are now permanent members of the
Board of Directors. They are the vital elements that
have fueled the PCFI engine for the last six years.
Claire Ick, under
constant challenge to "make it happen" never hesitated
in her dedication to forge ahead with the project. Bill
Ick and Bob Ruelo kept her going and worked with her 365
days a year, through 5 years of successes, heartaches,
and challenges. Together, their work for PCFI was
constant, unwavering, and non-stop. To top it all, they
received no compensation of any kind from the Foundation
for the use of their combined professional skills in
organization, management, legal, and operations.
Five- to six-year
PCFI veterans ran the Foundation's engines throughout
the year. They are Joey Omila, Roger Caculitan, Angie
Caculitan, Jojo Lontok, James Jamo, Lari Cummings, Bing
Curioso, Rudy Curioso, Val Blanco, Jun Balderama, Ed
Pulido, Frank Estrada, Amy Estrada, Roland Lazaro, Clem
Lazaro, Roy Covarrubias, Sylvia de la Cruz, Olive
Santiano, Bing Santiano, Ross Hermano, Emeng Germino,
and Ben Abinales.
Other board members who helped keep the engines humming
were Mike Lebrias, Patsy Abinales, Dave Sweet, Nenita
Sweet, Greto Ramos, Edna Ramos, Lucy Bautista, Rudy
Bautista, Vickie Tagala, Romy Tagala, Len Bissonnette,
Terry Bissonette, Philip Lewis, Merle Lewis, Judy
Cimafranca, Jimmy Abellada, Aba Villagomeza, William Cua,
Connie Chanrasmi, Esther Gianan, Robert Enriquez,
Liberty Galloway, Evelyn Gador, Joe Baruta, Raxtie Auza,
and Lito Dano.
The participating organizations whose continuous support
for the Foundation kept the spirits of the leaders of
PCFI from crumbling are the , Ang Kaliwat Bol-anon sa
Florida, Association of Filipino Students, Bicol
Association of South Florida, Filipino International
Christian Church, Ilocano USA, Philippine American
Political Aggregation, Inc., Philippine Association of
Ladies of MacDill, Philippine Choral Group, Philippine
Nurses Association, Philippine Performing Arts Company,
Pilipino-American Association of Tampa Bay, and TABASCO.
PCFI owes its
success to countless volunteers, and individuals
mentioned here who worked with 100% loyalty and
dedication to PCFI. Their support never wavered since
Day One. They are the heroes that made a dream come true
-- they are the threads that weave PCFI’s seamless
fabric of success.
This page was last
updated on
Friday, August 18, 2006 02:09 PM
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