PR-62-2020
5 October 2020 Toronto, Ontario – On 30 September 2020, Philippine Consul General Orontes V. Castro inducted the newly-installed Officers and Directors of the Bicol Canadian Community Association (BCCA) for the term 2020-2021 at the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto. The induction and oathtaking ceremony was planned for early this year but was postponed due to the current restrictions brought about by the pandemic.
The Program of the Oathtaking Ceremony was opened by Master of Ceremonies Ms. Jennifer Amaranto, BCCA’s Secretary, followed by the singing of the Canadian and Philippine national anthems, and then the Invocation led by one of the directors, Ms. Gidget dela Torre. BCCA Treasurer Mr. Jose Gutierrez welcomed everyone to the event while incumbent and re-elected President Mr. Earl Francis Dacara introduced the Guest Speaker and Inducting Officer Consul General Orontes V. Castro.
Consul General Castro lauded the organization as one of the oldest Filipino organizations. He narrated his wonderful memories with the Bicol Associations in countries where he was previously posted – in Chicago and New York. He also commended the initiatives of the BCCA in helping not only the Bicolanos in Toronto, but also in the Philippines, specifically in the recent magnitude 6.5 earthquake that hit Cataingan, Masbate on 18 August 2020. He also mentioned the devotion of the Bicolanos to “INA” Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia (Our Lady of Peñafrancia). Consul General Castro attended the culminating Holy Mass celebrating the Feast Day of Our Lady of Peñafrancia which was held on 19 September 2020 at the Our Lady of the Assumption Church.
BCCA Adviser Mr. Rafael Nebres gave his Inspirational Message to all the newly-elected Officers and Directors of the organization. Mr. Nebres was the former President of the organization for so many years before he retired and passed the baton to Mr. Dacara in 2018. Mr. Nebres said that he is very much confident that with the leadership of Mr. Dacara, BCCA will be successful in bringing to Canada, one at a time, all the six (6) provinces in Bicol – Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sir, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon.
After the Induction Ceremony, incumbent president Mr. Dacara gave his message thanking the Consul General for accepting their invitation to be their Guest Speaker and Induction Officer and allowing them to hold the oathtaking at the Consulate General, but mindful of and following the guidelines and restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Dacara likewise mentioned the upcoming projects of BCCA which they will link with the 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations of the Philippines, as well as the Quincentenary Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021. The projects, among others, are the “HISTOBICOL” program, as well as the 2021 Peñafrancia Festival which will be celebrated through a fluvial or boat processions around Bluffers Park Lane in Scarborough, Ontario and a Holy Mass at the Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Toronto.
