Events

CURRENT

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS MASS AND DINNER

Being far from the native home, there's nothing more nostalgic than Christmas time: simbang gabi, puto bungbong, the carolings, the parols, and firecrackers, to name a few. Now, reminisce great memories! Come and enjoy our annual Christmas mass and dinner with your fellow Ritenians.

DATE : DECEMBER 11, 2005, SUNDAY
TIME : 4 PM to 9 PM
PLACE : PACHECO COMMUNITY CENTER
5800 Pacheco Blvd., Pacheco, CA 94553

This is a potluck affair. Share you special holiday dish with your kabalens. Traditional lechon, rice, and beverage with be provided. Bring the whole family! There's fun for everyone! Door prizes and kids meeting with Santa Claus.

DIRECTIONS?

From the North and East:
1) Take 680 South to San Jose
2) Exit Concord Ave/Chilpansingko Way stay right exit lane
3) Exit T's onto Contra Costa Blvd - in front of Target Store
4) Right on Contra Costa Blvd
5) Contra Costa Blvd becomes Pacheco Blvd
6) U-turn on Union St
7) 5800 Pacheco Blvd on right side

From the South and West:
1) Take 680 North to Walnut Creek/Concord/Sacramento
2) Exit Burnett Ave
3) Left on Diamond Blvd
4) Left Concord Ave
5) Right on Contra Costa Blvd 6) Contra Costa Blvd becomes Pacheco Blvd
7) U-turn on Union St
8) 5800 Pacheco Blvd on right side

QUESTIONS?

Call Ric Calma, Sr., Activities Committee Co-Chair, 415-752-0838 Estan Lansang, Activites Committee Co-Chair, 925-286-9337 Randy Dizon, 925-366-9945

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CORPORATE BY-LAWS

Our goal to give you updated by-laws is underway. We still have vacancies in our working committee for interested members, particularly those who have vision for our organization as a leading developmental contributor to our society. Now is your opportunity partake in building the framework for our conduct of affairs, with directions toward achieving goals.

Call Rey Encarnacion at (925) 687-8095 to express and make your opinion count!

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A CHRISTMAS INDUCTION

Officers and directors for 2004-2006 were inducted by Philippine Deputy Consul General Leoncio Cardenas during our Christmas Party on December 4, 2004 at the Cowell Homeowners Association Clubhouse in Concord . Everyone attending had a blast with abundant food, fun, and prizes! As usual, there was Santa Claus in rubber shoes to distribute cash gifts to kids.

 

Thank you to all who made the occasion a success, particularly to Activities Committee Chair Estan Lansang, and patient wife, Dandy . Also, to his family crew for set-up and cleaning! Special thanks to Tutu & Nena Dizon and to Pet Martin for providing the 2 lechons, Bert & Winnie Peck who hand-baked all dessert (and there was plenty!), to Jack &Vicky Cuenco for making the clubhouse available and chipping-in the drinks & supplies, to Zon Ponce and company for cooking the sumptuous entrees, Ramon & Sol Cuenco for the DJ sound system and music, Tom Ricafort and Tony Lansang for producing the flyers and program, respectively; Manny Lapid for coordinating the raffle, Marianne Franco & friends for emceeing; Troy and Aileen Wolf who took video and photos, the officers and families for staffing the reception desks! Many thanks likewise to those who opened their checkbooks. (Please see Financial Report page.)

 

Our congratulations to and prayers for the inductees! May they keep their oath of office at heart, always carry their responsibilities with fervor, and act as role models to members.

 

 

 

UPCOMING

CAR RAFFLE FUND RAISING CAMPAIGN 2005

Rafflle has been temporarily suspended to meet regulatory requirements. We hope to revive this fund raising project as soon as state and federal stipulations are met.

DRESS UP FOR OUR 2006 TOWN FIESTA PICNIC WITH THE NEW RETINIAN T-SHIRT

T-shirts with the new Ritenian logo are now available in limited quantity and sizes. If you can't pick up yours during our December 11 Christmas Party, you can still place orders in time for our 28th TOWN FIESTA CELEBRATION in May 2006. Let's all sport a new look then! Sizes availability are: Philippine LARGE, X-LARGE, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL. That's approximately equivalent to American SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE, X-LARGE, 2XL! Visit our website for future announcement concerning our May 2006 Town Fiesta Celebration.

