WHO HAS NOT SEEN STAR WARS:
THE FORCE AWAKENS (MOVIE)?

Over the Christmas holidays a lot of people were talking about the recently released Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie. The anticipated release of this movie was tremendous. Any science fiction fan and lovers of great stories alike could not wait for the movie to be shown. I have to admit that it was an exciting movie to watch. A new chapter of the Star Wars series was revealed to us and sets the stage for possible interesting plot lines. New generations of fans are being created while maintaining and satisfying the appetite of the die hard original fans. After finally seeing the movie my entire family gave it a “thumbs up”. To us, the hype was justified. The day after seeing the movie it made me think about PBUSA (Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA). The fact that the new year was coming- thoughts about the upcoming year was inevitable.

For PBUSA , I was thinking about, like Star Wars, a new chapter has been revealed. One of the new topics of that chapter for PBUSA is the NEXTGEN. Things within this part of PBUSA are slowly unfolding that will hopefully prove to be amazing. Slowly but surely the young professionals are starting to take an active part in the organization. Current PBUSA NextGen members like Jacqueline Ferrer , Neil Estrada, Dean Lawrence Mandapat and Jesse Mandapat have begun to contribute their precious time to get this organization moving to its goal of consistently being an agent of change for the community of Pangasinanses here in the United States as well as in the Philippines.

Over the Christmas holidays, specifically at the PBUSA holiday party, an act of generosity was made by another PBUSA NEXTGEN member, Christine M. Celestine,, the managing partner of the BACKLINE GROUP along with the company’s other managing partner, Jorge Rodriguez, have generously donated $500 to PBUSA. This was an unsolicited donation. It was unfortunate that she could not attend the event but she was well represented by Jorge Rodriguez and his wife Neisha Hallum Rodriguez. Neisha is a director for Backline Group. It certainly was a great gesture. Whether it’s something small like participating in discussions in the the PBUSA Facebook page to something very significant like this act of generosity, everything matters in the spirit of support for the PBUSA NEXTGEN. Even if small but done consistently, these various gestures, services etc. will someday add up to something magnificent.

Like the movie, Star Wars, the stage is set for what exciting things are up ahead for PBUSA. I hope that we all continue to support the NEXTGEN. As current members, we need to fully grasp that to maintain and thrive on what has been established. We need to care, participate and contribute whatever talents you may have.

In the world of Star Wars, I would say “May The Force Be With You”. We all know that GOD is the true force so I will end by saying MAY GOD BLESS US ALL AND PBUSA!

BE WELL, BE THANKFUL AND BE GREAT!

FERDINAND “ BONG” SORIANO

Dear Kabaleyans, Fellow Pangasinenses,

HAPPY NEW YEAR and may God’s Grace continue to be with us all !!!  Only through HIM will we see the light of PB-USA’s journey of Hope, Faith, Love, Charity, and Mercy.  Believing, understanding, and humbly having these virtues in our hearts will our prayers be answered.  Let this be our prayer and the bugle call of our 2016 resolution  !!!

It’s now official – Greetings and  Warm Welcome to the New President -MR. LINO CARINGAL JR and  the New Chairman of the Board – MADAME NIEVES COQUIA who will now both be at the helm of leadership in Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA, Inc. – 2016.  Welcome to the New Board Members and Executive Cabinet officers !!!

I respectfully pledge my support and pray for our general memberships corresponding support to the leaderships of our new officers.  They will need us as we will need them to keep the life of PB-USA breathing and functionally alive as God intended it to be for us to help our kabaleyans.

I can freely share with the members and basically with everyone I know and who knows me that my four (4) years of serving PB-USA was somehow heaven scripted.  I say so with a firm belief as a practicing Catholic on how my role on the script came into play.  The night prior to our election day in November 2011 was a Pacquiao fight but I simply took the course of spending a time with the Lord in adoration ( exposition of the Blessed Sacrament) at St. Bonaventure Parish in Huntington Beach where they have a weekly saturday adoration and confession at 8:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m.   I had a confession and prayed for enlightenment more than a prayer to win.  In His Living Presence, I submitted my case on what He wants me to do and HIS will be done. It was an uplifting in-dwelling spiritual dialogue and the rest is history as I got elected the next day.

