2000 was the year I became President of Fil-Am. Unfortunately, it was also the year religious fanatics predicted the world will end. And the fear of that prediction permeated to everyone’s mind through most of the Christian world. Of course that bogus prediction never happened and that year our Board had a very successful run. Thanks to all the board members who were at their best, all our scheduled programs and projects were well funded and we turned over substantial amount of funds to the following years’ Board. We had one of the most successful membership renewal program in the associations’ history. For the first time we started the golf tournament. Although on a small scale (64 participants) it was very successful and in recent years has become one of Fil-Am’s revenue making projects.

In 1973, I’ve been working at the Philippine Weather Bureau as Seismological Assistant for 10 years. As a Press Liaison, it was my job to disseminate information to the press in the event of an earthquake. It was a very rewarding job. Although I love my work I had to leave the Philippines when my petition for immigration was approved. At the time my wife Rhoda was already in the US for a year. The plan was to work for 5 years, save money and go back to the Philippines and live happily ever after, just as every fairy tale ends. Of course it wasn’t so, because life with my family in this blessed land has been very good. God has given us a wonderful life and I have no regrets whatsoever. Sometimes, even though it’s been a while, I can feel that my longing to go home hasn’t left me.