Strides for Strokes!

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June 14, 2009-
Peace Arch Park was the place to be on Sunday, June 14, 2009. The Stroke Recovery Association of BC held its annual “Strides For Strokes.”
The Templeton group gathered at Templeton Park Pool early Sunday morning, (June 14, 2009). The HandyDart came at exactly 9am. Fourteen members and volunteers was really excited to go, being the first time that the HandyDart drove us from Vancouver to Peace Arch Park, near Peace Arch Border Crossing.
Branches from White Rock (host), Surrey, Coquitlam, Langley, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Shaughnessy and TEMPLETON came. Some branches (us included) had a table to show what they are doing in their groups. You could see all the smiling faces, meeting old friends and making new ones.
Featured: music by Ish Da Fish; very tall Mr. Bubbles; face-painting and a fire truck.
The emcee was Mark Madryga, senior meteorologist from Global TV Morning News, forecasted a very warm afternoon and was leader of the pack of very enthusiastic stroke survivors, relatives, volunteers and friends in walking around the park and the event raised $15,000 to support stroke survivors rehabilitation programs.

Hats Off Day 2009

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Saturday, June 6, 2009 - 9am to 2pm
The Heights is a special place! This North Burnaby neighborhood has a strong sense of community, and a thriving business district all within walking distance.
Hats Off Day is when the Heights merchants "take their hats off" to their community and their customers and the entire Heights community celebrates together. It's was a huge, one-day extravaganza featuring a colorful main-street style parade with real local flavor, and a big street party afterwards.
Artists Helping Artists (AHA) is in Heights' neighborhood so, we were there, too!
With lots of music, food, kids activities! It was fun!!!

F.I.S.T. Reunion 2009

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L-R, Standing: Margie Trinidad, Pennie Fabros, Marc Monisit, Bodeng Juatco, Roger Cabrera, Nonoy Lee, Jun Bagunu, Newton Tan, Kim Tan, Terry Juatco, Art Trinidad, Beng Yu, Andy Choy
L-R, Seating: Larry Rodriguez, Louie Mercado, Joy Bagunu, Lynn Juatco, Joe Suganob, Hershey Yu

Tribute to Jorge Joaquin (5/23/09)
Old pistoleros from FIST came to pay tribute to our fellow FIST shooter, late Jorge Joaquin.
Thanks to Jun and Joy Bagunu for calling old shooters, in such a short time (three days). And, he booked Toyo Shushi Authentic Japanese Restaurant (corner Cambie Street and 6th Avenue in Vancouver)
After, almost 20+ years, many of us have interesting stories to tell the group. And, we, obviously slowed down some over the years but still smooth--in dancing and--effortless in singing karaoke!
I hope, there's more FIST happenings in the near future!

Pista sa Nayon Night!

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Front row:
Luz Cavalo, Shirley Francisco, Zosima Iligan, Efigenia Sityar, Joanna Zuo
Back row:
Jose Mendoza, Shonee Mendoza, Sally Dacquel, Linda Santos, Jose Suganob, Cynthia Ziranovic, Angela Paiyisi, Fleur Domingo, Zeny Talusan, Violy Calobong, (unidentified)

'Pista sa Nayon' Night, (May 13, 2009) in Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood House, above were some of the volunteers, coordinated by Jose Mendoza and Angela.

New Vancouver Convention Center

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4/04/09
Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Center:
Some facts about the new Vancouver Convention Center:

• Six acre grass and wildflower roof has been cultivated to be the perfect nesting ground for song birds and is home to four beehives.
• With 40% of the convention building suspended over the harbor, its foundation has been specially designed to recreate a natural shoreline and acts as a marine habitat for sea urchins, starfish and sea lettuce, just to name a few.
• Vancouver Convention Center's unique seawater heating and cooling system makes it one of the most energy efficient building in Vancouver.
• The unique lumber stacked interior walls are built from sustainable BC Hemlock and were assembled by a robot named "Victoria" in Saanich, Vancouver Island.
• Look up. There's 45 km. of sustainable BC fir Glulam beams above your head.
• Everything is better when it's made from scratch, so that's how Convention chefs do things; in one of the country's largest banquet kitchens. And because everything's made from scratch, there's a lot less packaging to throw out, reducing the carbon footprint.

4 levels of astounding view of North Shore mountains.
Experience a sampling of trade shows - supersized. Helicopters, fire trucks, flower gardens and more, a real - life sample of exhibition and tradeshows on 220,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space.

Grand Reunion Preparation

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(3/15/09) I told Frank that I will be at the second meeting, rain or shine. I didn't expected it to be snowing. It's good the snow didn't stick to the ground.
More people attended and Frank's place was buzzin,' Attending were Mario Suratos, Romeo Samson, Joe Suganob, Lito & Eunice Blancaflor, Arnold & Dory Aquino, Robert & Helen Montes, Frank & Sony Tomelden, Orlando & Elen Faytone, Mrs. Risma, Ben & Celia Lachica.

The BC Chapter ladies cooked so many Pinoy dishes and with Frank's pan de sal and Lito's puto and Dory's suman, and some wine, ayos na naman ang buto-buto!!!!

Riverfront Park, (near Fraser River) Vancouver, BC is the location of this year reunion and the date is Saturday, July 25, 2009.

Don't underestimate the work involved!!! And...
Everybody is willing to offer their help and share the work.
There are many details and arrangements that have to be taken care of.

Committees that are active and well organized will be positioned for success
Meeting adjourned about 6pm.

Follow-up Meeting: June 21, 2009
Frank's place at the same time, 2pm

2010 Winter Games - Olympic Vancouver Village

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Seven hectares of the 32-hectares Southeast False Creek Development site will be transformed into the Olympic Village during the next year 2010 Olympic Winter Games!



The Olympic Village, after housing the athletes for the 2010 Winter Games, is to be converted into 850 market-priced homes and 250 units of social housing.