The first few months was a struggle and challenging particularly with the remnants of the old system as we transitioned to our new status as a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) entity.  My priority then was the orientation and awareness of what a foundation is all about with the roles of the Board of Directors as policy making body were defined.  Unfortunately, some members seemingly did not want any change or acceptance of any compliance procedures.  I respected their decisions and positions where they stood on their belief.  Compliance is critical and must be treated seriously by officers of an organization. A check-list must be on hand as new officers assume their duties to include filing of annual tax returns to Federal and Franchise Tax Board. Non compliance will result to suspension of the organization.

That being said, please allow this message as a reminder to our various Town & City Organizations to review and prepare their annual tax filings on timely basis.  I presume that many of member organizations are on a December 31 Fiscal Year End.

I thank God for giving me a solid and dynamic board members with the able leadership of Mellie Soriano as Chairman of the Board.  Together we were able to do what needs to done for PB-USA to thrive .

Thank you to our NextGens for the handling of our 2015 Holiday Interlude Event.  Neil Estrada, Bong Soriano, Jacqueline Ferrer, Jesse and Dean Mandapat – Good Job, guys !!!

I am so grateful to so many that I may fail to mention someone in consideration my off and on “ipsus lapsus”. Please allow me to extend a general gratitude and my prayers for you all.

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!

Sincerely,

Eddie Ferrer
At your service….

Christmas Message 12-12-2015

Good evening, President Ferrer, President Caringal, board members, executive officers, committee chairpersons, guests, friends and families.

In many occasions I have heard our outgoing president, Eddie Ferrer, describe our organization as a foundation. Tonight,- as your outgoing Chairman of the Board. I would like to briefly use that same word but in different context. I would like to reflect in what PBUSA has done in the past year. We continue to build on to the foundation that this organization has created but more so specifically on the beginning of our 501C (3) designation.

With the recent term of President Ferrer, we continue to thrive, continue to be relevant with the people of Pangasinan and our immediate community here in the US and prepare for the future of PBUSA.

We continue to thrive because of our exceptional ability to reach out to other organization and create a solid network.

We are relevant because we began and continue to support livelihood projects in Pangasinan, building of houses via Gawad Kalinga as well as continue to support college students in Pangasinan by providing scholarships.

We have prepared for the future by investing tools like our current PBUSA website. The website address is WWW.PBUSA1.com. The website will help us to communicate effectively with our members and truly form a connection with the Province of Pangasinan, other Pangasinan associations and civic organization. It will surely help us with securing grants. Our future is bright because we have formally introduced the involvement of young professionals in our organization which we call our NETGEN. We need to continue to support and nurture their integration into PBUSA. Our vision is for them to inject fresh ideas and ways in which to continue to make our organization dynamic, progressive and a constant effort of being a positive agent of change and prosperity.

I would like to now take this time to acknowledge and thank the people who have actively participated this year in building this organization – And they are as follows:

1. To the current PBUSA President Eddie Ferrer and all his executive officers and various committes chairman. Eddie you are one of a kind!
2. To the Board members – led by yours truly as the chairman of the board.
3. To all “ NETGEN” led by the dynamic, dedicated and amazing trio – Neil Estrada, Bong Soriano and Jackie Ferrer
4. To the incoming new leaders of the PBUSA – led by Mr. Lino Caringal as the incoming President and incoming chairman of the board – Mrs. Nieves Coquia
5. To my family who were very supportive all the way through and to my most avid fan and personal secretary – none other than my roommate and husband Fernando ( Nanding) Soriano.
6. Most importantly to all our quest, families, relatives and donors who were all very supportive to the PBUSA – unconditionally.
7. Last but not least to those who in one way or the other have made this Christmas interlude as success – you know who you are.

