FAACNJ History
Filipino-American Association of
Central New Jersey
Historical Timeline Perspectives
The Association was formed by people who knew each other
as relatives, friends or co-workers. Some met one another at
Church or were treated medically in a hospital or doctor’s office.
Formerly strangers, the “charter members” began to encounter
each other at other functions, primarily baptismal parties or
birthdays. Living in a “foreign country” with its pressures to melt
away languages and cultures, they chose to support one another
in strengthening their Christian values and maintaining the
traditions and practices common to Filipinos. Pride as a people
was principal in all deliberations. Networking among Filipinos
was considered of utmost importance if the individual was not
only to survive but to succeed in their profession. There arose a
determination to use their talents, time and treasure to improve
the community and country in which they lived so that they
could say at one and the same time, “Tunay na Pilipino kami” (We
are truly Filipino) and “We are patriotic Americans”.
In the beginning “the charter members” were a relatively small
local group of families in Mercer County, living principally in the
townships of Ewing, Hamilton, Lawrence, West Windsor/Plainsboro,
Princeton, Pennington and Hopewell. They desired to
build a community of fellowship, service and support. Most of
them were professionals with a strong concentration of people
working in the medical field as Doctors and Nurses. Surprise!
Surprise! This is hardly strange, since the Philippines is noted
for its educated citizenry, especially in the field of nursing, engineering
and medicine. There has always been a “brain drain” of
people from the Philippines who have enriched and improved
the various countries to which they have immigrated, in particular,
the United States.
AUGUST 1983 – CHRISTMAS 1986
The FAACNJ had its beginnings at a picnic. A “small” gathering of
friends were invited to the home of Dr. Wilfredo Causing and his
wife Lynn. The preparations were magnificent for such a “small
affair”. Never have I attended such a picnic where not one, but
two “litson” (roast pig) were the main course of the meal. Whatever
happened to hotdogs and hamburgers? This was a Filipino
picnic. Dr. Causing had photos taken during this picnic. For
over an hour, I scanned the slide show of those “ancient” photos
on my computer. Oh, how young we were then! The picnic was
supposed to be held outside, on the beautiful grounds of Dr.
Causing’s house. However, rain was in the forecast and so it
showered on an off all afternoon with some breaks later in the
day. The picnic food was set out on long tables in the three car
garage of the house. The “litson” (roast pig) occupied the head
table with various Filipino dishes crowding the space of the other
tables. There was so much food and “talagang napakasarap”
(truly delicious). There must have been close to 100 people in
attendance, including the many children who scampered in and
out of the house all day long. Everyone felt so much at home.
The adult attendees (friends all) gathered in small groups chatting
away, telling stories, laughing and planning for the future.
The children continued their rounds of playing and running that
all culminated in the event they had been waiting for all afternoon.
The sky had cleared a bit, with the sun drying up the light
rain of early afternoon. There outside the garage, in the spacious
parking area, dominated by a basketball hoop, was a large,
rectangular web of candy, locked within small plastic bags that
hung from a decorated wooden trellis, festooned with balloons,
suspended from the basketball hoop with a rope. The object of
the game was to gather the children beneath the hoop and
lower the web of candy for them to grab. The small children
were let into the circle first, then after their turn, the older children…including
some adults, I must admit. The wrapped candy
was all over the place. Everyone was able to get some. How
happy the children looked. What a great picnic.
At this first picnic, the organization of the Association was set
into motion. Dr. Causing suggested a date for the first formal
meeting and extended an invitation to any adult member who
would be interested in planning for the next event, the family
Christmas party. We would be celebrating our first Christmas as
an unofficial “Association” at the banquet hall of the Nottingham
Fire House in Hamilton. This “first administration” of the Association
consisted of the following Members of the Executive Committee,
namely:
Dr. Fred Causing & Lynn Causing - Chairpersons
Mr. & Mrs. Edwin and Jane De Hart,
Mr. & Mrs. Arthur & Maria Amaral,
Mr. & Mrs. Joel and Ligaya Simpkins,
Mr. & Mrs. Manolo and Glenda Capili,
Dr. Belen Flores,
Dr. Cristeta Laurente,
Mrs. Enya Montenegro,
Mrs. Eleanor Valenzuela,
Mrs. Flordelis Blanquera,
Mr. Cesar Molina.
Mrs. Ched Anselmo,
Dr. Raquel Abary,
Mr. Reynaldo Obed
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