The Catholic Vote 2008

http://www.catholicvote.com/


Voters’ Guide to the 2008 Presidential Election
http://www.priestsforlife.org/elections/index.htm

Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political
Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States
http://www.faithfulcitizenship.org/

FIESTA 2008 UPDATE - MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

9 DAY NOVENA & HOLY MASS OF SAINT JOSEPH
August 13-21, 2008
Rev. Fr. Lito Amande
*Novena Schedule will be posted up soon

SAINT JOSEPH FIESTA CELEBRATION
Saturday, August 23, 2008
3:30 p.m. - Holy Mass
Rev. Fr. Lito Amande - Celebrant
Dinner: 5:00 p.m.
Dance till 11:30 p.m.
UFCW Auditorium
8530 Stanton Ave.,
Buena Park, California USA

MEETING
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Cypress Community Center
5700 Orange Avenue
Cypress, CA 90630

MORE DETAILS TO BE ANNOUNCED
Maupay nga patron in advance to all!

Fiesta 2008 Souvenir Program

GEN. MACARTHUR, EASTERN SAMAR RESIDENTS ORGANIZATION OF USA

SAINT JOSEPH FIESTA CELEBRATION 2008

The General MacArthur, Eastern Samar Residents Organization of USA will celebrate its annual town fiesta on Saturday, August 23, 2008 and we would like you to share with us your presence and support. To further commemorate this celebration, we will also be printing a souvenir program, which will highlight the religious, social and cultural activities of our fiesta and include compliments from families and businesses. We would like to invite you to support us by purchasing an ad which will be prominently published in the souvenir program.

We thank you very much for your unfailing support and may God grant you and your family bountiful graces and blessings through the intercession of our patron saint, Saint Joseph.

Sincerely,

Felicitas Edles Platino
Chairman

NOTE: Please mail this form with your payment and advertisement/compliment message to
Mrs. Felicitas Edles Platino
516 W. Ash Avenue, Fullerton, Ca 92832

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Please write your advertisement message & check the Ad size:

( ) Back Cover inside $110.00
( ) Full page $100.00
( ) one half page $50.00
( ) one fourth page $25.00

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Please make checks payable to Mrs. Felicitas Edles Platino

Thank you for your generosity!!

Update on the Aid to the flood/landslide victims in Gen. MacArthur E. Samar

Donations for the flood/landslide victims in Gen. MacArthur E. Samar
As of July 8, 2008

A Special Thanks to our
Donors

Michelle, Jeff and Isabelle Brookshire
Virgilio and Shiony Lumagbas Lintag
Peter and Charito Salas & family
Ben and Nelly Bodo
M/M Tom Edwards
Nemesio and Fe Garcia
Jane Cordero Spanier
Gina Cordero Tucker
Catayong Family
Ed and Rose Alcantara
Maria R. Amande
Jose and Crisanta Cordero Conde
Regina R. delaCruz
Diding Herrera
M/M Julio Catayong
M/M Agosto Ecleonel
M/M Timothy Short
M/M Angelito Quijano
Adora Brosas and Josephine Ann Brosas
Dominador and Florence Edles
Rosa Salazar & family
Asuncion Abuda Quirante & family
Teresita L. Castillo
Tabs and Leoni Lanuevo Ruiz
Melissa E. Salas
Jeff and Vivian Ibach
M/M Jun Quimpo
Genaro and Siony Cajipo
Ms. Luz Abonales
Paderogo Family
John and Meditas L. Romey
Antonia C. Monta
Mitz Edles
Nenita R. Rodriguez
Steve and Lilibeth Hand
Jesse Valentin Spanier
Alice Isleta
Antonio and Pacita Edles
Lillian Cabos
Corazon A. Corre
Myra A. Corre
Helen Corre Caballero & family
Mory and Jade Corre & family
Manny A. Corre
Emelyn
Josephine B. Halleran
Shirley E. Kuhlman
Ms. Victorina Andrews
Ms. Fe Moeller
Jerry and Matilde Zeiss
Pepe A. Navidad
Mr. & Mrs. Reynaldo Amande Sison
Jessie Altar
Nino & Che Abejo
Oscar & Benilda Abuyen
Leonora I. Sabong
Rose Abad
Frank
Tira
Paulo Rosete

May God Reward You
for your
Prayers and Generosity!

