FILIPINO HERITAGE LANGUAGE AT SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

The Program Planning and Development Committee of the Filipino Heritage Language approached our association for support. Our president, Digno Vibat, brought up the topic on our regular monthly meeting and the members approved on extending some support to the movement.

Dr. Macralita Reynales who made the initial steps in launching the Filipino Heritage Language Program was invited in our meetings to give us further details of the project. In further support to their cause, our president signed a letter toOttawa supporting the OfficeLear ning Technology Grant application from SFU.

The Simon Fraser University Language Training Institute has considered the Filipino Language for its heritage language pilot program to begin this fall. SFU is requiring the Filipino community to contribute a minimum of $5000.00 before the university can access more government and private grants to support the project. Our association has contributed $300.00 and one of our members; Nannette Jamilarin donated $100 to the project. Dr. Macralita Reynales requested NAMA to be their anchor organization (they have to be associated with duely recognized organization) to which our officers and members approved.

NAMABC ON THE WEB

I feel that the time is ripe for us to make our presence on the net. We are currently considering publishing our newsletter on the web. There is an ongoing discussion with some of our members as to what is the best approach and how we are going to tackle the job.

The first method as suggested by Joe Pante is to use Adobe Acrobat 3.0. This process will necessitate members to download Acrobat Reader 3.0 to be able to read pdf (portable document files) files. As of the present time members with own internet-known to the writer (not thru workplace) is less than 20. As companies doesn't normally allow downloading programs for personal use at work, this method might not be so effective.

The second method is to create our newsletter in HTML language that can be read on the web. Southern California Mapua Alumni and International Association of Mapua Alumni - Ontario, are currently doing this. This method is preferable because all members or anybody who have an access to Internet can just surf the net to read our newsletters.

I have contacted Mr. Precy Ordinario, P.R.O. of Southern California Mapua Alumni who have exensive experience on this matter and he is very cooperative. Precy had intiated thru the informations I passed on to him webpages for NAMA B.C. This includes our homepage and separate pages for the list of officers and members. Our logo also appears on every page. You can view this on this URL address:  http://pw1.netcom.com/~pordinar/assoc 1.html (there is a space between assoc and 1). On this webpage proceed to National Association of Mapua Alumni of Canada (B.C. Chapter) and visit the hyperlinked sections.

If you have topics to publish or any ideas that will benefit our members please forward them to the editors so we can alot space for you in our newsletter. NAMA members with their own webpages are also encouraged to share their creations to other Mapuans. Please send your comments, suggestions, E-mail and Url address to Greg Narciso at:  gvn@netcom.ca.

CHRISTMAS PARTY

This year's Christmas party was held at Eastburn community center. 131 guests not including the "whachamakulit" (6 & 7 years old) dancers and parents attended it. The highlight of the affair was the exchange gift among members and spouses. In addition to the regular karaoke and dancing a Mapua singing group, organized in short notice by Frank Oteyza, sung some Christmas carols. This year's celebration was also enlivend by the "whachamakulit" dancers, who perform on several Filipino gatherings.

Dr. Macralita Reynales of The Filipino Heritage LanguageProgram and Development Committee was invited and reiterated the need for more support for their movement.

AMENDMENT IN CONSTITUTION PROPOSED

By: Chito Jambalos

In view of the apparent lack of interest among our fellow members to run for elective office in our forthcoming election scheduled in February next year, NAMA’s Constitution is proposed to be amended. Subject of proposed amendment is ARTICLE V, Section 2b that presently reads as follows:

"No elected officer may hold the same office for more than two terms, nor hold an elective office for more than three consecutive terms. A member will be eligible for re-election to any office once, after that, will be eligible for re-election to any office after a lapse of two years."

The proposed amendment hereby follows:
"An elected officer can run for the same or different position in every election period."

The proposed amendment once ratified by 2/3 votes of the general membership will allow NAMA’s current officers, most of whom are on their second term of office- the maximum term allowed by the present constitution, to run for re-election.

It must be emphasized however, that approval of this amendment shall not prohibit any qualified member from running for any elective position in the forthcoming election or any future elections. Nor will the approval of this amendment diminish the democratic process for which NAMA subscribed to uphold. As this is quite an important undertaking for our association, we urge you to participate and express your views on this matter during our January, 1997 general membership meeting and help shape the future of our association.

SPORTS
By: Sam Quinones

Bowling

NAMA'S Annual bowling tournament was held last November 29 at Top Gun Bowling Alley in Richmond. Thirty-six bowlers participated with some guests from the Federation Mixed Bowling League. Members and guests stayed for snack followed by karaoke after the game. Following is the list of winners:

High single - male		Mar Galvez, 190 points
High single - female		Nette Jamilarin, 167 points
High series - male		Bart Carnate, 523 points
High series - female		Nena Pineda

Team Champions are Noel Cabalfin, Ver Abarca & Joseph Abarca with a total of 1474 points