Dear Brods and Sis,

After a long weekend (July 2-5, 2009) of fellowships, white water river rafting, hiking and partying with music provided by Seattle’s best Filipino live band (with Bro. Chito Refuerzo on lead guitar and UP alumnus Teza Mendoza on vocals), the main task of carrying on the work of the ETA Alumni Association of North America Foundation has just started under a new administration.

There were suggestions of re-electing me as President of ETAANA and some even suggested a President for Life term ala Bro. Manny Clarino of the UP APO Alumni Association. I am very happy that we were able to squelch such exuberance because the lifeblood of our Foundation lies not in a so-called “stability of leadership” – because the Foundation itself is a bedrock of stability – but in the dynamism that new blood can infuse into our Foundation. Between Bro. Ruffy Ignacio (AGC 1999-2001, President 2001 -2005) and myself, the leadership of our Foundation has been based in Washington for the past 10 years, not to mention that three biennial affairs were held in the beautiful State of Washington. That, to me, should be enough stability as we embarked on building our 501(c)3 foundation stone by precious stone.

I was extremely pleased that there were several new faces from the 50′s and early 60′s batches – with their beautiful families – that graced the occasion of our biennial reunion, as well as braved the risks of the white water river rafting, not to mention the greater risks posed by the Gallery golf course on Whidbey Island. All in all, the affair on Cornet Bay, Whidbey Island, Washington was a resounding success.

Behind any success, however, are the people who provided their indispensable support, starting with our spouses without whose cooperation we would not even have had the time nor the interest in taking over such a huge task of organizing our biennial affair.

Last, but certainly not the least, from the bottom of the hearts of each and every member of ETAANA, I would like to acknowledge and convey our deep appreciation to all the members of the Greater Washington Alpha Phi Omega (GWAPO) without whose constant and tireless support, our ETAANA members could not have possibly found the time to enjoy their stay. We salute the members of GWAPO under the leadership of Bro.GWAPO President Ernie Paragas, and the spouses Bro. Caesar and Sis Cora Mitre who, with the GWAPO members too numerous to mention here at this time, ran the kitchen with efficient hands.

Finally, I would like to announce that we have a new President, Bro. Emmanuel “Bojji” Martinez (’82-D), who was unanimously given carte blanche by the ETAANA electorate to form his own corps of officers to carry on the fine traditions of ETA chapter here in North America.

Congratulations to you, Bro. Bojji, and we will provide you with all of the support that you will need to carry our your mandate.

Sincerely and fraternally,

JP Paredes
M-16, ’73A, ID# 0007-1973-04351 Life
Past President, APO-ETAANA Foundation (2005-2009)