With your support and commitment to this organization your efforts continue to help our organization become a foundation that built to last. Thank you everyone for sharing your talents and your time with PBUSA

Thank You all. Merry Christmas and Prosperous new year

Sincerely,

Mellie Soriano

Chairman of the Board

Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA, Inc.

December 12, 2015

Dear Pangasinan Brotherhood USA Inc.,

On behalf of the Backline Group LLC, we would like to congratulate you on
yet another successful year. At this blessed time of thanksgiving, we are
very happy to support your continued humanitarian and philanthropic
efforts. Kindly accept our donation of $500.00 to assist in your many
projects to uplift and develop the great province of Pangasinan.

We applaud the great work by the Brotherhood that has been witnessed
through the past years. The success of the Brotherhood yields the success of
our people which is indeed a gift from God.

We wish everyone in the Brotherhood a blessed advent season and may
God continue to guide and strengthen all of you as you continue with your
work.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Christine M. Celestine
Managing Partner

Jorge Rodriguez
Managing Partner

Neisha Rodriguez
Director

Dear Kabaleyans, Fellow Pangasinenses,

Prepare for a short and festive week with this coming Thursday’s celebration of “Thanksgiving Day”.   A day of sharing, loving, and forgiving.  Nothing short of saying and putting GOD in us all – ” the Eternal and Almighty Being of True Love “.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE !!!

Well, we only have 21 days left before our ” 2015 Holiday Interlude ” at the Cerritos Performing Arts on December 12, 2015.  Knock on wood, we are happy to report a good number of confirmed RSVP’s and more calls are trekking in for reservations.  Definitely an inspiring and exciting anticipation of a joyful evening of social delights – good music, lots of dancing, and savoring of Arte Cafe’s ever sumptuous catering – excellent menu combination of Salmon and Prime Rib with all the side trimmings.

Now, here is the kicker.  We need everyone’s help and cooperation to please remit all ticket payments by December 1, 2015.  Make checks payable to PB-USA, Inc. and mail to 6480 Leone Way, Cypress, CA 90630.  Ticket price – $45.00.   In adherence to an established venue protocol set-up, there will be no ticket remittances at the reception desk.  It will simply be a welcoming and a greeting portal for the evening.  With a healthy cooperation and understanding, we can easily make this request a reality for everyone’s convenience.  Please feel free to call us for any questions or assistance – Rhenee – 562 397 – 7753 and Eddie – 562 481- 5381. 714 759 0064.

Our November 15 general membership meeting was indeed wonderful and well attended.  We applied and performed our new mode of holding a meeting cutting short the proceedings to a solid time frame of 1 hour and 49 minutes with all relevant agenda covered.  Expect this pattern to be in placed for all subsequent meetings in 2016.

In-coming President Lino Caringal Jr submitted and presented his preliminary cabinet members starting off with his Executive Vice President Neil Estrada.  Confirmatory presentation of his staff will be highlighted during our Holiday Interlude.

I respectfully express my utmost recognition to have served the organization with the voluntary support and participation of solid warrior members armed with the powerful weapons of knowledge, awareness, and cooperation as to where we should be as a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) foundation in the 21st century. There was so much emphasis on compliance ( bookkeeping & emergence /usage of “quickbook) and communication ( Friendly Website & Mailchimp e-mail system). And most importantly, the warrior team made it a point on the timely submission and filings of our annual Federal and State Corporate returns.

The continuing result of the above is the formulation of a Project Management Council and a Media Advisory Council in 2016.

With the actual and live participation of our Next Gens during the meeting, it has been announced that EVP Neil Estrada and Member Jacqueline Ferrer will co-chair or co-host our Holiday Interlude.  They committed to work on the details and we leave it to their best discretions on how to go about it.

Once again, I would like to express my welcome greetings to our Kabaleyans who came back home to our fold and joyfully met them in our last meeting.  I fully understand their brief hibernation but I was really humbled by their sincere manifestations of joy to be back with us – a journey of hope.

Two (2) hours of “Meet & Greet” after the meeting was indeed a historic experience for me , personally, having been with PB-USA since 1978.  The gathering of new members (particularly arrival of our Next Gens), regular members, and returning members was a sight to behold.

