GTA Featineans  Gather  to Celebrate Early Holiday Season

By : Tony A. San Juan, OCT
Toronto-Canada
November 18, 2014



Christmas ! T's the season of the year  that the Christian world is traditionally celebrating anew with great joy and grateful wishes of peace throughout. In Ontario's Greater Toronto Area, The Featineans Association of Toronto ( TFAT) in engaging mood, held its annual pre-Christmas family gathering and fellowship on November 16, 2014.

With Philippine Ambassador Clemencio Montesa, former Consul General in Toronto, together with his wife Amelia  and ex- Canada immigration judge Ricky Castellvi, as distinguished guests, the GTA Featineans enjoyed a delightful luncheon -cum- meeting at a Scarborough Chinese buffet restaurant.
 
Led by TFAT president Oliver Rey and his wife Darlene, those who attended the annual salo-salo weekend event were:  founders Julio & Annie Buiza, Tony A. San Juan & Tirso Balitian, and officers Moises & Virgie Ga, Max & Nenita Recaido, Norma & Romy Guanzon, Albert & Auring Pabustan, Greg & Fannie Gravador, Cesar Banda, Rudy Olay, Dr. Fe Q. Flora, Joy San Juan and other guests, Ismael & Linda Tan , Lucy Andres  and Filipiniana publisher Bin Kon Loo.

The 25-year old alumni organization, organized in July, 1989, expressed a firm decision and commitment to continuously support and fund its established scholarship project at their alma mater - FEATI University in Sta. Cruz, Manila, Philippines as long as viability is  present.

To date, the 12-year old scholarship undertaking produced 7 graduates and has provided tuition bursary grants to four entrance scholars during the 2014-2015 school year. Other TFAT initiatives include the Annual Academic Excellence Recognition Awards to FEATI U's top graduates and also, a generous direct financial assistance scheme to identified charitable agencies , foundations, hospitals , churches, schools  and calamity-stricken target communities.

A partner-member of the Philippine Colleges and Universities Alumni Association,  members and families of TFAT actively participate and ,in the past, garnered honours at PCUAA's yearly summer sports competition.(T. San Juan)