Category: Community

In line with UPAA-MB, Inc.’s aim to encourage Filipino-Canadian students to pursue their scholastic objectives, the organization has been awarding an annual bursary to a chosen university student since 2011. This year, the organization did the selection of the recipient on its own. The $500 scholarship was granted on September 1, 2013.

The scholarship awardee for 2013 was Fredieson Jem Tumambing. He was chosen based on his academic performance, community involvement, and financial need. He is a graduate from Maples Collegiate, 18 years old, and will be going to University of Manitoba to take up Nursing. Fredieson’s family moved to Winnipeg in 2005 and he is the eldest among the three siblings. He also joined and actively participated in Maples Peer Tutoring Group, Junior Varsity Badminton Team, Science Club, and Maples Amnesty Group where he explored social justice issues along with other students from all ethnic backgrounds.

His teachers described him as thoughtful, hardworking, and diligent student. Fredieson is strong academically and he volunteered his time to share his skills and knowledge to other people. With his very good academic standing, generous character, and sincerity in welcoming and helping newcomers, he is definitely a model student.

 Students like Fredieson continue to inspire UPAA-MB, Inc. to support scholastic endeavors of Filipino-Canadian students. They do not only serve as role models to the youth, they also help uplift the profile of the Filipino community in Manitoba.

Ten members of the University of the Philippines Alumni and Associates in Manitoba, (UPAA-MB), Inc.  volunteered at Siloam Mission last August 3, 2013 to serve Winnipeg’s poor and homeless. This was the second time the organization, through its Social Responsibility Committee, held this activity. Siloam Mission is a Christian humanitarian agency committed to serving and transforming the lives of the less fortunate.

The volunteers were assigned to the kitchen, drop-in centre to serve the clients and bus tables, and clothing room to help with the distribution of clothing donations.

As the drop-in centre at the main building is currently under renovation, the volunteers had to carry the food from the kitchen to a temporary location at the adjoining building within the compound.

Just like the first activity, a brief orientation tour first took place before the three groups went to their respective assigned areas. Belinda, a Siloam Mission staff explained what Siloam Mission is doing, emphasizing that its programs and services are guided by its core values of respect, dignity and fairness. During the tour, the group had the opportunity to view the Emergency Overnight Shelter, the Saul Sair Health Centre where medical, dental and chiropractic facilities are made available to clients, and the staff offices on the fourth floor of the building. Volunteer doctors, dentists and chiropractors regularly provide services to those clients.

The UPAA-MB volunteers performed their assigned tasks along with other individual volunteers, some of whom have been serving Siloam Mission for quite some time. For seven months now, Patrick, a retiree from one of Winnipeg’s hospitals, has been volunteering twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays. For him, doing so gives him a sense of personal satisfaction. In fact, he also regularly volunteers at another Winnipeg hospital on another day of the week. He has observed that on a weekday, about 300 people would come over to Siloam’s drop-in centre to have lunch.

When all the clients were served, the volunteers queued up to partake of their meal which consisted of mushroom soup with croutons, pizza, sandwich and chocolate bread. This was followed by a group photo together with Belinda who expressed thanks and appreciation to all volunteers. The group parted ways with everyone feeling a great sense of accomplishment.

The UPAA-MB, Inc. had a successful fundraising event last June 29, 2013 at Applebee’s Grant Park, from 8am to 10am. Organized by the Fundraising Committee, the event was attended by members, families, friends, and supporters.

A total of 16 door prizes were given away to the attendees and a 50/50 raffle was drawn towards the end of the event. Also, a small booth was set up for University of the Philippines-related merchandise available for purchase. The fundraiser also became a good venue to introduce the organization especially to its guests and non-members as an overview of what the organization does has been presented throughout the course of the 2-hour breakfast program.

The proceeds of the fundraiser breakfast will go to the organization’s Bursary and Operating Funds. The Bursary Fund is an annual grant awarded to a first year Manitoba student of Filipino descent who has demonstrated strong inclination to pursue post-secondary education. This is the third year that this scholarship will be awarded. For the first two years, UPAA-MB, Inc. has been graciously assisted by UM-Sigaw, a Filipino student organization based in University of Manitoba. The Bursary Fund reflects the importance that the organization places on higher learning while also presenting support for the Filipino-Manitoba community. The Operating Funds will be used to pursue projects that reflect the organization’s goal of serving the Manitoba community such as participation to the Foreign Trained Immigrants Information Session, sponsoring families through the Christmas Cheerboard, among others. Through the UPAA-MB Inc.’s Operating Funds, the group can continue doing similar projects in the future.

UPAA-MB, Inc. would like to extend its gratitude to Applebee’s Grant Park for the use of their location; Pilipino Express, CKJS and Winnipeg Free Press for their assistance in promoting the event. The organization would also like to extend its sincere gratitude to member-volunteers and to the following donors: Dennis Flores; Arianne Solis of Der Pinsel photography | lifestyle | film; Edwin Yazon; YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg; Pong and Anna Maniquiz; Wawanesa Life Insurance; Lourdes Casañares of Sweet Inspirations; Filipino Journal; the UPAA-MB Inc., Healthy Isko Executive Council; Assiniboine Credit Union, Royal Canadian Mint; and Divine and Mark Manansala.