I do have a sack full of things to say but suffice to conclude, for now, to say a simple prayer of thanksgiving.

We thank God for all the good things that He bestowed upon us amidst all negative adversaries in our journey of faith and hope in the fulfillment of  our Scholarship Projects with our provincial colleges & universities, livelihood projects with our local manufacturers in cooperation with our Provincial and City Governments, house unit donations to Namnama Village for the homeless, Fil-Am Community reach out with the City of Cerritos, and calamity fundraising donation to our kababayans in Eastern Samar with Bishop Crispin Varques of the Diocese of Borongan.  Thank God for giving us these opportunities to serve and to give the best and the most that we have. In Him , we trust !!!  Pax Tecum et Dominus Vobiscum !!!!

Sincerely,

Eddie Ferrer
President
Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA, Inc

Dear Kabaleyans, Fellow Pangasinenses,

In today’s gospel of Mark 12:43-44, a poor widow woman contributed a mere couple of cents for her stewardship to God’s Temple but she gave all she had.  Not surplus wealth as others had contributed during a sabbath offertory at that time.

Truly, a meaningful and humble manifestation of man’s trust and love of God.  Indeed, our best gift to God in return for His Creation of us under His Image and Likeness.  An inherent grace that we all have to cherish , nurture, and share with our fellowmen or Kabaleyans as a witness to our faith in giving the best that we can give.

Stewardship is not just fundraisings but sharings of our respective God given talents and collectively offer them for the needs of our Kabaleyans.

Today, we witnessed a simulcast press release of a wonderful news article on PB-USA written by Dan Nino, Past President and Director of PB-USA’s Media Advisory Council.  A well coordinated dissemination of information via the periodical publications of Asian Journal, Philippine News, Philippine Tribune, and Weekend Balita.  Please get your copies at  Philippine Store outlets close to you.

Simultaneously, we are witnessing the postings of information to PB-USA’s website – www.pbusa1.com, Facebook, Mailchimp Email system, & other social channels.  Other than pangasinense members of the fourth estate (news correspondents) , we have a solid group of Next Gens now actively working on this platform.

Keep spreading the word – see you all at our General membership Meeting this Sunday, November 15. 1:00 P.M. at the Marriott Courtyard, Cypress, CA.

Please allow me now to borrow a Stewardship Prayer which can relate appropriately to our Foundation :

Quote

God my Creator, you made me all that I am and gave me all that I have.
Help me show my gratitude by using these gifts to serve others in your name.
Jesus my redeemer, you taught me the way to eternal life by your example of loving service to others.
Grant me the courage to respond to your call to Discipleship by following in your footsteps.
Holy Spirit of God be with me as I choose each day to put you first in my life.
Let me be a model of Christian Stewardship so others will come to know you through my actions.
I pray, dear Lord. that you open the minds and hearts of our general membership, that we may joyfully accept your challenge to be good stewards.

Unquote

Our powerful weapon to victory – ” Knowledge, Awareness, Cooperation “.   In God , we trust !!!

Sincerely,

Eddie Ferrer
President
Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA, Inc.

Our lives can be so hectic at times that we probably wouldn’t know that the holidays are coming if it was not for the holiday decorations that you see at major department stores. Sometimes it can be ridiculous when you see some Christmas decorations in late September. I’ve just accepted it as a reminder that the holidays are coming and time can sometimes just move ever so quickly. You just have to take these things and sometimes just laugh about it. Some people are annoyed by it, some are excited that the holidays are coming and so on. To me, no matter how you feel about it, it’s just another reminder to prepare and that time is precious. Speaking of time, I am excited about PBUSA and the incoming president and board members.

Just like the Christmas decorations in late September, we need to now be aware that a new group of committed members of PBUSA are coming who will move forward to make PBUSA a “Foundation” that we all can be proud of. We need to prepare for the progression of PBUSA.

