UPA CELEBRATES AND CROWNS MRS. PANGASINAN

So. San Francisco , California

The United Pangasinanes of America, Inc. celebrated is 37th annual Pangasinan Day on July 23, 2005 highlighted by the coronation of its 6th Mrs. Pangasinan and Court. The annual event was held in the Main Ballroom of the So. San Francisco Conference Center with usual capacity crowd of members and guests of the Association. The UPA is the organization of Americans of Philippine ancestry who trace their roots to the Province of Pangasinan in northern Luzon . Currently, there are affiliates of town and city organizations. Mr. Alvin Rivera Padilla of Mabini, Pangasinan is the president serving his second term of a 2-year tenure.

This year's affair was a roll out of the working committees headed by co-chairs Mr. Zosimo 0. Deveas of Rosales , past UPA president, and Mrs. Franklin O. Aquino of Agno , past UPA First Lady. Mr. Zosimo de Veas and Mr. Chris Torres of Bayambang served as masters of ceremonies for the evening. Headlining the celebration marque was the coronation of Queen Mrs. Pangasinan 2005, Mrs. Cynthia Borlasa Almeron of Agno , wife of past UPA president Fred T. Almeron of Pozorrubio . The couple and family reside in the Hiddenbrooke resort area of Vallejo.

Mrs. Almeron is a registered nurse by profession and works at Napa State Hospital and Evergreen Health Care, Inc. First Princess was Mrs. Leonila Dulutan Marfori , a Batanguena by birth, married to Mr. Ricardo Marfori of Malasiqui . The couple and their five children call So. San Francisco their home. Mrs. Marfori holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management from Manila 's Adamson University . She is enjoying her career in escrow and title services being allied with Alliance Title Co. Completing the trio was Mrs. Ember Labrador Junio, of Bayambang , as Second Princess. Born in San Francisco , graduated from Central Philippine University in Iloilo City , Ember and her husband Antonio reside in the "midst of foggy Daly City ". Mrs Junio is active with her church. Her father is a pastor at Doane Baptist Church of San Francisco. Like her mother, an elementary school teacher for the Jefferson United School District , she is into education being an Inclusion teacher for the San Francisco Unified School District at Dr. M.L. King Jr. Academic Middle School . She continues her post-baccalaureate studies at SF State University.

Participating as members of the coronation entourage were Master Hunter Padilla, son of UPA president and Mrs. Alvin Padilla, as the crown bearer; Kaleia Gabriel Balenbin , daughter of Mr. & Mrs. BJ Balenbin , and granddaughter of Building Superintendent Bernie & UPA Treasurer, Norie Gabriel , Monique Nicole & Maria Celerina Balbuena , daughters of Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin Balbuena , as flower girls. Before the dinner started, there was dancing to the music of Elements of Time band, as a prelude to hours of enjoyment by the ballroom dancers who filled up the dance floor from end to end throughout the night.

The guests were delighted there was efficient use of time, "no dull moment" even at dinner time when the Scholarship Awards were presented to 6 awardees, by the Scholarship Committee with Mario C. Panoringan of Lingayen , as chair. This years cream of the crop scholars are: Mariel Manela of Dagupan City going to SFSU; Cameron Crisostomo

of San Carlos City attending UCLA; Raphael Braganza of Alaminos City enrolled at UCSD; Darryl Sarzaba of Mangaldan, to UCSD; Alexander Fernandez of Calasiao bound for UCSD; Jonathan Collum of Tayug , to attend SFSU.

It seems this time of the year, the UPA is privileged to host the unexpected visits of high government dignitaries from the Philippines and TV, entertainment, and movie personalities. Two years ago no less than former president of the Republic, President Fidel V. Ramos was a special guest, and TV and movie star Donita Rose , niece of then Mrs. Pangasinan , Edna Roxas , This year, courtesy of the Dagupan City Association of Northern California, the Honorable Benjamin Lim , Mayor of Dagupan City, was the special guest to address his fellow Pangasinanses, after an introduction by DCANC chair of the Board of Directors, and past UPA president, Mr. Alfonso Aningalan . Sharing also the stage towards the end of the festivities was well-known actor Eddie Gutierrez , who obliged the audience with a beautiful song, along with his wife Annabel and show personalities connected with the GMA program promotions in the San Francisco Bay Area. The following day the celebrities gathered for a movie shoot at the Hiddenbrooke residence of Queen Mrs. Pangasinan Cynthia Borlasa Almeron , in Vallejo .

The pomp, circumstance and ceremony of the coronation program were jointly hosted by Mrs. Caridad Ver Obado Aquino of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte , past First Lady of the UPA, and her husband, Engr. Franklin C. Aquino of Agno , Pangasinan, past UPA president who devotes most of his time in his hometown running a very lucrative ice plant business providing various grades of ice products and cold storage facilities, services and supplies to fishermen, fish merchants and dealers in the province, as well as the general public.

Ushering in the coronation ceremonies was the traditional farewell promenade of the out-going Queen, Mrs. Pangasinan 2003-2005, Mrs. Edna Macabolos Roxas of Malasiqui . The presentation of honors, namely sash, tiaras for the princesses and crown to the queen, trophy, and bouquet was done by the generous donors as they were called one by one to the superbly designed, constructed and decorated stage, the handiwork of UPA Building superintendent, Architect Bernie Gabriel of San Manuel, with assistance from his wife, UPA treasurer, Norie Gabriel , and the decorations committee made up mainly of members from Bayambang.

As final and fitting tribute to the new Mrs. Pangasinan Mrs. Cynthia Almeron and her Court, a royal serenade followed the coronation ceremonies. The distinct honor of the royal serenader belonged to Mr. George Elizalde, a popular much-sought after Bay Area entertainer who was a former host and director of a long running television show on Channel 26, Buhay America. He sung two songs to the approving and enthusiastic delight of the crowd.

Mr. Alvin Padilla , UPA president took the time, to honor, with beautiful crystal plaques, Mr. & Mrs. Dick Gornot of Pozorrubio , Mr. & Mrs. John Bamont of Bayambang for their invaluable assistance in the acquisition of the Pangasinan Building in 1976; and Mr. & Mrs. Romeo Cantiller, of Calasiao , for their generous financial help to take care of unexpected financial obligation, when UPA was in dire financial straits.

It is remarkable to note here that the Association has paid off in full the mortgage of the building. A ceremonial symbolic burning of the loan papers took place at the Building on June 26, 2005 , in conjunction with the annual Thanksgiving Mass as part of the Pangasinan day celebration.

The evening's program of activities concluded with the presentation of the Pangasinan Perpetual Trophy to the town of Bayambang . The award is for the town with the most representation during the Pangasinan Day celebration dinner and ball.