Every year since the institution of awards by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration in recognition of Volunteerism Services and Outstanding Achievements among Ontarian Citizens, over 3,500 men, women and youth have been recipients.

Among other ethnic Canadians, around a thousand Filipino Canadians have received Volunteerism Service Honors and Awards for meritorious volunteer service and exemplary contribution to the betterment of their communities’ quality of life, in the spirit of fellowship and helping those in dire need.

On Canada Day last July 1, many Filipinos also received Achievement Awards.

Recognitions ranged different categories based on residency in multiples of five – 5 years, 10-years and so on until 30 years.

Last year, 2007 there were likewise 31 Filipino Canadian awardees: In the 30-year Volunteerism Service Category were: Violeta Candelario Vilan and Patricia Martin Guthrie, members of the Filipino Parents Association; in the 20-year category: Exuperio Tiqui, President of Living Waters Residence Inc. (formerly Sampaguita Filipino Village); in the 15-year category: Dr. Victoria Santiago, Chair, Board of Directors, Filipino Centre Toronto, Inc.; Separate School Board Member Marlene Mogado; past President, Auxiliary Unit 21, American Legion –Angeles Diaz Bauzon; past Vice President, Auxiliary Unit 21, American Legion -Lourdes Flores; Vice President, Filipino Canadian Veterans Legion Post 21 Fred Flores; Vice President; Living Waters Residence Luz Balbin; Director-Asst. Secretary Luisa Nolido; Director-Secretary Marylou Gaerlan;

In the 10-year category: Our Lady of Fatima Shrine Sunday Mass servers Alex Eugenio Parucha and Corazon Valenzuela Parucha; Treasurer, Ontario Filipino Women’s Club Ophie Mina; and Sgt-at-Arms Max Miemban; Volunteer Service for Filipino Parents Association Rowena Ponferrada; Living Waters Residence Directors Willie Arciaga and Connie Matula; Filipino Centre Toronto Inc. Director-Press Relation Officer Aida D’Orazio, and Vice President Rey Tolentino; FCT Volunteerism Service Evelyn Birondo; FCT Chair, Membership Committee Suzette Cresencia; FCT Treasurer Wendy Arena, OFWC Co-ordinators Evelyn Aquino, and Oscar Maranan;

In the 5-year-Category: OFWC Vice President Rebecca Reyes; Secretary Samira Flores, OFWC volunteers Belinda Sison and Wilberth Serafin Vallon; Youth Medal Volunteers Service Category: Kirsten Valenzuela Parucha, a second year Journalism student at the University of Toronto. Last year 2007 Youth award recipient was Nicole Banez Dumpit of the Philippine Heritage Band.

These recipients received scrolls of honor signed by Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Honourable Michael Chan and the Premier of Ontario, Honourable Dalton McGuinty ,with a silver sterling PINS bearing the number-of-year-category.

Alex P. Parucha, Sr., a Filipino community leader and nominator of the Ontario Honors and Awards Secretariat of the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, has been a member of the Canada Day July 1st Celebration Committee for many years.

- Sent by e-mail