In September 1980, the dream of forming an association has come into fruition.  A picnic organized by Gerry Lamagna and Rene Bedana was held in Thorncliffe Park in Don Mills.  Present were our townmates from the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas.  It was intended primarily as a thanksgiving picnic for Gerry’s many clients in the insurance industry as well as a reunion for San Nicolanians.  There were about 20 families who attended.  To name but a few, they were the Victorios, Tampoyas, Catuizas, Fragatas, Arias and Chiong families, Bedanas, Lamagnas, Villanuevas, Ortizes and Ramirezes.  A very informal election was held and the first ever President of the new San Nicolanian Association was Rene Bedana. His mandate was simple:  to seek out San Nicolanians and to organize and ensure the continuity of the yearly San Nicolanian picnics. 

The association was very informally run at the outset.  There was no group of officers and no membership fees.  The President, with the help of a few willing volunteers, served as the decision maker and coordinator of all that was happening, though at that early stage, all that was happening was a yearly summer picnic.  Picnic dates and locations were disseminated by phone or by word of mouth at birthday parties or gatherings.  Cipriano and Pancing Tampoya’s strong spirit of volunteerism ensured the success of every picnic.   In addition, the exceptional effort of Elvie Victorio, wife of Fred Victorio, as the “para-tawag” and organizer of events further strengthened the association.   

When Rene Bedana bowed out of office after 5 years, Cipriano Tampoya was elected as the 2^nd President of the association.  Elvie Victorio continued as the official Secretary.  As might be expected, their leadership gave rise to a new enthusiasm within the association. Mr. Tampoya introduced camping trips to the U.S.  and the yearly camping venue rotated between Canada and the U.S. During their term, more townmates arrived from the Philippines and from different parts of the world, for such reason that they introduced a second yearly event:  Christmas parties.  For most of our elders, these yearly Christmas Parties served as a soothing liniment for their homesick spirits. Mr. Tampoya’s reign is the most significant in the life of our association.  When the torch lights were dimming because of apathy or disinterest, the Tampoya family, with the help of the Victorio family, soldiered on to keep the association alive.  Mr. Tampoya’s strong leadership nurtured the association’s roots, made it firm and strong that no amount of destructive and divisive negativity could uproot it in future years.   

In 1993, Priscilla (Bedana) Ortiz was elected as President.  At this point, the San Nicolanian’s numbers have grown so much that a sweeping change is necessary in order to keep up with the times.  The new President’s first endeavor was to promote the idea of a full set of officers who would carry on their respective duties and responsibilities.  Thus a complete set of officers was created through election and appointments. Mrs. Ortiz organized the San Nicolas Choral Group and appointed the musically talented Mrs. Rebecca Ibasco as the music director.  During her term, she first published the San Nicolanian newsletter then appointed Rose (Luzano) Anuddin to continue as the first editor.  Most of the credit is owing to Maricris Tampoya and Lea Catuiza (now Mrs. Choi) who were responsible for the newsletter’s transformation into a much improved one in terms of appearance and content.  The San Nicolas association made a donation to the Mt. Pinatubo victims, funded by the proceeds of a dinner and dance party that was spearheaded by Mrs. Ortiz.  At the initiative of Mr. Ruperto Ibasco, a new constitution and by-laws was drafted but Mrs. Ortiz left her term of office before it was finalized.   

In 1995, Priscilla Ortiz passed the reins to her Vice-President, Aida Catuiza who then served as President from 1996 to 1999.   

Mrs. Catuiza’s new brand of leadership gave emphasis to the need for young San Nicolanians’ involvement in the association. Due to her efforts, our young ones wholeheartedly embraced their new role and tirelessly helped in planning and in organizing activities.   San Nicolanian parties grew livelier due to their involvement.  Mrs. Catuiza introduced the San Nicolas Fiesta, which was held around March or April each year.  Mrs. Catuiza was also one of the organizers of the new Pangasinan Association of North America (PANA), a well known and respected umbrella organization of Pangasinenses in North America.  Her involvement in this organization, which at that time consisted of 15 association members, raised our profile and presence within the larger Pangasinan community. 

Mrs. Catuiza’s initiative to involve the youth has taken a foothold because in 1998, Maricris Tampoya, the first second generation San Nicolanian and the youngest ever President, willingly took office.  Her tenure infused youthfulness and fresh vitality into the association.  This in turn attracted more younger San Nicolanians to participate in our yearly gatherings.  Together with her Vice-President, Lloyd Castillo, and their set of officers, they transformed the association into a vibrant one, to much delight of the older generation.  These new bloods were, to name a few, Lea Catuiza Choi, Heather and Ryan Catuiza, Rosemarie Sampilo (now Mrs. Roque), Rosalyn, Ruzen, Chuck and JP Ortiz, Judith Castillo, Michael and Shaun Chiong, Joel and Cherry Ramirez, Joy and Jason Milo and Michelle Tampoya. 

As early as Mrs. Catuiza’s term, Virgilio Tenerife expressed interest in becoming President of the association.   After Maricris Tampoya’s term in 2002, he was elected President.  Two years into his term of office, he called for an election as he supposedly intended to move back to the Philippines to retire.  An election was held at a Lakeshore Park in Toronto where Rudy Ortiz was duly elected as the new President. 

The first activity under Mr. Rudy Ortiz's term was the unforgettable and very successful Christmas Party on Dec.4, 2004. A hall set up for 150 people became a 300-people attendance. The San Nicolanians were so happy and eager to see each other once again.

The San Nicolanians newsletter was re-started. Marissa Rodrigo volunteered to be the editor and since then, the newsletter is published three times a year. More people became actively involved in helping the association achieve its goals. The yearly springtime “dinner and dance” was re-introduced.  Also, numerous trips to Casino Rama were organized as a fundraiser whose proceeds were dedicated to funding worthwhile projects in San Nicolas. Finally, the Constitution and By Laws was written, then ratified by the general membership on July 2, 2005 

Annual summer general membership meetings and picnics are again back to normal as well as yearly camping re-union among San Nicolanians in North America.   As the funds accumulated, the association started giving monetary donations to deserving charities, like the Red Cross for the Tsunami Disaster victims. The association also gives donations to deceased members' families to show support and "pagsaranay." 

With the renewed commitment from officers, advisers and members, we look to the future of the association's plan to start helping our townmates back home. The SANAI sponsored medical mission to San Nicolas in March 2006 is now a reality. Preparation is in full swing. Our chapter is a key partner of this mission and actually will be responsible for de-worming (pag-purga) of more than 200 children from different barangays.    

Mr. Rudy Ortiz is still serving as President, together with his very able and dedicated officers. 

In summary, all of our townmates who served have made important contributions to the association.  They all have left it in a much better state than when they each took office.  Though they all served with varying styles of leadership, they all enriched the association in their own small way.  It is our hope that the next leaders will bring our association into new heights of accomplishment. It is our hope that our fellow San Nicolanians with gifts of talent to bring, stand up and take the next reins of leadership.   

To borrow a paragraph from a Christian newsletter: 

“Are the gifts that God has given you meant to be kept for yourself or shared?  Why do we sometimes hide our gifts?  Is it because we think they’re not enough, not good enough, not ready enough, or not humble enough to take them out and let them shine?  We are treasure chests full of gifts!  To share these treasures requires exposing ourselves – opening up the basket lid and letting others look inside to pick up and use the gifts we can share.”