Victoria Filipino Canadian Seniors Association - VFCSA, 1709 Blanshard Street, Victoria, BC (2026)

08/17/2026

The VFCSA seniors gathered for their annual picnic yesterday, August 16, 2026 at Gorge Community Park. The park is the preferred venue because it is accessible with a lot of parking spaces and it is convenient for some of our members who are still working and who want to join in the activities after their shifts.

The day was pleasantly sunny with a whiff of an occasional gentle breeze and everybody settled comfortably around the tables where food was set up under the cover of twin tents. Members and guests arrived bringing their favourite foods to share with friends and relatives.

We were happy to see long time members who showed up like Esther Madrid, Filipina Acevedo, and some others who may have been there but who I have not met. We encourage you to join the group and spend more happy times with us.

Barbecue and “pancit” were the main menu provided by the VFCSA. There were Polish sausages, “lahing”, fried chicken, corn, etc and open fresh lumpia which was lovingly and patiently prepared by Ludy Racoma. We appreciate Ludy’s dedication and volunteerism.There was a good number of desserts too which gave a sweet ending to a sumptious lunch.

After everybody had their fill, the games began. There was a “Basketball”game where 2 lines were formed to compete with each other. The object was to pass a ball from one player to another as called by the caller then one had to run to the goal post to “shoot” the ball when called to do so. The first one to reach the post to shoot the ball wins for the group.

Another game was “Going to Market” where two lines were formed to compete in getting ready to go to market. Loose clothes a wig, and a handbag were provided. Two lines were formed to compete with each other First group to reach the post (market) after putting on the clothes wins the race.

Here are some pictures taken yesterday to keep the summer picnic of 2026 alive in your memory.

08/12/2026

The August meeting for the VFCSA was postponed from August 3, (BC Civic Holiday)to Monday, August 10 due to the holiday. Some of our birthday celebrants for August were off on vacation so we were not able to celebrate their birthdays with them on that day. We wish them good health and a happy vacation.

The senior picnic will be held at Esquimalt Gorge Park also known as Kinsmen Gorge Park. It will be held this coming Sunday at 12 noon. Bring your chairs, bottles of water, plates, utensils etc. and the special food you want to share with others. There will be games and prizes so come and show your agility. There will be some articles for sale so be curious and come see what Dalma and maybe other vendors have to offer. It will be fun, fun, fun.

We have been recipients of a grant from the United Way for two years and we are indeed grateful for this monetary help that we received. It helped us connect with other members who in some way or another were unable to attend meetings, were sick, or were in need of help. We were able to purchase a new Bingo set, a new gas barbecue that we can use in our picnics, money to pay for our special guests, etc.

We want to continue to receive the grant and we were given a chance to apply again but this time to try our hands at “vertical gardening”. This was not pursued as the seniors did not know that applying for it at this time did not mean that we were expected to start the project now which all agreed was too late a time to start a successful garden.

Meyen attended the meeting and she led some members to tell about their meeting with their “better half’s”, how all the magic started and how it got re-ignited for the second or even third husband for someone so lucky. By the way, Meyen will be interviewing “pioneers” for compilation into a book. Assumably, these will be pioneers in relation to the establishment and growth of the “Bayanihan”.

As usual the “Bingo Enthusiasts” enjoyed their Bingo game and everybody was happy.

Just a reminder again of the picnic this Sunday at Kinsmen Park at noon. See you all there!!!

08/08/2026

The VFCSA Senior Dancers Group members decided to celebrate their teacher, Tina Rezvani’s birthday at the Fountain Restaurant in Victoria. This occasion was also an expression of their appreciation for her efforts in teaching the group Filipino and Hawaiian dances. This gathering was to celebrate the dual occasion.

The group enjoyed a good Chinese meal highly recommended by Terry Wigg. Tina brought a cake she baked and figs from their garden. We had fun just seeing one another and exchanging pleasantries. We then decided to meet again for each member’s birthday. Venue and date to be set as is convenient for everyone in the group.

08/08/2026

Summer is indeed a very busy season full of activities to do, places to visit and for some people, birthdays to celebrate.

Cora Klimowicz celebrated her belated birthday (July 13) on August 6 at Lee’s House Restaurant with her group of friends. The food was good, company was supportive and everyone had a good time enjoying the food and catching up with each one’s summer activities.

07/26/2026

Venturing out on a cool Saturday morning, Mary Jetko, Cora Klimowicz and I, lined up early for Jempoy’s Lechon Fiesta Buffet. At $29.99 for adults, $16.99 for 7-12 yrs. old and free for children below 7 years old, the offer seemed very reasonable.