When Bad Things Happen To Good People

When Bad Things Happen To Good People
How To Turn Your Good Friday To Your Easter Sunday

Are you a good person?

If you are, do you wonder why bad things still happen to you?

Harold Kushner wrote a book with this same title and it became an instant bestseller. Because people want to know the answer.

Sorry, I’m not going to give you an answer. (Nobody can.)

Because the problem of suffering will always remain a mystery.

Instead, I’m going to tell you what to do.

I will tell you what to do in the midst of your suffering—so that you can overcome your suffering. How you can turn your Good Friday into your Easter Sunday!

Are you ready?

Let me share with you a powerful story…

Your Greatest Curse Can Turn To Be
Your Greatest Blessing

Michelangelo had a persecutor who was very jealous of him.

(I don’t mean the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, but the real Michelangelo.)

The persecutor’s name was Bramante, a famous architect during that time.

By the way, do you know Bramante? I’m positive 99% of you never heard of him. Do you notice how persecutors fade away in the dust, but the one they persecute become legends? An important lesson to remember!

When Pope Julius thought of making a tomb, he asked Michelangelo to do it.

But when Bramante heard of it—and thought of the acclaim that Michelangelo would receive from it—he discouraged the Pope from continuing with the project. True enough, after Michelangelo searched far and wide for the perfect marble for the project—which took 8 long months—he learned that the Pope had abandoned the project. Michelangelo was very disappointed.

One day, the Pope thought of another project.

Upon hearing about it, Bramante concluded that it would be a time-consuming project and would receive very little public acclaim. So he told the Pope to give it to Michelangelo. In his mind, it would keep the artist busy for years—and accomplish nothing of great value.

Besides, it was also a painting job, and Bramante knew that Michelangelo was not even a painter, but a sculptor.

Michelangelo saw the trap. He knew it was a ploy by his enemy to destroy him. At first, he declined. But the Pope insisted, and not wanting to deny his Holiness, he agreed.

The project was indeed time-consuming. It took Michelangelo 4 years to finish, and he almost lost his eyesight because of it…

I’m sure you know the project by now: The Sistine Chapel. The grandest masterpiece of Michelangelo. More than anything, it made him one of the greatest painters of all time.

What was meant to curse him turned out to be his greatest blessing.

Good Friday was supposed to be the greatest curse.

Yet it also turned out to be the greatest blessing.

No Matter What Trials Come,
Keep Doing The Good You’re Supposed To Do

I reflect on this story and look at my own life.

I’ve been serving God for that past 27 years, and I do get my share of little “Bramante’s” scattered here and there.

But without them, I would have missed my greatest blessings: spiritual growth, opportunities to serve, and the impact I have on people’s lives.

My biggest Bramante’s were the two men who molested me as a child.

Because of these indescribable painful experiences, I’ve been able to heal so many people who have the same inner wounds. (You can read more about this in two of my books, Your Past Does Not Define Your Future, and 7 Secrets To Real Freedom.)

I could also think of my other trials in life…

Oh, why do bad things happen to good people?

Here’s my great theological answer: I don’t know.

But this I know. No matter what trials come, I’ll do the good that I’m supposed to do.

And at the end of the day, I will win.

Friend, remain faithful to God in good times and in bad times.

And you’ll see how all things work for good to those who love Him.

And you’ll see how your Good Friday will turn to Easter Sunday.

Don’t ever give up!

May your dreams come true,

Bo Sanchez

Bo Sanchez started preaching at the age of 13 and wrote his first book at the age of 20. He is the publisher and main writer of Kerygma, the number one inspirational magazine in the Philippines. Today, he continues to preach to millions worldwide. And for years now his inspirational books have never left the top ten list of best-selling books in the Philippines.
He founded many organizations, such as Anawin, a special home for the abandoned elderly and a few children, and Shepherd's voice, a media ministry that publishes the widest read Catholic literature in the country. He also founded Light of Jesus Community and the Light of Jesus Counseling Center. Bo is a partner of Gawad Kalinga. His group has already started work in the GK Village.

