Group picture for posterity sake. The core officers and member of the De Basilan USA-Canada Association, celebrated Christmas Party the Basilan way last December 19, 2009, which was held at the residence of Mario and Allene Oriño. They savored every moment and they were looking forward for the July 2010 De Basilan World Reunion in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.
The boys welcoming the special guest that came all the way from Canada, Romulo “Mulo” de Vera. Sitting (L-R): Ralph Estrada, Mulo De Vera & Hermie Aliga. Standing (L-R): Jose Raveche, Gino Luna, Roy Matarlo, Dino Gallano & Butch Alano.
The kitchen table a fave position. (L-R): Rita & Romy Damiles, Allene Oriño, Olive Guevara, Gloria Mendoza-Vela, Butch Alano, Ara Enriquez and Avelina de los Santos.
Of different generations, they came together as one. (L-R) Joey Tugung, Ara Enriquez, Isabel Leong, Emerita Leong-Fong and Tita Dollie Laconico.
One of the newest member, Luvic Sta. Elena-Igot, Teresita Pioquinto, Mulo De Vera and Joey Tugung.
Basilandia Honoring Christmas All Year Round
By: Joey Pamaran Tugung (12/30/09)Note: The message in this article might be stale. Please bear with me therefore in this regard if I posted this article this late. I was supposed to post this a day prior to Christmas Day. Somehow just like you, I was overly tied-up with the season’s calendar of social activities and my work as well since I was out on vacation in the Philippines for more than a month. Anyway, the message imparted in this article is relevant throughout the year.Beaumont, California --- Charles Dickens wrote:
“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” In this Holiday Season, your De Basilan USA-Canada Association respectfully invites you to pause and take a moment out of your busy schedule to not only honor Christmas, but to also consider how you, we, and all of us in the Basilandom can keep it in our hearts throughout the new year.
Indeed, many Christmas gifts, including the gift of family and the world of Basileños that we have created, will remain long after we take down the Christmas decorations and will last the whole year long. We, your officers and members of the Association, are committed to honoring the spirit and gifts of Christmas all the yearlong by providing you a concrete platform that would galvanize our association, and hopefully, serve as a “catalyst for change” in our beloved Basilan’s retrogressed image.
Over the recent years, immigrants and their families that left Basilan throughout the years, and all the Basileños that stayed home in the country and in the island province, have been given many reasons to be hopeful in our Association. For example, for the first time in the history of Basilan, we were able to create a distinct class of regional Association abroad (i.e., De Basilan USA-Canada Association); we were able to pull the historic 1st De Basilan Grand Reunion last July of 2008 in Los Angeles, California; we were able to create a dedicated, unique and the only website servicing all the Basileños around the world (i.e., De Basilan – De Aton Este or
www.debasilan.net) last February 2007 that socially reconnected all Basileños around the world; and moving forward to next year, we will stage the 2nd De Basilan World Reunion in July 8-11, 2010, which will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A., and thereby, hopefully work to mutate our Association into a World Association with Basilan chapters in the different parts of the world. And if the dedication and the commitment are apparent among all the members, we will work some concrete, practicable and feasible plans to help our beloved Basilan.
In just a few years, your Association and this humble website, has honored its commitment to families and individuals by successfully helping them reconnect with friends, relatives, classmates, mentors, teachers, former girlfriends, former boyfriends, and even former enemies etc., and eventually integrated them into the concept of community of Basileños and in the process created the world of Basilandom. We are now all wired, which is a good start if our desire is to help move Basilan pass its negative image. And commendably, if we are to take in the near future concrete actions to help our fellow Basileños that were left behind (as a matter of choice) in Basilan in the areas of education, health, social services etc.
Finally, proud of our heritage, our distinct culture and identity, the De Basilan USA-Canada Association will continue to honor its commitment to recognize the efforts of great Basileños (both the dead and the living) that made Basilan great. These are the Basileños that built the foundation of Basilan in the areas of medicine, agriculture, farming, health, education, public and civil service, infrastructure, judiciary, social services etc.
To honor Christmas this season is to honor family. Hopefully you are with your family as you buy gifts, listen to Christmas music, decorate your Christmas tree and prepare for the Christmas Dinner Noche Buena and Simbang Gabi. We all know that the most important part of Christmas is being with your respective families – and we hope you are able to celebrate with yours. Our Association is committed to bringing and keeping families (which include relatives and friends) together, and we will honor this gift of family “all the year,” even in the most difficult of times.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Greetings of a blessed Christmas and prosperous New Year coming from my family. (L-R): Jako, Ynna, Yen-Yen, Jeo, Dad Joey, Denise, Jojo and Yzza.
Wishing you all the best that the Christmas and New Year may bring, coming from the Cañete Family. (L-R): Epie Cañete, Checheng Cañete-Arroyo, mom Betty Cañete and Yayang Cañete-De la Merced.
