All systems go to the 38th anniversary foundation of Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA coinciding with its Induction Ball on July 16, from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Marriott Hotel on 4700 Airport Plaza Dr., Long Beach.
This was announced by Lino Caringal, Jr., a business entrepreneur  who assumed the presidency on Jan. 1 this year. Caringal, a Philippine Military Academy alumnus Class 1972, will be sworn in by Artesia Fil-Am Mayor Victor Manalo. Mayor Manalo will also be the guest of speaker. Caringal, past president of The Global Urdanetanians and The Original Urdanetanians succeeds businessman Eddie C. Ferrer who has been president for the past four years.
PB-USA, a 501 C-3 non-profit organization has been on the forefront of partnering with the provincial government of Pangasinan and its people. It has donated three low-cost Gawad Kalinga homes in the town of Villasis, Pangasinan  totaling $9,000, providing scholarship grants to children of poor families but academically well-endowed college-bound students enrolled in various state college and universities in the province, livelihood and trade seminar, trade mission, community outreach to the City of Cerritos and Los Angeles Lakambini pageant, monetary assistance to regions devastated by natural calamities like Typhoon Haiyan victims, promoting goods and products produced and manufactured in Pangasinan, among others.
Several manufacturers and producers showcased their products during the First Trade Expo & International Street Festival held in Artesia in October 2014.  No less than Pangasinan Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. and Vice Gov. Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. and a couple of Pangasinan Board members were also on hand to lend their moral support for this endeavor.
Other officers who will be sworn in are outgoing President Eddie C. Ferrer of Dagupan City  who will retain his Board seat; Nieves Coquia (Dagupan City)  as chairperson of the board; Mellie Soriano (Bayambang) vice chairperson; Lina Cabal (Alaminos) board secretary; Esmeralda Ceralde (Dagupan City), Neil Estrada (Calasiao), Rhenee M. Ferrer (San Carlos City), Bong Soriano (Bayambang), Eliseo Turingan (Sual) and Arsenio Valencerina (Bugallon). Caringal is also part of the board.
Also to be inducted are six vice presidents representing the six congressional districts of Pangasinan province Rey Rodrigo, Oscar Camacho, Claro Guico, Roger Cabal, Perlita Rasing and Segundino Solis; executive officers Menchu Madriaga, secretary; Flordeliza Soriano, Assistant secretary; Gigi de Vera, treasurer; Julie Estrada, assistant treasurer; Beth Garcia and Linda Ortaleza, auditors; Lito de Vera, Eva Mateo, Elmer Orlino and Leocio Dumlao, business managers;  Elisa Urbano and Noime Dumlao, public relations officers; Mel Oxciano, legal counsel; and Henry Ward, marshall.
Other support personnel include Emmanuel Coquiua, Ways and Means Committee; Nanding Soriano and  Bert Garcia, Finance; Dennis Solis, Next Gen legal assistant; Bong Soriano, Youth, Hospitality and Membership; Lydia Ceralde, scholarship; George, webmaster; Mike Mandapat, photography and video; Dan E. Nino, Ernie Delfin, Ping Coquia, Elpidio Estioko, and Lora Dobuzinskis, media advisory council; Eddie C. Ferrer, Feliz Lopez, Pons Co, Virginia Coquia, Nanding Soriano, Peter Magno, Gus Ganay and Ernie Delifin, project management team.
A novel thrust during Mr. Ferrer’s administration was the inclusion of the youth and young professionals whom he christened the “Next Gen” as an equal participants and partners in community building and in the organization’s activities and projects. And who will take the mantle of leadership someday when the Pangasinense old guards in our community have already faded away.
Music and entertainment will be provided by Babes and Friends Band and NextGen DJ music by Oliver Estrada. To spice up the evening, raffle cash prizes will be up for grabs.
Other highlights include the promenade walk of Miss Pangasinan  Alyssa V. Soto to be  escorted by presidents of PB-USA, founder of World Film Institute Dr. Antonio Gellini and followed by Corporate sponsors present; presentation of awards to livelihood and development donors;  awards for Outreach and Cooperation by the Arts and Entertainment Leaders in Los Angeles that impacts the youth, family and Filipino and other Asian-Pacific communities here and globally; dinner entertainment songs from Christine Love and dance presentation by the Bayambang Association of Southern California under its President Oscar Camacho and photo collage presentation of  Bong Soriano and JR Araquel.
Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA, an umbrella organization of all Pangasinan town and city associations was founded in 1978 by the late Dagupeno and Ambassador Armando C. Fernandez, then the Philippine consul general of Los Angeles. Past president of PB-USA in chronological order since the 1970s include Alfredo C. Reyes, Renato D. Casaclang, Ray Parayno, Adolfo U. Dotimas, the late Ernesto A. Reyes, Mel Castelo, Tony Barlongo, Tony V. Banaag, Gil B. Mislang, J. Bing Dela Vega, Ads Diaz, Mely I Cerame, Dan E. Nino and Eddie C. Ferrer.
For more details, interested parties may call Lino Caringal, Jr. @ 714-331-0954, Eddie C. Ferrer @ 714-827-2366 or Dan E. Nino @ 562-921-5116. – denino1951@gmail.com