Learn To Live A Fantastic Life
Note from Bo: Subscribe at http://www.bosanchez.ph/ and you’ll receive this spiritually nourishing and inspiring letter each month without fail—absolutely free

Message from GEMMSRO of Manila

March 12, 2008

Dear Officers and Members of GEMSRO USA,

The GEMMSRO of Manila has recently launched its
website: www.freewebs.com/gemmsro. For further
information regarding the organization's set of
officers and the latest news and events, please feel
free to visit our website.

Likewise, THE McARTHUR TIMES, the official publication
of the GEMMSRO, has released its maiden issue during
the March 9, 2008 Fiesta Celebration at Kowloon House,
Quezon City.

The editorial board is now accepting news, articles,
literary pieces and artworks from our kababayans who
wished to be heard and be counted.

Once again, mabuhay!

Yours Truly,


LEONARDO PASQUITO
A/Secretary, GEMMSRO/Editor-in-Chief

Donations for flood/landslide victims in Gen. MacArthur E. Samar

A MESSAGE FROM THE GEMSRO USA YOUTH GROUP

Please help disseminate this message to your family, friends, co-workers, church/prayer communities, and etc. Thank you and God bless!

________________________________________________________________

Youth of Gen. MacArthur E. Samar USA Residents Organization

February 28, 2008

Dear Friends,

Landslides and floods caused by nine days of incessant rain have isolated most of Eastern Samar. According to Inquirer.net, “The Department of Social Welfare and Development said the continuous days of rain, brought by the low pressure area in Northern Mindanao and the cold front, have affected 8,973 families in the towns of Dolores, General MacArthur, Jipapad, Maslog and Borongan City.”

In particular, the flash floods and landslides have caused overwhelming damaged in the town of Gen. MacArthur devastating many families/residents there. The farmlands, which are one of the major sources of livelihood of many Pambujanons, have been destroyed and the Macabut Bridge which links Gen. MacArthur to the other towns has collapsed, unfortunately leaving the town isolated. As a result, many villagers have had to relocate to higher grounds and into the mountains. According to reports from the Pambujanon website, “some residents have already evacuated to higher and safer grounds. Water is knee-high while in lower areas like Brgy. 3, floodwaters are up to the waist.”

With houses and stores lost and farmlands destroyed, many Pambujanons are now left homeless and unemployed. It is clear that it will take a lot of hard work in order to restore Gen. MacArthur back to its feet and help many people who have lost so much. So at this time we are requesting if you can look into your heart and help our fellow kababayans through the spirit of generosity in this time of despair and restore hope in the lives of the many families affected by this tragedy. Since the president and the treasurer of GEMSRO USA are currently in the Philippines, please send cash donations or checks (payable to “cash”) to:

Salas Residence
4433 Boyar Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90807

Whatever amount you can give is greatly appreciated and we will make sure to keep a list of donors. We hope to have everything collected by the Saint Joseph March Fiesta Celebration on Saturday, March 15, 2008. To also assure that your donation will be accounted for, we will publish the list on the GEMSRO USA website (http://gemsrousa.blogspot.com/) and a list of the donors will be sent along with the donations.

But most important of all, please keep everyone in Gen. MacArthur in your thoughts and prayers that God will continue to watch over and protect them all in this time of tragedy.

More information and pictures of the damage wrought by the floods can be found in the Pambujanon website (http://pambujanon.webs.com/)

Thank you in advance for your generosity and May the Lord bless you and your family! Let us be united in our prayers and look with hope to the future!

God bless,
Dominique Salas
E-mail: dom.salas@yahoo.com
GEMSRO USA Youth and Young Adults Group

For more information, please contact anyone below:

Charito Salas

(562) 490-9853

Gilbert Paderogo

(714) 680-4347

Dominique Salas

(562) 881-5540

Lorna Badeo

(858) 335-5310

Saint Joseph Fiesta Celebration - March 15, 2008

The General MacArthur Eastern Samar Residents Organization of USA

Invites you, your family & friends to celebrate

The Feast of Saint Joseph

WHEN:

Saturday, March 15, 2008

WHERE:

4542 Victoria Court

Cypress, California 90630

Tel # (714) 827-5294

TIME:

Registration - 11:00 A.M.