Please come join us this November 15, 2015 for the last general membership meeting under the term of President Eddie Ferrer. Be with individuals who are passionate about the organization, progression and the town of Pangasinan. President Eddie Ferrer has made great strides in elevating PBUSA to a “Foundation” with enormous potential for being a great community organization and always striving for being an agent of change. For more details, please visit our website. www.pbusa1.com

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

November 15, 2015

Sunday 1:00-5:00 PM

Marriott Courtyard

5865 Katella Avenue

Cypress, CA 90807

Dear Kabaleyans, Fellow Pangasinenses,

In my eagerness to issue our general membership meeting for November 15, 2015, I respectfully apologize for pre-maturely rolling back our time last Sunday, October 25.  Scheduled time roll back is on November 1, 2015.

Anyway, I will take this opportunity to relate the path that our organization went through in conforming with our new role of engagement and management as a 501 ( C ) ( 3 ) entity.  I share this message more as an awareness of who we are and what steps we took to be fully compliant with Federal and State regulatory provisions as a foundation. And, we travelled the road with sweat and tears.

I am proud to say that we have a wonderful management team and members who voluntarily sacrificed and worked hard to accomplish and finish a job  where we now stand as a foundation.  The road was a struggle amidst negative vibes but at the end of the day, mission was accomplished.  Kabaleyans, let’s now savor the fruits of our sufferings which I can easily translate as our “Agony and Ecstasy” as PB-USA moves forward in the 21st century.  What we worked on was definitely something for PB-USA’s lifetime not just for the usual pomp and circumstance of a gala induction night or any social event of this nature.

Once again, I now share the initial posting of our Finance Chairman, Nanding Soriano, regarding a quick Q&A (Question & Answer) about 501 ( C ) ( 3) Charitable Organizations. This will help our members understand our functionality as a foundation and hopefully assist Town Associations who plan and intend to apply for said status.

Shared by PROVENANCE HOLDING CORPORATION

QUOTE

WHAT BENEFIT DOES BEING A 501 ( C) ( 3) OFFER A NON PROFIT AND IT’S CONTRIBUTORS ?

One of the primary benefits of being tax-exempt under IRS Section 501 (C) (3) is the ability to accept contributions and donations that are tax deductible to the donor. Additional benefits include, but not limited to:

* Exemptions from Federal and/or State Corporate income taxes
* Possible exemption from State sales and property taxes (varies by State )
* Ability to apply for grants and other public or private allocations available only to IRS-recognized 501 (c) (3) organizations.
* Potentially higher thresholds before incurring Federal and/or State unemployment tax liabilities
* The public legitimacy of IRS recognition
* Discounts on US Postal bulk mail rates and other services

WHAT INFORMATION WILL BE REQUIRED ON FORM 1023 ?
In order for the IRS to make a determination on a standard form 1023 application, specific questions must be answered relative to the organization’s legal structure, it’s governing board, and potential conflict of interest. More importantly, pages of detailed questions concerning the organization’s activities must be answered.  This is in addition to a two year budget ( new organizations) or three years of financial history ( existing organizations) and a written narrative essay outlining the organization’s programs, both current and planned, that will advance the organization’s exempt purpose. Add to that copies of supporting schedules and documentation and you have a basic application package.

The information requested on a Form 1023-EZ relates to more generalized questions of structure and compliance. No written budgets or narratives are required.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE FORM 1023 ?

As stated in another answer, IRS Form 1023 is 29 pages long, plus required schedules and attachments. While every organization does not have to complete every page, a typical application package is between 50-100 pages of material. More important, however, is the amount of time required to complete the package.  The IRS estimates a preparation time of well over 100 hours for a novice to prepare Form 1023.

UNQUOTE

We have religiously followed what needs to be done and we are ready to move on to the next level.  A piece of thought to share with our town organizations- if you plan to be a 501 (c) (3) entity, make sure that you fully understand what it is and once you get approval of your application, make sure that you comply and accordingly use it or you will loose it.

See you all on November 15, 2015 and keep tune to www.pbusa1.com.

Sincerely,

Eddie Ferrer
President
Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA, Inc.