Mr. & Mrs. Nonong & Luvic Igot with Jean Martin-Aliga, Ralph Estrada, Joey and Hermie Aliga.
Ara Enriquez, Allene Oriño, Olive Guevara, Avelina de los Santos Potts and Adoracion “Dorie” Cañete.
The boys with their muse. Nonong Igot, Dino Gallano, Romy Damiles, Jose Raveche, Ara Enriquez, Gino Luna, Ralph Estrada and Bas Pioquinto.
Partaking the food. (Back to front): Dino Gallano, Tita Dollie Alano Laconico, son Monching Laconico and Raul Ramirez.
The Christmas Tree is the favored spot for picture taking. (L-R): Gino Luna, Romy Damiles, Joey Tugung, Choy Husain and Nonong Igot.
Butch Alano, Mulo De Vera and Bas Pioquinto.
Great wisdom emanates from these respected women. (L-R) Tita Dollie Laconico, Emerita Leong-Fong and Isabel Leong.
Roy Matarlo, Mario Oriño and Romy Damiles.
Ara Enriquez and Luvic Sta. Elena – Igot
Dorie Cañete and Teresita Versoza-Pioquinto
Former Chief of Police of Isabela City, Bas Pioquinto, a Retired Navy man, Mario Oriño, a break from their tete-a-tete.
The meeting last October 2009 generated into the fold of the Association new members: Alaine Hairal and brothers Matthew and Luke Natividad.
Allene Oriño and Norma Pascua-Scott
Butch Alano and Jean Martin-Aliga
The girls just love to pose. Olive, Dorie, Teresita, Avelina, Ara and Rita
Joey sharing his thoughts with the respected generations of the past: Gloria Mendoza-Vela, Tita Dollie and sisters Emerita and Isabela (they used to own Basilan Hotel & Restaurant way back in the 40’s and 50’s)
The boys never get tired taking their pictures. Butch, Chochoy, Che Raveche, Hermie, Ralph, Mulo and Bas.
The girls never one to lose in the battle of the picture taking.
Yes, during the Christmas Party, we danced through the night away. Mario, Gloria and Ara.
Musical instructress, Mel Pascua-Rito, with her students, Hermie, Gino and Butch.
Having their own private moments: Isabel Leong and Puri Laconico.
Dance, dance, dance…Dorie and Ara.
Singing was part of the repertoire during the Christmas Party. Ralph Estrada and Gino “Vanelli” Luna.
Sing, sing, sing…Bas Pioquinto and Gino Luna singing the high octave while the host, Mario Oriño was having his fun listening to them.
Nonong Igot did not allow them to get away with their musical talents. He sang mostly Visayan songs.
Welcoming the President of the Chavacano Association of Sydney, Epie Cañete, who is here for a vacation from Australia. Chochoy Husain, Rita Damiles, Yayang, Epie, Romy and Joey (Epie and his sisters are second cousins of Joey and incidentally they are both President of their respective Association. What a coincidence!)
Despite the cold winter weather, the boys stayed aside to drink their beers and cigarettes.
The girls opted to stay inside at the warmth comfort of the heater. Picture taking ya tamen na grand piano of the Oriños.
Joey working his presentation for the meeting with Jean and Avelina bothering him.
The meeting of the Association always starts with a prayer.
Epie with his brother-in-law, Jung-Jung de la Merced, and his sister Yayang and cousin Romy Damiles.
Ara loves to put her camera on self-timer so that she can be included in the photo shot. Picture taking anay prior to partaking the delicious food.
Group picture taking is the norm when Basileños gather.
Group picture of the boys during the singing break but Gino still insist on singing.
The meeting in Modesto at the residence of Romy Damiles coincided with the birthday of Tita Dollie and Ginger Potts-Realiza.
Any gathering has its standard meeting. Here, Joey Tugung presented his accomplishment report to the group prior to the start of the Christmas Party.
Picture taking at the giant Christmas Party of the Oriño’s is a must.
Taman samuk ya tamen sila. Olive Guevara and Avelina de los Santos-Potts pestering Joey while he is working on his presentation to the group.
The Natividad’s and Alaine Hairal with the old members of the group. Far behind in orange shirt is Antonino Realiza – he the husband of Ginger.
Confused where to face the cameras. Imagine we have at least 5 cameras taking these pictures in different angles and no one knows where to choose from to have their pose taken.
A joyous Christmas and a blessed and prosperous New Year to all coming from the Tugung Family. Joey with his sister, Nuraiza Tugung-Arevalo, and with his nephews, Job and Jacob (Aiza’s children), and all his 8 children and daughter-in-law, Heather.
We are truly blessed. Thank you so much for all your support and cooperation in all the endeavors that we have undertaken in behalf of our Association. And may we have more blessings to come in 2010. Joey with his good friend Gino Luna.
Photos courtesy of Araceli Enriquez and Gino Luna.
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