Holy Mass - 11:30 A.M.

Luncheon follows after the Holy Mass

POTLUCK LUNCH

Please bring your favorite dish to share. Your presence and participation is highly appreciated. We will be discussing our activities for this coming town fiesta celebration, feast of our patron – Saint Joseph, which is going to be held on August 23, 2008.
Please make a special effort to attend this important event to input your ideas and suggestions.

Mark your calendar now.

Please spread the word!

Fr. Fernando Suarez CC is coming to the US

Fr. Fernando Suarez CC

Fr. Fernando Suarez CC, was born in the Province of Batangas in the Philppines in 1967. After spending much of his life living and working in the Philippines, with a Chemical Engineering degree, he came to Winnipeg, Canada in 1995. In Canada, he continued to persue his desire to follow the Lord as a Roman Catholic Priest, something he strongly felt God was calling him to become. In 1997 he joined the Companions of the Cross religious community of priests and seminarians, founded by Rev. Robert Bedard in 1985 in Ottawa, Canada, and Fr. Fernando was ordained to the priesthood in 2002.

Early in his life, sometime around the age of 16, God was beginning to use him in a powerful way as he reached out to people who were in need. He found that as he sensed God calling him to pray with people who were sick, these people he ministered to were getting healed. At first he struggled understanding the gift God had given him, but more and more, as the Lord put the people in his path who were in need, the sick were able to find the healing touch of Jesus through the hands of Fr. Fernando Suarez. To date, Fr. Fernando has prayed with literally thousands of people in need of healing, with much success for those with faith.

Since his ordination to the priesthood, Fr. Fernando has found that the gift of healing has become more pronounced in him and that God is using him even more. He spent the first year of his priesthood as the associate pastor of St. Timothy's parish in North York, Ontario, however, since July, 2003, he has been given a new ministry in his community which would help to foster the spiritual gifts God has given him. He is now regularly conducting Healing Masses, retreats and missions, with large numbers of people now in attendence.

The healing ministry of Fr. Fernando Suarez is just in its early stage and this chosen disciple does it all for the Lord. The Holy Spirit has given wisdom to this humble man who is diligently working in the vineyard of the Lord. The Lord continues to use Fr. Fernando in greater ways, to enkindle a burning desire in the community of faith and in our world, where so many are desperately seeking the love of Jesus in their lives.

-Fr. Jeff Shannon CC,

Mission team w/ Fr. Fernando

Mary Mother of the Poor

Many MacArthur USA residents, particularly living in the East Coast, Chicago, and California, have already witnessed the wonderful healing power of the Holy Spirit through this humble and faithful servant of God. Please continue to pray for this priest and his ministry with helping the poor and those who are physically and spiritually ill and that he may continue to draw people closer to Christ. All are encourage to attend the Healing Masses that will take place all over the USA and remember to invite your family and friends to experience God’s healing and abiding love in a darkened world. For more information, please visit: http://www.fatherfernando.com/ and http://marymotherofthepoor.org/ and continue to check http://fatherfernando.com/healingmassschedule.shtml for a more detailed and updated schedule of Father Fernando's events worldwide.

Below is a summary of Father Fernando's scheduled events in the US as of January 28, 2008:

Feb. 15, 2008 @ 7:00 pm

Healing Mass

Our Lady of the Valley Church

22021 Gault St

Canoga Park, CA 91303

Feb. 16 to Feb. 20, 2008
Lenten Parish Mission Retreat and Healing Mass
Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church
870 W. 8th St.
San Pedro, CA 90731
Schedule:
Feb. 16, Saturday - 5:15 pm: Eucharistic Celebration: Fr. Fernando Suarez, CC
Feb. 17, Sunday Mass Schedule – Fr. Fernando/Fr. Jeff will be preaching at these Masses:
7:30 am - English, 9:00 am - English, 10:30 am - Spanish, 12:00 noon - English, 1:30 pm - Croatian, 4:00 pm - Spanish, 5:15 pm - English, 6:30 pm - Italian
Feb. 18, 2008, Monday - 6:30 pm
Eucharistic Celebration and Parish Mission Talk "The Power of the Cross" followed by Penance Service (Sacrament of Reconciliation)
Feb. 19, 2008, Tuesday - 8:00 am
Eucharistic Celebration and Healing Service (for the Homebound and people on Wheelchairs)
Feb. 19, 2008, Tuesday - 6:30 pm
Eucharistic Celebration and Parish Mission Talk "The Power of the Eucharist" followed by the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Feb. 20, 2008, Wednesday - 6:30 pm
Eucharistic Celebration and Parish Mission Talk: "The Power of Healing" followed by Healing Service

Feb. 21, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Healing Mass
St. Vincent de Paul Church
8345 Talbert Ave.
Huntington Beach, CA 92646

Feb. 22, 2008 Fri. @ 7:00 pm
Healing Mass
St. Benedict Church
1022 W. Cleveland Ave.
Montebello, California 90640

Feb. 23, 2008 @ 7:00 pm.
Healing Mass
St. Catherine of Siena Church
18115 Sherman Way
Reseda, CA 91335

Feb. 24, 2008 @ 2:00 pm
Healing Mass
St. Anthony Catholic Church
710 E Grand Ave
El Segundo, CA 90245

Feb. 25, 2008
6:40 pm: Rosary & Divine Mercy
7:30 pm: Healing Mass
Our Lady of the Assumption
435 Berkeley Ave.
Claremont, CA 91711

Feb. 26, 2008 @ 7:00 pm.
Healing Mass
St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church
155 E. Janss Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

Feb. 27, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Healing Mass
St. Bridget Catholic Church
220 N. 14th St.
Las Vegas, NV 89101

Feb. 28, 2008 Thur. @ 7:00 pm
Healing Mass
St. Bridget Catholic Church
220 N. 14th St.
Las Vegas, NV 89101

March 3 - 5, 2008 - see schedule below
Lenten Parish Mission, "His Healing Presence"
Cathedral of Christ the King
2699 Peachtree Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30305
Schedule:
Monday, March 3, 2008 at 7pm
Eucharistic Celebration and Talk - "The Power of the Cross" followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Confession (no Healing Service)
Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at 7pm
Eucharistic Celebration and Talk - "The Power of the Eucharist", followed by Healing Service
Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 7pm
Eucharistic Celebration and Talk - "The Power of Healing", followed by Healing Service

March 8 - 13, 2008 - see schedule below
Companions of the Cross - Texas Parish Mission at:
Queen of Peace
3011 Telephone Rd. Houston, TX 77023
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
6723 Whitefriars, Houston, TX 77087
Catholic Charismatic Center:
1949 Cullen Blvd., P.O. Box 230287 Houston, TX 772
Schedule:
March 8 and 9, 2008, Queen of Peace and Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Fr. Fernando will preach at all Saturday and Sunday Masses at Queen of Peace; Fr. Jeff will preach at all Saturday and Sunday Masses at Our Lady of Mount Carmel
March 11, 2008 at 7pm, Catholic Charismatic Center: Eucharistic Celebration and Talk - "The Power of the Cross", Confessions after Mass (no Healing Service)
March 12, 2008 at 7pm, Catholic Charismatic Center: Eucharistic Celebration and Talk - "The Power of the Eucharist", followed by Healing Service
March 13, 2008 at 7pm, Catholic Charismatic Center
Eucharistic Celebration and Talk - The Power of Healing, followed by Healing Service

April 5 - 8, 2008
Parish Mission
St. Mark's Roman Catholic Church
500 Wigwam Lane, Stratford, Connecticut 06614
Schedule:
April 5 and 6, 2008 - Fr. Fernando/Fr. Jeff will preach at all Saturday and
Sunday Masses
April 7, 2008 at 7pm - Eucharistic Celebration and Talk - The Power of the Cross/The Power of the Eucharist, followed by Confession (no Healing Service)
April 8, 2008 at 7pm - Eucharistic Celebration and Talk - The Power of Healing, followed by Healing Service

