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Key Accomplishments

  • On November 1984, a Filipino Choir was formed and who performed at the fiestas the following years.
  • In 1985, Eddie Atangan became president of the Council and started the “Karakol” tradition at each fiesta.
  • On December 13, 1986, the Council launched the fund-raising for the Sister Diocese Program which was granted to the Diocese of Borongan in the Philippines. Bishop Pierre DuMaine was the keynote speaker at the reception held at Saint Martin’s parish hall.
  • In May 1987, his Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin, Archbishop of Manila, visited the diocese. Miss Poi Buenaventura became the overall chairperson of the Executive Committee for planning and managing the festivities for his eminence. The Cardinal said masses at Our Lady of Peace Shrine and at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. A reception was held at the Red Lion Inn with almost a 1,000 people in attendance. The reception also raised funds for the Sister Diocese Program. The $6,000 raised was presented to Cardinal Sin on August 14, 1987 during Miss Poi Buenaventura’s visit to the Philippines.
  • In June 1988, an Ecumenical Prayers Service was held to celebrate the Philippine Independence Day and the 225th Anniversary of Filipino presence in America. Fr. Eugene Boyle, Vicar for Inter-Religious and Public Affairs of the diocese gave the homily. Ministers from other religious denominations also joined the service. It was the realization of a dream of Filipino unity, when we all joined in prayers regardless of our religious beliefs and regions. This service has become part of our regular celebrations.
  • In September of 1988, the first issue of the Filipino Catholic Voice, the tool of expression and information for the Filipino Catholics, was printed. Also in September, a fund raising dinner dance to raise money for the Sister Diocese Program was held which included a Fashion Show of Filipino Attire.
  • On October 29, 1988, we presented a Symposium on Filipino Culture. It was attended by the Bishop, other priests, members of the religious community of the diocese, as well as lay ministers and leaders of various organizations in the county. Among the speakers were: Fr. Jose Arong, S.J. Ph.D. - Director of the Office of Research and Planning of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, Lydia Fontan, Ph. D. - Professor, West Valley College, and Vince Casas - Program Director of the Northside Community Center, San Jose. In the afternoon of the same day, we held our first celebration in honor of San Lorenzo Ruiz with the Bishop as the main celebrant and twenty four other priests of the diocese concelebrating.
  • On January 28, 1989, Bishop Pierre DuMaine, Fr. Ben Manding, Fr. John Cooper, Fr. Frank Cottrell, Fr. Tim Kidney, Fr. Terrence Sullivan, Fr. Jorge Lopez, and Miss Poi Buenaventura left on a Cultural Trip to the Philippines. The Bishop and Fr. Tim Kidney also visited the Diocese of Borongan.
  • On January 25, 1991, Fr. Willie Manrique was appointed Vicar for Filipino Ministry and became the advisor of the Council since Fr. Ben Manding was assigned as Pastor of Saint Martin’s Parish in Sunnyvale on July 1, 1990.
  • In 1995, we joined Filipinos across the country and raised $ 22,000 for the construction of the Oratory of Our Lady of Antipolo at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. On August 17, 1996, a group from the Diocese joined the pilgrimage to the Basilica together with over three thousand pilgrims from all over the country.
  • On December 12, 2004, the Council hosted the visit of His Excellency, Oscar A. Solis, Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Eucharistic celebration and reception was held at Saint John the Baptist Parish.
  • 2007 was a busy year for the Council, in March and April, the council presented the, “O, Pari Ko Concert” of the Filipino priests and seminarians of the Diocese. In June of the same year, the Council hosted the visit of His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Manila. As we celebrate the 26th Anniversary of the Fiesta of Santo Nino here in the Diocese of San Jose, it is our continued goal to serve as the channel by which the Bishop can relate to all Filipino Catholics and as a coordinating body for the different Filipino parish organizations in the diocese