Dear Kabaleyans, Fellow Pangasinenses,

Early this morning of October 25, 2015, our time clock just turned back an hour giving us an extra allowance to sleep. Give and take, we are coming closer to our year end holidays.  ” Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ”

That being said, I somehow energized myself to keep my work wheels rolling as I prepare my administrative portfolio ( covering the various activities of my term of office ) ready for transition and transfer to our incoming president – Lino (Jun) Caringal Jr.

Before we continue – Here’s the BREAKING NEWS!!!
PLEASE JOIN OUR GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING ON NOVEMBER 15, 2015 – SUNDAY, 1:00 – 5:00 P.M., MARRIOTT COURTYARD, 5865 KATELLA AVE., CYPRESS, CA 90807.  WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN OUR LAST GENERAL MEETING FOR 2015 AS WE USHER IN PB-USA’S EXCITING PROFILE IN 2016 AND A GREAT TIME TO MEET OUR NEW MEMBERS. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD.  LISTEN TO THE GOOD NEWS !!!

Although heavily engaged with our regular livelihood business schedules, Lino and I took our combined initiatives and efforts to meet for a comprehensive analysis and review as to the continuance of established project activities and planning of new projects.  I can safely share that we had two meaningful and constructive three (3) hour sessions discussing, evaluating, assessing, and summing up conclusive and reasonable resolutions for submission to the board and general membership.

Above executive project factors will be presented as a live thesis during our November 15 general membership meeting so everyone can have a good insight on what transpired during my administration and concurrently have a good hindsight on what is forthcoming on Lino’s term of office.  The methodology of our project conceptions will be explained in a simplified, analytical, and logical format for everyone’s easy understanding.

By November 15, our in-coming President – Lino Caringal Jr. will be ready to submit his tentative cabinet for official presentation on December 12, 2015.

December 12, 2015 is our special holiday event at the Cerritos Performing Arts.  Please reserve and keep this date on your calendars.  Tickets for the event were disbursed and still open for registration and reservation up to November 15, 2015.  Please try your best to pay your tickets by November 15.

For now, I can only sneak in Lino’s appointment of Neil Estrada as his Executive Vice President.  As we all know, by now, Neil Estrada and Bong Soriano are the Next Gen members of the Board.  Both have exciting agendas in their respective portfolios for PB-USA.  We expect a lot of new members will be attending our November 15 meeting. My say to my associate old guards, let’s all be there with them on November 15.

Here’s another recipe in the oven, a Project Management Council and a Media Advisory Council will be added to the executive role of engagement. Know more about it on November 15, 2015.

Be the best as you can be and let’s all be together on November 15, 2015  !!!!

Sincerely,

Eddie Ferrer
President
Pangasinan Brotherhood USA – Inc.

It almost seems like that at the blink of an eye the term of PBUSA president Eddie Ferrer has ended. His term was incredibly productive and monumental. I’m excited about the incoming president, Jun Caringal, because I have a feeling that with his committment, discipline and the fondness for PBUSA we will also see a lot of great things from his leadership.

I recently elevated my involvement with PBUSA. Along with Neil Estrada, one of the new board members, I am looking forward to being a big part in helping to expand the involvement of PBUSANextGen.

The PBUSA Foundation will only thrive if it can somehow involve the
NextGen group(1645 years old), raise the awareness of fundraising and reaching out to other Pangasinan related organization to collaborate in small activities. Activities that will create a “connection” between each group.

I am excited because most of this can be done with social media. As you all probably already know, social media CAN BE an educational, unifying, informative and creative tool to form a “connection”. A connection that can help “keep in touch” with a loved one in another state or counry, network for finding a job, organize a charitable activity helping Filipinos or support a Filipino business or an up and coming Filipino artist and so on. All of this with that one common denominator which is Pangasinanfull
of tradition, culture and camaraderie.

Stay tuned everyone. We might end up surprising a lot of people. Click this link and see what I am talking about. This is where it all begins. www.pbusa1.com. What are you waiting for? As they say “there is no better time than the present”. Visit www.pbusa1.com.

Be Well, Be Thankful and Be Great.
Ferdinand “Bong” Soriano