April 11 - 15, 2008
New Jersey and New York
- schedule and venues to follow

April 11, 2008 , Friday @ 7:00 pm

Eucharistic Celebration followed by Healing Service

St. Veronica’s Church

4215 Highway 9 North

Howell, NJ 07731

April 12, 2008, Saturday @ 2:30 pm

Eucharistic Celebration followed by Healing Service

St. Antoninus Parish

337 South Orange Ave.,

Newark, NJ 07103

April 25 - 30, 2008
Northern California/San Francisco
- schedule and venues to follow

May 12 – 17, 2008
Indiana and Illinois
Schedule, venue and contact info to follow

Friday, May 16, 2008 @ 6:30pm

Mass and Healing Service

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Monastery

1628 Ridge Road, Munster, IN 46321

July 21 – 26, 2008
Maryland/Washington, DC area
Schedule, venue and contact info to follow

(visit http://fatherfernando.com/healingmassschedule.shtml for more details and updates)

General MacArthur Song

Compliments of Macky Tambayan

Brief History of the General MacArthur Town Fiesta Celebration in the USA

In 1966, the first General MacArthur town fiesta was celebrated in the residence of Mr. & Mrs. Valentin Cordero in Long Beach, California USA. Present in this first ever celebration were Mr. Felipe Cordero Sr., his daughter Flora Cordero Ty, Mr. & Mrs. Dominador N. Edles, Mr.& Mrs. Demetrio Bogtong, and a few friends. To their pioneering efforts, a salute and thanks to these people of General MacArthur is certainly and absolutely in order, especially to Mr. & Mrs. Valentin Cordero who hosted the hallmark occasion, that would later on turn out to be what it is today – a towering monument of love and affection to a native town and its Patron Saint – St. Joseph.

Then in 1967, the fiesta was held at the residence of Mr. & Mrs. Dominador N. Edles, with more MacArthur USA residents in attendance, like Mr. & Mrs. Herman Bautista (nee Grace Japzon), Mr. & Mrs. Tom Huton (nee Teresita Sumiguin), Mrs. Segundina Sumiguin Kent, Felicitas Edles Sison, with the above mentioned pioneering residents also attending.

Of course, this was followed by the fiesta in 1968, which was held in San Pedro at the Kent residence. It was during this celebration that, for the first time some honored guests were in attendance, namely: Mr. & Mrs. Santiago Busa, Mr. & Mrs. Nemesio Beato, Mr. & Mrs. Abelardo Dala, and Mr. & Mrs. Ramon Espina, who are from the neighboring town of Borongan, which is now the capital of Eastern Samar Philippines. By now, you probably have noticed that the people in attendance were growing, perhaps not by leaps and bounds, but growing just the same every passing year. The same thing may be said with the fiesta in 1969, with Mr. & Mrs. Demetrio Bogtong of San Diego hosting the fiesta as hermanos. And a sure sign of growth was seen in 1970, when the celebration went out-doors or into halls, because a family residence was becoming too small to accommodate the invited guests and their families and friends. With more than a hundred of guests, the fiesta was held at the El Dorado Park Hall in Long Beach, California, USA. It was here, for the first time, native folk dances, like the Tinikling, were performed by Felicitas Edles Sison (Platino) and Mr. Jaime Ty, and modern dances were exhibited by the Cordero sisters, Jane, Telly, Romy, and Gina, and another native folk dance, Lawiswis Cawayan, was performed by Virgie Bogtong, Pauline Bogtong, Rebecca Edles, and Jane Cordero. In addition, a chorus was performed with Lut Tizon on the piano. The 1970 fiesta sponsors were Mrs. Felicitas Edles Sison and Mr. Jaime Ty.

