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ORLANDO, FL -- The Council for Filipino American Organizations
(CFAO) of Central Florida is the offshoot of the natural evolution
of its 26-year-old predecessor, the Filipino American Association
of Central Florida (formerly the Fil-Am Club).
Noticing the decline in membership because of the emergence of
focused Filipino American organizations in Central Florida, the
Fil-Am Association decided to dissolve and in its place install a
Council that will act as an umbrella for all of these growing
special-interest organizations.
Thus, the CFAO was formed, primarily to establish a unified
Filipino American representation to the general public, to promote
the general welfare of its member organizations and the Filipino
American Community, and to encourage cooperation and camaraderie
among the community members.
In order to achieve these objectives, the Council coordinates
projects and activities that are of common interest to the member
groups and organizations. It serves as a common resource and
channel of communication among these organizations and with the
general public.
Knights of Rizal inducts 2001 officers
By Ruby Bayan
The Central Florida Chapter of the Order of the Knights of Rizal
gathered at the Orlando Public Library last June 24th to induct
the 2001-2002 set of officers led by the new Chapter Commander Sir
Rainer Guevarra, KCR.
Sworn in by Sir Noli Vianzon, KGOR, Area Commander, Eastern USA
III, the new set of Chapter Officers are Sir Iman Bartolo, KOR,
Deputy Commander; Sir Anthony Wong, DDS, KOR, Chapter Chancellor;
Sir Victor Montallana, KOR, Chapter Pursuivant; Sir Ray Reynolds,
KCR, Chapter Exchequer; Sir Seb Gamino, KCR, Chapter Archivist;
Sir Jay Alcordo, KR, Chapter Auditor; Sir Fred Floyd, KR, Trustee;
Sir Ely Villaverde, KOR, Trustee; Sir Anthony Zman, KR, Chapter
Chaplain; and Sir Hoover Yap, KCR, Sir Mario Ordona, KCR, Sir Val
Dagani Jr., KGOR, and Sir Johnny Ngo, KGOR, as Advisors.
Also inducted are the 2001-2002 officers of the Ladies Auxiliary:
Lindy De Guzman, President; Sharon Guevarra, RN, Vice President;
Marietta Wong, RN, Secretary; Vangie-Espino-Reynolds, Treasurer;
Precy Kirong, Auditor; and Lita Ngo, Dr. Naty Ordona, and Dr. Lita
Dagani, as Directors.
In his acceptance message, new Chapter Commander Guevarra
announced the Central Florida chapter's projects for the year:
"Effective immediately, all candidates will have to attend a
weekend seminar on Rizalism prior to their initiation… Next, there
will be a 10-minute lecture on Rizalism during our General
Meetings. Then there's a Sunday Heritage School… The Youths for
Rizal being formed… and babysitting service during all general
meetings… with a touch of Rizalism."
The induction ceremonies were further highlighted by a solemn
Exaltation to Third Degree of Sir Seb Gamino, KCR, a Master of
Divinity, Minister of the Gospel, and this year's Chapter
Archivist.
And to cap the celebration, Area Commander Vianzon handed out
special awards for exemplary efforts and contributions to the
accomplishment of the KOR projects for the past year. The
mini-Rizal bust Area Commander Award went to Sir Hoover Yap, KCR,
Sir Johnny Ngo, KGOR, Sir Val Dagani, Jr., KGOR, and Leilani
Fontanilla, Chairman of the Council for Filipino-American
Organizations of Central Florida. Millennium medallions were
awarded to fourteen members who ensured the success of the recent
International KOR Assembly held in Orlando.
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The current member organizations of the CFAO are: Bayanihan
International Ladies Organization (Julieann Curz, President),
Philippine Nurses Association (Cecilia Lim, President), Filipino
American Veterans Association (Ronnie Escano, President), Order of
the Knights of Rizal (Rainer Guevarra, Chapter Commander), Ladies
for Rizal Auxiliary (Lindy de Guzman, President), Philippine
American Chamber of Commerce (Lita Martija, President), Philippine
Medical Association (Dr. Pilar Gonzales, President), Philippine
Medical Association Auxiliary (Cecilia Lim, President), and
Visminda Association of Florida (Tina Cathy, President).
At the helm of the CFAO are its diligent, bighearted, and highly
energetic officers: Leilani Fontanilla, Chair; Gaster Byrne, Vice
Chair; Becky Szymanski, Treasurer; Cecilia Lim, Secretary; Hoover
Yap, Auditor; and Val Dagani, Jr., Adviser.
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