PHOTO shows Philippine Ambassador Leslie B. Gatan (left) and Consul General Pedro O. Chan (right). (Photo by Eugene Deocareza)

By Manny Papa and Romy Zetazate

PHILIPPINE Ambassador to Canada, His Excellency Leslie B. Gatan, and Consul General Pedro O. Chan will grace the forthcoming induction of the new officers of Bicol Canada Community Association Inc. (BCCA) and its gala night on March 31 at the famous St. Peter & Paul Banquet Hall located at 231 Milner Avenue, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada M1S 5E3.

Rafael Nebres, BCCA president, is calling Bicolanos from the provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon, who have settled in Toronto and other parts of Canada to join their fellow Bicolanos in this affair so as to renew their relationships and, at the same time, to acquaint themselves of their fellow Bicolanos from other parts of Canada.

He is also inviting other Bicolanos and even other Filipinos to join them.

Aside from President Nebres, the other officers of BCCA include Noli Aquino, vice president for government relations; Jess Cabrias, vice president for membership; Jojo T. Taduran, vice president for public relations; Arlene Martinez, secretary; Beth Malanyaon, assistant secretary; Bobby Achacon, treasurer; Felix Reyes, assistant treasurer; Alex Guerina, auditor; and Eugene Deocareza and Jun Salcedo, directors for special projects.

(more…)

Dyscem Echivarre Mueldener

By Jhay-ar A. Book

MUSIC resides in every Filipino home. No birthday or fiesta is complete without the videoke. It is no surprise then why many Filipinos are making a name in the music industry locally and abroad. Include in the list Dyscem Echivarre Mueldener, whose voice has brought her to places beyond she imagined.

Dyscem, a Filipina who was married to a German, won first place in the Voice of McDonald’s (VOM) worldwide singing competition West Europe division and will compete as a global semi-finalist in the final rounds of the VOM. Born in Cebu City, Philippines, she now lives in Germany with her husband and four-year-old daughter.

Voice of McDonald’s, a singing contest showcasing the talents of the giant fast-food chain’s crew and managers worldwide, will bring top 16 global semi-finalists coming from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, to compete in the final rounds at the McDonald’s 2012 Worldwide Convention in Orlando, Florida, USA, in April. (more…)

Dr. Tom Virey

TORONTO, Ontario, Canada — One of the pillars of the Filipino community in Canada will be celebrating a milestone. Dr. Tomas G. Virey Jr. will be turning 85!

Dr. Virey is a physician who received his specialty training in Neuro-Psychiatry from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of London, England.

In the Philippines, he was chief of the National Mental Hospital in Mariveles, Bataan. Prior to immigrating to Canada, he was the director of Mental Hygiene of the Department of Health, Manila. While in this position, he formulated the Mental Health Act, which led to the creation of mental care and treatment facilities throughout the country. He was the author of reference books on Psychiatric Hospital Management and Public Health Role and on Heart Diseases.

He has been a very active part of the communities he was involved with, both in the Philippines and in Canada. He was one of the distinguished leaders of the Philippine Medical Association and the Psychiatrist and Neurologist Association of the Philippines. He led numerous community organizations. He is the founder and acclaimed president of the Philippine Canadian Association of Brockville since the early 1970s until his retirement and move to Mississauga. He was a member of the Brockville Operatic Society as a Performer and as a First Violinist. (more…)