DAY CARE PROJECT

After several meetings, the joint officers and directors finally approved the financing of the Day Care/Pre-school Center in Barangay San Vicente. Funding will come from the sales of ad into our Yearbook 2006. See below for details.

Our assistance has been requested to finance the construction of a replacement day care center in Barangay San Vicente. The center will be build on a new location that used to be an open road at the back of the Gosioco compound between the two major bridges that link Barangay San Jose to San Vicente. Approximate total construction cost is PP360K as of January 2005 proposal date. Unlike past projects, the improvements shall have a permanent marker to acknowledge the sponsorship of the Ritenians of Northern California. We hope this is something that will instill a sense of pride and accomplishment for members on their next balikbayan visit.

Every member is earnestly invited to actively participate in the evolution of our projects. Your comments and suggestions are welcomed. Better yet, attend our regular meetings.

Do you want your name, your family's surname, or a memorial to a loved one curved out in a window, the door, portion of a fence of our day care project? In a chair/desk set, perhaps? Call Beth David, PRO, & Yearbook Committee Chair on how you can become a benefactor, sponsor, or patron. Make your pledge today! It's a good Christmas gift to folks back home!

OTHER PROJECTS PENDING

Also approved by the joint officers and directors during recent meetings are:

• The sponsorship of the last portion of the covered court at Santa Rita Elementary School. Cost, PP99K, FROM LEFTOVER OF SOUVENIR PROGRAM, ANY.
• SYSTEM-WIDE DISTRIBUTION OF USED COMPUTERS TO PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN SANTA RITA, IN COLLABORATION WITH LBC FOUNDATION, INC. CONTACT PERSON, DAN BUAN, PROJECT MANAGER.

EVERY MEMBER IS EARNESTLY INVITED TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE EVOLUTION OF OUR PROJECTS. YOUR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOMED. BETTER YET, ATTEND OUR REGULAR MEETINGS.

YEARBOOK 2006

LAST CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS TO AMEND CORPORATE BY-LAWS

SOUVENIR PRORGRAM 2006

Target Publication Date: May 2006

Solicitation Launch Date: Fall 2005

Ad Prices: Back Cover - $200, Inside Covers - $150, Full Page - $100, Half Page - $60, Quarter Page - $30

REGULAR MEETINGS

Do you know you have a right to attend and participate in our regular and special meetings?

Who: Officers and Directors, Committee Chairs and Members are invited; open to the public

When 1 st Sunday of every other month

Where: Contra Costa Water District Small Boardroom, 1331 Concord Avenue , Concord , CA 94524 , unless an alternate place is otherwise announced

Time: 12 PM . Duration depends on agenda at hand.

Half Year 2005 Schedule: June 5, August 7, October 2, December 4

TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS

Want to make a special donation for a special cause?

The Ritenians can dedicate your special donation for a special cause and make your contribution tax- deductible. Make your donation through the Ritenians now!

Contact us for details.

PAST

Not since a long time has a huge turnout gathered for a Town Fiesta celebration in our history. Fellow Ritenians came from as far as Placer and Central counties to meet kabalens in the greater bay area on May 22, 2005 at the Lafayette Recreational Park. It was a homecoming! And most came with families to enjoy the diversity of activities inside the park: hiking & bicycle trails, boating & fishing, the childrens playground at the very front of our reserved picnic area, or to simple enjoy the natural beauty of trees and rolling hills around the reservoir. In fact, some remained until sunset. As has been a tradition, there was plenty of food to share with everyone!

Our pecial thanks to Bert Peck, RVP Contra Costa, and wife Winnie, who came early to set up and prepare hot food; to Manny Lapid, RVP Sta. Clara, and wife Nitz, who supervised the games (bingo, piniata, door prizes, etc.). Also thank you to Conrad Perreras and Deth Salalila of Century 21/Achievers, who donated the lechon; to Bong & Edna Concepcion of Corinthian Realty and Randy & Bel Dizon for donating door prizes.