Ten Years Old and Growing

Philippine Press Club-Ontario was established in December 17, 2001. This year, 2011, it turns ten.
Before PPCO, the Filipino community had seen a robust media presence for at least 30 years in the GTA. However, there never was a media organization that existed in Ontario during those years. It is not far-fetched to say that PPCO is the first of its kind outside of the Philippines.
When the call was made to discuss the possibility of forming a press club, fifteen people affiliated with various media companies, responded to the invitation. The email that I sent went to all known Filipino media practitioners in the GTA, the rest decided to watch and wait while the fifteen braved the rainy December night.
The fifteen, including myself, were: Ruben and Tess Cusipag of Balita, Ace Alvarez and Efren Faldas of Manila Media Monitor, Carlos Unas and Nelson Galvez of Filipino Bulletin, Turing Muere of Likha, Jess Cabrias and Joe Damasco of Atin Ito News and Features, freelancer Rodel Ramos, Armand and Melinda Rustia of iFilipino Magazine, Jose Baking of Little Manila Confidential, and Rose Tijam then a Balita columnist.
The meeting was held at the office of Silayan Community Centre, which at that time was located at 235 Gerard Street in Toronto. Contrary to anticipated resistance, the motion to form a press club unanimously passed after an hour and a half of meaningful animated exchange of ideas. Although no specific name was chosen that night working groups were formed. Seven days before Christmas Eve, a press club was born.
As news spread of its birth, new members joined. As the main aim of the club was to provide a forum for Filipino-Canadian press to socialize, and by doing so, could embark into collective endeavours that would benefit the group as well as the community, collegiality in various media gatherings became the norm.
The late Armand Rustia, Melinda Parreno Rustia, Rosalinda Tijam and Ricardo Caluen took the task of drafting the Constitution and By-Laws adopting the name “Philippine Press Club-Ontario”. The CBL was ratified on May 17, 2002 at the then Mabuhay Restaurant on Bathurst Street. With 31 signatories the CBL was upheld as PPCO’s governing document.
On the same date, the first set of officers were elected by acclamation, they were: Paul dela Cruz as president; Armand Rustia as vice president; Rosalinda Tijam as secretary, Nelson Galvez as treasurer, Rodel Ramos, Jose Damasco,Tess Cusipag and Jess Cabrias as board members.
Three months later that year, Philippine Press Club-Ontario became a registered not-for-profit corporation in Ontario.
Although socialization was the main purpose, the PPCO from the start has been at the forefront of issues that affect the lives of Filipino-Canadians. It regularly held breakfast forums where these issues were discussed and when possible resolved. The forums were itinerant, held in different Filipino-owned businesses as a way of promoting these businesses.
Although not made official, PPCO’s operative principle was “Suporta Filipino: Kababayan Mo, Itaguyod Mo!”
As PPCO’s existence gained prominence, it has become a go-to-organization not only for those individuals or groups that needed media exposure but also for those which seek guided opinions. As PPCO continued to grow in number and experience complexities also arose. Differences in ideas and opinions among members, however, have not derailed this media group from its original objective of being the mortar that try to weld together the so many bricks that abound. PPCO is a work in progress.
PPCO’s ten year history has been colourful and rich. It has come face-to-face and dialogued with Philippine Presidents, Canadian and Filipino lawmakers, community leaders and politicians, diplomats, businessmen, top notch journalists, and has become the chosen annual host of the Canadian Embassy in the Philippines for its Marshall McLuhan Winner of Journalistic Excellence in Investigative Journalism since 2005.
As the world turns, as demographics change, as technology advances, and as human life continues to face challenges — so will we all. The Philippine Press Club-Ontario will not be exempted from these changes and challenges. The collective change in attitude and the milieu around it will shape its future – Happy Birthday PPCO!
P.S. – On December 2, PPCO celebrates its 10th anniversary wit a gala at the Rembrandt. It will be one great party and you are invited. Tickets are at $40 only for a celebration that will stay in your memory for a lifetime. Limited bottles, as many are pre-sold, of PPCO 10th Anniversary commemorative wines will be sold. For tickets you may call me at 416-557-5244; there are a few left.