There were early birds like us who were there for the “all you can eat” offer. The place filled up fast as soon as it opened. There were seniors like us, parents with young children young adults and adults.

There was an array of Filipino favourites on display like “ lechon, dinuguan, beef karekare, pancit, beef morcon, lumpiang shanghai, fried chicken, chopsuey,”etc. Desserts like leche flan, watermelon as well as different cakes were on a self serve table. Soft drinks were included as well. The place was well lit, clean and well staffed. Paper plates, napkins, disposable fork and spoons were readily available. Overall, the food was excellent, the staff was friendly the venue was clean and the location was accessible.

To top it all we got to meet Jempoy, himself who is the head chef. Those who crave for Filipino food should try this Filipino food restaurant.

07/08/2026

Best wishes and greetings to all seniors with birthdays for the month of July! We had nine celebrants this month which is the most number of celebrants we have so far. They are: Alicia Barongan, Annette Beech, Lita Enriquez, Cora Klimowicz, Dominga Passmore, Tina Rezvani, Luz Santos, Bonnie Solon and Marianne Quiraz.

Lunch consisted of rice, pancit, sliced beef, veggies etc. followed by dessert. Birthday celebrants then lined up in front of the gathering and were wished their birthday greetings. A short meeting followed where the following information was announced:

SENIOR PICNIC:
August 16, 2026 Sunday starting at 12 noon at Kinsmen Park
Barbecue pork/beef will be provided. Members are asked to bring their special food creations to share with others. Bring your own cutlery, chairs, etc.

Projections:

1. Halloween will be held on October 24 at the Jade Fountain with particulars to follow

2. Christmas Party will be held at Elements Casino on Dec. 13, 2026. Tickets will be $60.00 for members as well as non members

There was an announcement made by the president, Tita Quigley, that a new Grant is available which we can apply for. It involves the cooperation of a good number of us as it requires growing, maintaining plants in a smaller space using “vertical “gardening, harvesting and eventually getting it ready for consumption. The Culinary group is ever ready for this stage of the project. The concern is that time may not be on our side. We may not have enough time to start a garden this late and expect a harvest before the cold season starts. Given that we are allowed an earlier start, we may be able to pull this off with enough gardeners willing to roll up their sleeves and go back to basics.

We had visitors from members of a Tai Chi group. They demonstrated to us the slow, smooth, graceful moves we can do to strengthen our bodies. Our member, Terry Wigg enjoys going to Tai Chi and is a strong advocate of this form of exercise. It may well be another option for the more senior people as it is a gentle way to limber up and strengthen the body.

Coming soon: Community Picnic

1. A Community POTLUCK PICNIC sponsored by the Bayanihan, VFCA, VFCSA and the VFCCA will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at Beckwith Park from 10:00 AM to 2:00PM. The park is located at 857 Beckwith Avenue. Bring the family for a fun-filled day!

06/17/2026

The Bayanihan together with the VFCA, VFCSA and the VFCCA, celebrated the 128th Independence Day of the Philippines at Centennial Square in Victoria on June 13 and 14, 2026.

City officials and corporate sponsors did the honour of opening the event with their speeches followed by short remarks by the current officers of the Bayanihan.

The Fashion Show followed which showed Filipino outfits proudly modelled by the very young to the more senior models. All the “models” held arcs of flowers as they went on stage. The Katesismo Group led by Father Dino took the lead. Father Dino is a highly respected Filipino priest and loved by his parishioners.

Senior dancers followed on stage with their dance numbers. The “Umbrella Dance” was a joy to watch as the colourful umbrellas twirled complimented by the newly purchased outfits of the dancers with red “boleros”. This was followed by the “Little brown Gal” and others.

There was quite a number of booths showing their wares. Most of them were food booths. A good number of people want a “taste of home” and fill this need by attending such events. There were booths from different religious sects, a booth offering fresh produce, a booth selling condos in the homeland but most of the booths offered food.

The VFCSA had a booth where senior program participants were catered to. They can pause from their schedule and eat their lunch and catch up with the latest news of interest. We also had a small display of items from the Philippines. We had carvings of decorated stools,carabaos, “Sungka”, a small jeepney (which garnered a lot of offers to purchase), woven wall hangings, table runners a spin top, a slingshot, etc. We also displayed a board with Philippine trivia.

We wish to congratulate the event coordinator, Francis Matheu, together with all the officers and members of the Bayanihan who worked tirelessly to make the event a success. Mabuhay!

