Mayor Antonio “Tony” Cartagena, City of Walnut Councilmember (photo courtesy of http://www.ci.walnut.ca.us/)
LAKEWOOD, CA — The La Union Association of Southern California is celebrating its 51st year and Golden Anniversary with a dinner-dance on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015, at the Lakewood Country Club in this city.
City of Walnut Councilmember and four-time Mayor Antonio “Tony” Cartagena, is the guest speaker.
Founded on May 31, 1964 in Los Angeles, the La Union Association of Southern California, formerly La Union Association of Los Angeles, is an organization of immigrants from the province of La Union, Philippines, who now live in Southern California. It is one of the oldest Filipino-American organizations in the Greater Los Angeles Area.
Founder and first president was the late Sisenando “Sammy” T. Delmendo, World War II U. S. Army veteran and Los Angeles civic leader. The co-founders were: Johnny Fangon, Felix Soriano, Glicerio “Glen” Rilloraza, Faustino Marquez, Florence Flores, Jovita Soriano, Elisa Mangrobang, Bonifacio Florendo, and others.
The association was formed to help defray the burial expenses of a new immigrant-provincemate,whose family stayed behind in La Union. It was born amid an upwelling of hope that the better nature of man would prevail.
The association has grown and is still growing. It has come a long way, ever since the founders “passed the hat” around. It has had the services of ten presidents, some of whom have occupied the office at different intervals. It has held five beauty contests, the candidates of which trace their roots to the Province of La Union.
The current officers are: Paterno B. Aspiras, president; Christie A. Garcia and Arturo J. Villanueva vice presidents; Concha M. Aspiras, secretary; Gloria S. Harris, treasurer; Francisco C. Villanueva, auditor; Alexander Basallo and Philip Dumbrique, peace officers, and Rosalinda B. Ancheta, public relations officer.
Members of the Board of Directors are: Zoilo Ancheta, Julie L. C. Dumbriqque, Rodolfo Garcia, Revelina Licudine, Ramon Pulido, and Fred Rivera, Sr.
Preparations for the celebration are now in full swing. Dinner-dance tickets sell at $40 per person.
Deadline for reservations is Oct.15. For reservations/more details, please call up Arturo Villanueva at (310) 850-2788 or Christie Garcia at (310) 257-0057. DJ Jun provides the music.