From then on, the fiesta celebration went from one hall to another and the programs of entertainment became bigger and bigger as far as the resources of the fiesta sponsors (hermanos and hermanas) could afford. The affair even became nationwide, with MacArthur USA residents from the San Francisco and Sacramento area of Northern California, San Diego-California, New Orleans- Louisiana, Cleveland-Ohio, Chicago-Illinois, Florida, Arizona, Wyoming, Washington, Boston- Massachusetts, Las Vegas- Nevada, New York, and etc., would come to attend the traditional nine consecutive days novena, and the two-day fiesta (the first day being held usually on the last Saturday of August with a Holy Mass and a dinner/dance that follows and the second day takes place on the following Sunday, where a fiesta meeting is held to discuss the plans for the next year’s fiesta). No other event is known to have brought the natives of MacArthur and their families, now residing in the USA, closer to each other and mold us into one big family. It is truly a "Family Reunion."

Then in 1976, the MacArthur USA residents, realizing the need for a formal organization to manage the celebration along with the families of the Hermanos, decided to hold a meeting which was held at the residence of Mr. & Mrs. Jaime Ty in Westminster, California, to organize the General MacArthur, Eastern Samar Residents Organization of USA, with the following first set of officers elected:

1976-1978 President – Raymund Bulford
Vice-President – Jesse Lanuevo
Treasurer – Jaime Ty
Secretary – Felicitas Edles Platino
Auditor – Serapion Baldo

Past presidents of GEMSRO USA 1976-present
1976-1978 – Raymund Bulford
1978-1980 – Engr. Carmelo del Fonzo
1980-1982 – Dr. Antonio Edles Sr.
1982-1984 – Engr. Nemesio Garcia
1984-1990 – Felicitas Edles Platino
1990-1992 – Mila del Fonzo Lorico
1992-1994 – Reggie Tamase
1994-Present – Felicitas Edles Platino

GEMSRO USA OFFICERS 2004 – 2008
Felicitas Edles Platino – President
Engr. Ernesto Jaramilla – Vice President
Dra. Simeona Gilber – Secretary
Honorata Cordero Jaramilla – Tresurer
Temerel Abucejo – Auditor
Felipe Cordero Jr. – Sgt. At arms
Anton Arganda – Sgt. At arms
Joseph Sajorda – Sgt. At arms

EMAIL DIRECTORY

The organization is in the process of compiling a Email Directory, so Pambujanons can reconnect with each other both nationwide and worldwide and to also receive Email communications from the organization to keep informed about upcoming special events. We hope to have it completed before August so it can possibly be published in the Fiesta 2008 Souvenir Program and e-mailed to all those who are interested in having a copy. So please submit your full name and Email Address to: gemsrousa@yahoo.com or simply post it as a comment.

Thank you!

Let us pray...

“Come to Me, all of you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28)

There is a special section of this website that is dedicated for all who are sick. Everyone is encourage to submit names to gemsrousa@yahoo.com or simply post the name in the comments section so it can be added to the prayer list. Let us as a community of faith put our trust in the Lord and offer up our petitions to Him and with love and support, let us continue to pray for each other, especially those among us who are suffering from any illness or hardship.

Prayer for the Sick
Dear Jesus, Divine Physician and Healer of the sick, we turn to you in this time of illness. O dearest comforter of the troubled, alleviate our worry and sorrow with your gentle love, and grant us the grace and strength to accept this burden. Dear God, we place our worries in your hands. We place our sick under your care and humbly ask that you restore your servant to health again. Above all, grant us the grace to acknowledge your will and know that whatever you do, you do for the love of us. Amen.
1 Our Father....1 Hail Mary...1 Glory Be...

"For me prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look towards Heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy."- Saint Therese of Lisieux

Welcome to the GEMSRO USA website

The General MacArthur Eastern Samar Residents Organization of USA now has its own interactive website. The purpose of this website is to unite and inform all Pambujanons living in the USA of social, religious, and community events and to provide them an online meeting place. Overall, it is a good way to keep current on news and events. Visit often and send us stories, photos or simply participate in the discussions. Please feel free to add this website to your Favorites list and check back for interesting news, articles, photos, commentary and videos.

Website Contributions
We welcome contributions - comments and suggestions, events, photos, articles and other web materials. Please e-mail your announcements and etc. to: gemsrousa@yahoo.com