06/03/2026

Today(June 1,2026) we celebrated the birthdays of two very special people, Lilia Panganiban and Julie Namoco. The birthday cake was lit and everybody showered them with love and wishes for a year full of happiness and good health. Happy Birthday!!!

A light lunch was served by the culinary group followed by a short meeting. Senior participation in the upcoming Filipino Heritage Month was discussed.

The VFCSA Senior Dancers will be participating in the program showcasing Philippine Folk Dances. In addition, two Hawaiian dance numbers will be shown. Being seniors, we may never be able duplicate the graceful moves of the “wahinies” of Hawaii but to be able to “hula”without dislocating our hips is triumph enough in our state of being. There will be other dance groups participating so come see the program to alert your senses to the variety of cultural music and dances that have evolved in different places. Listen to the familiar Filipino music and dances and also appreciate the dance moves of other ethnic groups as they present their own particular dances. Each group’s music, move and dance interpretation are unique which makes the show worth watching.

The seniors will have a Booth where we will display some items of interest from the Philippines. We will have “sungka” a shell game once popular in the old days before computers kicked the “Sungka”, shells and all into oblivion. We will have a variety of items like carvings, art prints, greeting cards and others on display. We plan to play “Bingo”. We will have food and other items for purchase so members are urged to stop by with your friends and family to support this senior initiative. We would love to see you all so make it a point to visit the VFCSA booth.

There will be a Fashion Show where ladies and gentlemen participants are encouraged to dress up in Filipino Attire to show the beautiful colour of our costumes, the richness of our fabrics, the exquisite designs, the durability and practicality of the fabrics used etc,etc. Let us proudly show the world that our clothes although not designed by a couturier are comfortable, practical,and stylish enough to wear even in world competitions.

A few seniors were not able to attend the meeting today due to temporary physical limitations Our thoughts are with you and wish you a quick recovery.

Upcoming Event:

Filipino Heritage Month

June 13,14, 2026
10AM to 5PM

Centennial square, Victoria, BC

05/20/2026

A grand parade! What a memorable way for a community to join together and celebrate Victoria Day! The Bayanihan was a significant participant in the event and marched proudly carrying both the Canadian and Philippine flags.

Resplendent in their various costumes, the Filipino parade participants were colourful, vibrant and motivated. Participants were encouraged to dress up in their native costumes or wear their professional attires to show the various professions Filipinos have chosen and eventually brought to Canadian society as immigrants to Canada.

This year, the parade route was shortened to 1.6 KM. There were about 4,000 participants. There were various floats from different organizations. The Philippines had a float as well with the small "Bahay Kubo" or Nipa Hut in the foreground. There were marching bands some coming from the States which livened the pace of the parade. Marching along in the parade was a tall lady walking on stick legs, smiling and waving as she balanced herself on those long legs. A fine group of Sikh motorcyclists came by riding without helmets and are exempted by law. The Chinese contingent were elegantly dressed in their beautiful silk red costumes and the Mexican group had colourful balloon skirts. There were many others I cannot all mention here for lack of space. Each group made the parade a feast for the eyes to see.

As is customary after the parade, participants were invited to the Bayanihan where the VFCSA group and other volunteers served them lunch. This dedicated group has been doing this for years and we are all grateful to these ladies and gentlemen who sacrifice, time labour and effort to cater and feed all the hungry and tired participants year after year.

The following are pictures from the parade.

05/12/2026

The VFCSA seniors held their monthly meeting yesterday and also celebrated birthday celebrants for May. Dalma Corbo, Fatima Ablona, and Consolita Rubino were the celebrants. Wishing you all a “Happy Birthday and a year full of happiness”.

Lunch prepared and served for the group was done by the “Delicious Culinary Group.” As usual, the seniors enjoyed their lunches specially so when food was shared with friends and familiar faces. There were stories to tell and news to share which made the occasion more interesting to everyone.

We had special guests who came to give us advice on the importance of having a Will, caregiving and also informed us of their availability to answer any questions we may have on those topics. We were given booklets to go through and their phone numbers are listed for those who may need to reach them.

Myrna Cubangbang, after a long hiatus, was back from her vacation and made the treasurer’s report. It will suffice to say that we are in the green and we will be planning on how and what the group will do for future activities.

This Monday is Victoria Day and the seniors are in charge of feeding our parade participants. Many hands are needed to accomplish this so please plan on giving a hand.

Happy Victoria Day!

Victoria Filipino Canadian Seniors Association - VFCSA

08/17/2026

08/12/2026

08/08/2026

08/08/2026

07/26/2026

07/08/2026

06/17/2026

06/03/2026

05/20/2026

05/12/2026

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